Want to Run for Office? Get a Corporate Sponsor!

By Bill Hare
01/26/2010 06:50:09 PM EST

The 1886 U.S. Supreme Court case of Santa Clara County vs. Southern Pacific Railroad Company established by head note the proposition that a corporation is a person with Fourteenth Amendment rights.  The above proposition has propounded much shock and confusion for law students tackling the subject of corporations.  How assiduously the powerful have sought every economic advantage to stay not only on top of the game but to rig it.

Much rigging can be done by putting those of your persuasion in the highest court of the land.  This has been the warning cry for years by progressives seeking to keep the disenchanted among their ranks in line during presidential elections.  

This cry was delivered in 1968 as a persuader to stay in line with Hubert Humphrey and not cast a protest vote for Eldridge Cleaver.  It was used in 2000 to encourage votes for Al Gore and eliminate defections toward Ralph Nader.

 

Now we have the same ideologically comprised Supreme Court that anointed George W. Bush but with a Bush appointed Chief Justice John Roberts taking the Santa Clara vs. Southern Pacific Railroad Company one step further.  Now a corporation has First Amendment rights, the same as citizens, and the implications are draconian.The United States Supreme Court by a 5-4 majority installed George W. Bush as chief executive in the face of irrefutable evidence of voter suppression, an effort led by the candidate’s brother Jeb as Florida’s governor.

Now by another 5-4 vote the entire political system is thrown into potential turmoil unless progressive opponents such as senators Charles Schumer of New York, Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, and Congressman Alan Grayson of Florida can alter this course.

This reckless decision announced last week removes all restraints on corporate political expenditures.  Carrying the ruling it to its maximum results in the following:

“You are running for office.  Fine.  Whose corporate logo are you wearing?”  

More:  http://www.politicalcortex.com/story/2010/1/26/18509/8620

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Tags: News and Politics