Mitt Romney Embraces Campaign Finance Reform Mitt Romney Embraces Campaign Finance Reform
Today at the Education Nation forum, Mitt Romney finally admitted that money distorts our democracy by improperly influencing politicians, and causing them to ignore their constituents in favor of powerful donors. He even called for action to end this problem, saying it’s “the wrong way for us to go.” Alas, the “powerful donors” that distressed Romney were teachers. His remarks, via Raw Story: “We simply can’t have a setup where the teachers unions can contribute tens of millions of dollars to the campaigns of politicians and then those politicians, when elected, stand across from them at the bargaining table, supposedly to represent the interests of the kids. I think it’s a mistake. I think we’ve got to get the money out of the teachers unions going into campaigns. It’s the wrong way for us to go. We’ve got to separate that.” By saying massive donations can skew political priorities, and saying “we’ve got to get the money out,” Romney is essentially endorsing the intellectual framework of opposition to Citizens United, which allowed corporations to spend unlimited amounts influencing elections. Strange, because he has called Citizens United the “correct decision,” and even thinks corporations should be able to write unlimited checks to his campaign instead of bothering with outside groups. Apparently, it’s just the pernicious influence of educators Romney is worried about—not corporations. (Note that the AFT and NEA engage in relatively paltry outside spending, and also disclose their donors). For more on Mitt Romney’s disingenuity, read Ben Adler’s check on the candidate’s miserly donations to charity.
Sep 25, 2012 / George Zornick
An Appeals Court Strikes a Blow to Campaign Finance Reform An Appeals Court Strikes a Blow to Campaign Finance Reform
A US court of appeals reversed a lower-court decision that would have potentially forced some outside groups to open their books and reveal dark-money donors.
Sep 19, 2012 / George Zornick
Katrina vanden Heuvel: The Supreme Court Works for Corporate Power Katrina vanden Heuvel: The Supreme Court Works for Corporate Power
The Citizens United decision of the “most powerful branch in government” demonstrates that it’s a Court for the 1 percent.
Sep 17, 2012 / Press Room
‘Citizens United’ and the Corporate Court ‘Citizens United’ and the Corporate Court
Giving corporations the inalienable right to buy elections.
Sep 13, 2012 / Feature / Jamie Raskin
Romney Adviser Leads a New Effort to Channel Millions of Undisclosed Bank Money Into the Election Romney Adviser Leads a New Effort to Channel Millions of Undisclosed Bank Money Into the Election
The American Bankers Association, a powerful bank lobbying group, has voted to take advantage of Citizens United and will now spend undisclosed corporate money for bank industry-fr...
Sep 6, 2012 / Lee Fang
Change We Can Believe In, 2.0 Change We Can Believe In, 2.0
Electoral victories are necessary but not sufficient. Uprooting inequality and restoring prosperity requires much more.
Sep 4, 2012 / Katrina vanden Heuvel
DNC Offers Obama an Opportunity to Show Who the Real Reformer Is DNC Offers Obama an Opportunity to Show Who the Real Reformer Is
The president’s support for an amendment the constitution to overturn Citizens United is a big deal. But will he use Charlotte to position as the 2012 race’s real refor...
Sep 3, 2012 / John Nichols
Secret Election Money Unleashed Secret Election Money Unleashed
Since Citizens United, corporations and foreign entities can spend unlimited undisclosed funds on elections. Here's what it looks like.
Aug 29, 2012 / The Nation
Never Mind Super PACs: How Big Business Is Buying the Election Never Mind Super PACs: How Big Business Is Buying the Election
Thanks to Citizens United, US and foreign corporations can secretly spend millions on political campaigns under the cover of trade associations.
The US Chamber of Commerce’s Multimillion-Dollar Attack Plan The US Chamber of Commerce’s Multimillion-Dollar Attack Plan
The nation’s top business lobby has built up a huge war chest for conservatives. But has it crossed the legal line?
Aug 29, 2012 / Feature / Sasha Abramsky