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DonViejo

(60,536 posts)
Tue Jun 3, 2014, 11:39 AM Jun 2014

Sen. Harry Reid: American politics is currently just a war between billionaires

Source: Raw Story

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) on Tuesday said that billionaires controlled American politics because of the lack of campaign finance laws.

“I’m here because of the flood of dark money into our nation’s political system poises the greatest threat to our democracy that I have witnessed during my tenure in public service,” he said during a Senate Judiciary hearing. “The decisions of the Supreme Court have left the American people with a status quo in which one side’s billionaires are pitted against the other side’s billionaires.”

“So we sit here today with a simple choice: Do we keep the status quo and argue all day and all night forever about whose billionaires are right, whose billionaires are wrong, or we can work together to change the system to get this shady money out of our democracy and restore the basic principles of one American, one vote,” Reid remarked.

The Senate hearing was held to discuss a proposed amendment to the Constitution that would overturn the Supreme Court’s controversial decisions in the Citizens United and McCutcheon cases.

The amendment would grant Congress and the states the authority to regulate the campaign finance system, but would not dictate any specific policies or regulations.

Republicans, siding with the Supreme Court, have argued that campaign finance laws that limit political donations and spending violate the First Amendment.



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Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/06/03/sen-harry-reid-american-politics-is-currently-just-a-war-between-billionaires/



Posted with permission
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Sen. Harry Reid: American politics is currently just a war between billionaires (Original Post) DonViejo Jun 2014 OP
We all know about that Harry. When can we get our elected Dem's to work on changing that? Autumn Jun 2014 #1
Got to keep our powder dry. Orrex Jun 2014 #2
Political cover Orrex, but it sure as hell sounds good. Autumn Jun 2014 #3
This bigwillq Jun 2014 #5
You might be surprised how many people really don't "know all about that." eom DonViejo Jun 2014 #10
These politicians "know all about that." Autumn Jun 2014 #16
Your comment didn't restrict knowledge to politicians; you said "we."... DonViejo Jun 2014 #24
The House is run by fascists. joshcryer Jun 2014 #34
Duh. And now, of course, I am getting emails begging for money - I live on my social security - djean111 Jun 2014 #4
There is nothing for us in this particular game. It's a shell game Autumn Jun 2014 #6
Yup. It is a shell game, and a scam. djean111 Jun 2014 #7
Cat food or one could collect real cats they are mostly free. Just saying Autumn Jun 2014 #8
:-O djean111 Jun 2014 #9
*Hugs my own kittehs protectively* Brigid Jun 2014 #14
Buy green food coloring, mix with wet tissues, and voila! Make-believe peas! closeupready Jun 2014 #20
Harry, add 100% Publicly Funded Elections to your call for campaign finance reform! Dustlawyer Jun 2014 #11
I see you made it here first. Was going to mail you about this thread in case you missed it. freshwest Jun 2014 #30
Once again Harry is late to the game 27 fucking years in office and he still can only Exposethefrauds Jun 2014 #12
You do realize the CU ruling changed the ballgame, right? Ikonoklast Jun 2014 #25
+1 freshwest Jun 2014 #29
Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Jun 2014 #13
The billionaires fight . . . Brigid Jun 2014 #15
I've learned to really appreciate Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid over the past couple years. daschess1987 Jun 2014 #17
I like him also, but if he keeps telling the truth, he will lose his status as a politician. olddad56 Jun 2014 #22
Public financing. woo me with science Jun 2014 #18
I would say make BOTH sides use public financing but,.... Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2014 #19
Voters in the U.S. MUST demand publicly financed elections because vkkv Jun 2014 #21
You really nailed it, there. byronius Jun 2014 #23
+1 freshwest Jun 2014 #31
Excellent observation. nt JudyM Jun 2014 #26
This message was self-deleted by its author blkmusclmachine Jun 2014 #27
Thanks Harry and Don! Cha Jun 2014 #28
Yes, Harry told the bald truth most run from; and DV brings it here. freshwest Jun 2014 #32
That's the way DC likes it. Uh huh, uh huh. blkmusclmachine Jun 2014 #33

DonViejo

(60,536 posts)
24. Your comment didn't restrict knowledge to politicians; you said "we."...
Tue Jun 3, 2014, 03:02 PM
Jun 2014

And thus my response, "you'd be surprised..."

joshcryer

(62,269 posts)
34. The House is run by fascists.
Wed Jun 4, 2014, 02:50 AM
Jun 2014

How do we get rid of them when we blame Dem's for not "working on changing that"?

 

djean111

(14,255 posts)
4. Duh. And now, of course, I am getting emails begging for money - I live on my social security -
Tue Jun 3, 2014, 12:01 PM
Jun 2014

so I can help match the billionaires' money.
I have stopped playing this particular game, it does not end well, I think.

Autumn

(45,057 posts)
6. There is nothing for us in this particular game. It's a shell game
Tue Jun 3, 2014, 12:03 PM
Jun 2014

and it does not end well for us.

 

djean111

(14,255 posts)
7. Yup. It is a shell game, and a scam.
Tue Jun 3, 2014, 12:09 PM
Jun 2014

I need to save my money so I can buy those damned peas I am supposed to eat.
Wonder what is below canned peas on the chained CPI list.......

Autumn

(45,057 posts)
8. Cat food or one could collect real cats they are mostly free. Just saying
Tue Jun 3, 2014, 12:12 PM
Jun 2014
for the most part. I adore cats.
 

closeupready

(29,503 posts)
20. Buy green food coloring, mix with wet tissues, and voila! Make-believe peas!
Tue Jun 3, 2014, 02:05 PM
Jun 2014

See how easy that is, when you use your imagination?

Dustlawyer

(10,495 posts)
11. Harry, add 100% Publicly Funded Elections to your call for campaign finance reform!
Tue Jun 3, 2014, 12:34 PM
Jun 2014

Also, don't settle for the watered down version we all know we would get if you are serious. Go for the one that fixes the problem of buying our politicians!

freshwest

(53,661 posts)
30. I see you made it here first. Was going to mail you about this thread in case you missed it.
Wed Jun 4, 2014, 12:52 AM
Jun 2014

We must GOTV for the amendment to overturn the Citizens United, and make sure that Congress and the Senate pass real campaign finance reform.

 

Exposethefrauds

(531 posts)
12. Once again Harry is late to the game 27 fucking years in office and he still can only
Tue Jun 3, 2014, 12:40 PM
Jun 2014

Come up with a half assed proposed amendment

Damn shame the Democratic Party is devoid of any real leadership

Ikonoklast

(23,973 posts)
25. You do realize the CU ruling changed the ballgame, right?
Tue Jun 3, 2014, 03:08 PM
Jun 2014

Killing campaign finance limits and soft money was just recently ruled upon, and blaming Democrats is your solution.

FUD.

daschess1987

(192 posts)
17. I've learned to really appreciate Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid over the past couple years.
Tue Jun 3, 2014, 01:00 PM
Jun 2014

We cannot under any circumstances surrender his seat. GOT-mother fucking-V!

 

Spitfire of ATJ

(32,723 posts)
19. I would say make BOTH sides use public financing but,....
Tue Jun 3, 2014, 02:01 PM
Jun 2014

....judging from small donations that would give Republicans more money than they deserve.

Tell ya what.

Don't make it a "both sides" thing.

Ban ALL political contributions and give ALL sides and equal amount. That meant the Social Dems, the Green Party, Peace and Freedom, Libertarian, Constitution,....ALL of them.

Imagine the chaos if Dems and Republicans looked on as their base rallied behind someone they liked more.

Oh,...no need. We see that now with the Tea Party.

 

vkkv

(3,384 posts)
21. Voters in the U.S. MUST demand publicly financed elections because
Tue Jun 3, 2014, 02:26 PM
Jun 2014

WE ARE ALREADY PAYING FOR ELECTIONS ANYWAY with the HIGH COSTS of insurance, education, prisons, crime, pharmaceuticals, energy, food (prices could sky-rocket with thanks to Mansanto) and even war. Much of the money you spend goods goes into the pockets of a politician who may vote on legislation that is bad for you or worse - for the entire country.

byronius

(7,394 posts)
23. You really nailed it, there.
Tue Jun 3, 2014, 02:50 PM
Jun 2014

When corporations are required to bribe politicians to stay in business, inefficiencies are created that damage every sector. Instead of devoting man-hours to developing new tech or building new infrastructure, we're subsidizing bribery and corporate skullduggery, making it our primary product.

Ultimately, a recipe for collapse.

Response to DonViejo (Original post)

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