by Joan McCarter
The
Village yawns and the traditional media
continues to be cowed by the power of the Chamber of Commerce, reprinting with apparently no independent investigation whatever the Chamber tells them, all to further the meme that the corporate buy-out of our democracy isn't a big deal.
By doing so, they're missing a real story, one that
should be shaping this election. Should be, that is, if you listen to the actual voters. Greg Sargent has
a new poll conducted by MoveOn, which demonstrates just how much the public cares about knowing who it is that's trying to buy our government.
The poll finds that two thirds of registered voters, or
66 percent, are aware that outside groups are behind some of the ads they're seeing. This makes sense, since the issue has dominated the media amid the battle over the huge ad onslaught against Dems funded by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Karl Rove's groups.
What's more, an overwhelming
84 percent say they have a "right to know" who's bankrolling the ads. And crucially, the poll also found that the issue is resonant when linked to the economy. A majority,
53 percent, are less likely to think a candidate who is backed by "anonymous groups" can be trusted to "improve economic conditions" for them or their families. People don't believe these groups are looking out for their interests.
Here are other key findings from the poll, which was provided to me by a MoveOn official:
* An overwhelming 84% of voters polled, including 80% of Republicans and 81% of Independents, believe voters have a right to know who is paying for ads for a particular candidate.
* Fifty-six percent of voters overall (including 53% of Independents) are less likely to vote for a candidate if they know the ads supporting that candidate are paid for anonymous corporations and wealthy donors.
* Forty-seven percent of all voters are more likely to support a candidate who insists that voters have a right to know who is paying for ads, with only 9% of total voters saying they are less likely to support a candidate who holds that position.
* Almost two out of three voters (63%) do not believe that the anonymous groups running ads hold the voters best interest in mind. This belief is held by 65% of Independent and 70% of Democratic voters.
* A straight majority of total voters (53%) are less likely to trust a candidate to improve economic conditions if that candidate is supported by anonymous groups.
The issues poll similarly among voters in two key states surveyed, Colorado and Illinois.
That's entirely consistent with other
recent polling showing massive (80%) opposition to
Citizens United and a strong desire (72%) to see Congress limit what corporations and unions can spend on elections.
The poll was conducted by SurveyUSA. 1,037 likely voters nationally were interviewed plus 600 statewide in Colorado and
Illinois.
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