I thought that people were only allowed to donate $3,000 to a politician's campaign

Maraya1969

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Thu Jan-06-11 08:31 AM
Original message

I thought that people were only allowed to donate $3,000 to a politician's campaign

Edited on Thu Jan-06-11 08:32 AM by Maraya1969

so if the corporations are now "people" then they should be restricted.

I know that there is no limit to the amount people can donate to the different organizations within the party.

But why can't someone bring up a suit that argues that no one person should be able to give whatever money they want including to parties. There is already president for it.

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rurallib

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Thu Jan-06-11 08:53 AM
Response to Original message

1. don't forget the 'issue' groups

I am hardly an expert, but I don't think they have a limit.

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RB TexLa

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Thu Jan-06-11 08:57 AM
Response to Original message

2. They aren't "people" there is no such thing as "cooperate personshood"

just because it's typed here over and over doesn't make it true. It just makes people sound ignorant. Courts have ruled that legal entities have many of the same rights as a person. And most here would agree that Democratic Underground, LLC has the right to legal council and protection against warrentless searches even thought it is not a person.

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howaboutme

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Thu Jan-06-11 09:05 AM
Response to Reply #2

4. But it's a special type of personhood

and apparently one that gets special rights that far exceed the rights of "we the people" enumerated in the US Constitution.

I agree with the original poster that the issue of special rights for corporations needs to be aggressively challenged in the courts.

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The_Commonist

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Thu Jan-06-11 09:01 AM
Response to Original message

3. They are restricted.

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission had nothing to do with donations to candidates. The decision stated that "corporate funding of independent political broadcasts in candidate elections cannot be limited under the First Amendment."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_United_v._Federal_Election_Commission

Limits on direct donations still apply...

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Yupster

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Thu Jan-06-11 09:45 AM
Response to Original message

5. When an employee of one of these corps donates

it has to be reported to the company.

Me for instance. I actually have to get my company's permission before I donate. They've never turned me down, but I'm sure the asking part discourages some giving.

Anyway, I have a form I have to fill out saying how much and to which candidate I wish to give.

Those stats are compiled and reported to the government.

So when my company reports that it gave $ 200 to a certain candidate, I happen to know that was my $ 200. When they report giving $ 55,000 to my candidate's opponent, I know that's all my co-workers who contributed.

So, it's not the corporation, it's the compiled list of employees (mostly upper guys no doubt) who donated.

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mmonk

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Thu Jan-06-11 10:00 AM
Response to Original message

6. That only applies to living persons of flesh and bones.

Some persons are more "equal" than others.

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snooper2

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Thu Jan-06-11 10:05 AM
Response to Original message

7. precedent, not president..

although we already have one of those too :)

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Maraya1969

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Thu Jan-06-11 01:49 PM
Response to Reply #7

8. I hate when I do that. n/t

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