I get all kinds of emails from all kinds of political groups. I guess I should be used to it, given GraniteGrok and that I don’t hide my email but is sometimes curious who ends up emailing me, given my stances on a lot of issues. Like the Freedom of Speech; one would think that NH Rebellion, the misguided group that wishes to delete and restrain peoples’ political utterances because of “big money”. Money is not the issue – speech is. Always, always, always ask – who benefits? And ask yourself – the people promoting this – where do they stand on the political spectrum and HOW DOES IT STAND ON simple, Constitutional words:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
And secondarily, who benefits? How does restricting someone else’s speech hurt you? Unless, of course, you are the “you” that has been targeted. So, I got the following from NH Rebellion – in return, I presented two facts back to them for comment:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 28, 2015
Contact: Dan Weeks, Executive Director or Brian Tilton, Republican Outreach Coordinator
603-242-1145 / media@nhrebellion.org
Disgust with Political Spending
and Corruption Reaches New Heights
80% of Republicans, 83% of Democrats disagree that “corporations and unions may spend unlimited amounts on political causes.”
But that leaves BILLIONS to be spent by….wait for it..rich people! And it does seem that there are a whole lot of Democrats who are rich and not reticent about speaking up and shoveling their money to….other Democrats! And Professor Larry Lessig, the head honcho of this movement, is no conservative even if being liberally (heh!) wide with such a definition. Yup, and ask yourself:
Which end of the spectrum that’s been all aholler about limiting money in politics? Yeah, it is not conservatives or Republicans. Why? See above – speech is speech and there was no differentiation of the kind of speech being uttered. Does the First Amendment have “political” in it? “Hate” in it? “Only politically correct” there either? How about “inclusive”, “polite”, “not divisive”, or any other perambulations of them?
Nope, speech is speech. Period. And one needs a lot of money to get their message out to the public in this media driven culture. Just ask WMUR – they ain’t certainly giving away free air time, are they?
Let us not forget a bit of an earned whack: I also note – hey guys, where’s the link to said poll? YOu sent out an email – where’s the link to the poll? Why do you want to put the burden on me to go find it? Brian, you should KNOW better than to do this (or rather, NOT do that):
CONCORD, NH – In a recent national poll by Bloomberg Politics of Democrats, Republicans and independents, 78% disagree with the Supreme Court ruling on the Citizens United case allowing corporations and unions to spend unlimited amounts on political causes.
Taking note of the strikingly similar view across both political parties, Bloomberg News reported today:
“Unhappiness with the 2010 decision cuts across demographic and partisan and ideological lines. Although the ruling was fashioned by the court’s conservative majority, Republicans oppose Citizens United 80 percent to 18 percent, according to the poll. Democrats oppose 83 percent to 13 percent, and independents, 71 percent to 22 percent. Among self-described liberals, conservatives, and moderates, 80 percent say the decision should be overturned.”
“These numbers are another indication of the disgust that Americans hold toward the big money corruption that has taken our political system hostage,” said Dan Weeks, Executive Director. “People across the political spectrum know that their small donations are a drop in the bucket to the big money sloshing around in elections. We have been engaging many of the presidential candidates about the problems and working with them on possible solutions and we hope this poll, paired with many others, prove this is the number one issue that needs to be addressed,” Weeks said.
“Republican activists, leaders and presidential candidates need to heed this poll’s results. It’s earth-rattling,” said Brian Tilton, Republican Outreach Coordinator. “This poll unequivocally shows people’s anger with the results of the Citizens United ruling is larger than I expected, even among fellow Republicans.”
You know, I’m fairly well read politically and I have NEVER seen such a poll with such results – especially on the Right side of the aisle. SURE, the Democrats have tried to eviscerate the Supremes’ decision – remember the fight that Obama pulled during his State of the Union address? Democrats have hated it as they thought companies should not be able to express their intentions – after all, Democrats (as they have gone more and more Left and have inculcated Marxist and Socialist hatred of capitalism and not for nothing, companies feel they have to defend what they do against rapacious politicians.
After all, look what Hillary is single handedly doing to the biotech stocks on her rant against them? Does Brian Tilton and Dan Weeks believe that companies who employ thousands just sit there, hang their heads and just take it?
This is the “new” American way of governance, the Government should be in charge of all of the economic sectors in the US?
Sure – that what academics like Lefty Lessig believe – that they know better from their teaching podiums what is best for all (and many on the Left side of the Ivory Tower feel so impotent that their grand ideas are just so ignored by those with lesser (or no) degrees at all).
Tilton also said his experience in the field shows near-universal agreement among Republicans for full and immediate disclosure of all political contributions, ending pay-to-play and banning or limiting lobbying activity after serving in government.
Sorry Brian, not buying it. So here’s just a couple of little facts to set the table into perspective:
- National US GDP in 2012: $16.16 Trillion (http://www.statista.com/statistics/188105/annual-gdp-of-the-united-states-since-1990/)
- Dog and cat food sales in 2012: $19 Billion (http://www.petfoodinstitute.org/?page=PetfoodSales)
- Political spending in 2012: $7 Billion (FEC, http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/7-billion-spent-on-2012-campaign-fec-says-087051)
So spending on campaigns was only 37% given to our four footed furry pets. Those same pets only received 0.11% of the US GDP. Sure, billions ain’t chump change and you can be sure that I’ll never see such a large number of digits in my net worth. But everything needs context and perspective and given what we all spend on OTHER things, the political number pales muchly in comparison.
So, political spending is out of control? This shows that politicians rate much lower than cats and dogs; I’m good with that!
What I’m NOT good with is someone that has the miserable idea that someone has the right to shutdown other peoples’ speech just because.
Oh, and with his “If I win the Presidency, I’ll resign after one year”, it makes a mockery entirely of the entire process. A one issue President that has already called it quits before even being elected?
I think both ideas show unseriousness.
