This issue trumps health care and our wars as an important issue!...Clay Stouffer

Next Tuesday, 11-3-09, the Bush Era Supreme Court appointees are expected to vote to end our Democracy and finish establishing a corporate state here at home.

See the email from Common Cause below and go to: www.citizen.org (Public Citizen) for more information. Public Citizen is representing saving democracy before the Court.

There is not much you can do between now and Tuesday other than send money to those two organizations, which I did...credit card money that I do not have otherwise.

COMMON CAUSE email:


Common Cause - Holding Power Accountable


Dear Clayton,

We won't stand for a "Corporate Democracy."

Donate
Help us fight back!

Is the Supreme Court about to turn the U.S. into a corporate democracy?

The Court's decision in the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission case, which could be announced as early as Tuesday, is expected to significantly expand the role of the most powerful special interests in financing American elections. The Court appears poised to turn its back on more than 100 years of law and pave the way for corporations and unions to spend unlimited amounts of money on direct campaigns to elect or defeat federal candidates.

Common Cause is mobilizing now for what may be the biggest fight in our 40-year history. Please help by donating today!

The impact of this decision could shake our democracy to its very core. Common Cause has been analyzing what might happen if the ban on corporate political spending is lifted -- and the results are frightening. According to our latest research, released just yesterday:

* Last year's Congressional and Presidential election was the most expensive in history, with total political and issue advertising exceeding $3 billion nationwide. Corporations and unions could more than double this amount every election if they put as much into political ads as they already spend lobbying Congress, $6 billion in the last election cycle.

* PhRMA recently launched a $150 million advertising campaign to support Senator Baucus’ health care plan (without a public insurance option) – more than the $140 million spent by all 55 winners of hot congressional races in 2008 combined. That's one trade association on one bill. Imagine the impact on 435 House races.

* If the Supreme Court lifts the ban on using corporate profits for political spending, corporations would likely spend vastly more than labor unions. During the 2008 election cycle, corporations outspent organized labor 4:1 on political action committee (PAC) contributions, but 61:1 on lobbying.

Opening up another avenue for unlimited private money to flow into the political system will almost certainly increase the overall amount spent each election. This, in turn, will further fuel the "arms race" that already forces our elected officials to engage in perpetual fundraising.

How will ordinary citizens ever get their voices heard over the din of an explosion of corporate spending on elections?

We can't allow unlimited special interest funds to decide our elections. Donate today to help Common Cause fight back.

Thanks for all you do.

Sincerely,

Bob Edgar
President, Common Cause

P.S. To learn more about the Citizens United case and the potential fallout, please read our new report, "Corporate Democracy."



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Common Cause is a national nonpartisan organization with chapters in 35 states. The mailing address is 1133 19th Street NW, 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20036. The phone number is (202) 833-1200.

Remove yourself from this mailing.

Clayton Stouffer