Citizens United Topics

Democracy Now! reports on the controversial Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on January 21, 2010. The ruling characterizes political spending as free speech and opened the floodgates for unlimited corporate spending on election campaigns. Critics argue that corporations should not be given the same First Amendment rights as people and that the ruling will greatly influence American politics and corrupt the election process.

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Big Money Wins in the Big Skies of Montana

By Amy Goodman with Denis Moynihan
“I never bought a man who wasn’t for sale,” William A. Clark reportedly said. He was one of Montana’s “Copper Kings,” a man who used his vast wealth to manipulate the state government and literally buy votes to make himself a U.S. senator. That was more than 100 years ago, and the blatant corruption of Clark and the other Copper Kings created a furor that led to the passage, by citizen initiative,...

Jun 28, 2012 | Columns & Articles
Citizens United, Part 2? Supreme Court Overturns Montana Law Banning Corporate Spending on Elections

The Supreme Court has struck down a century-old Montana law banning corporate campaign spending. Montana was sued when it invoked the ban to prevent corporate money from flooding state and local political races. A right-wing nonprofit argued the state’s ban violates the 2010 Citizens United ruling that allowed corporations to spend unlimited amounts in federal elections. On Monday, the Supreme Court agreed, blocking Montana’s law in...
Jun 27, 2012 | Story
Dark Money: Inside the Final Frontier of Unlimited Political Spending (Part 2)

In part two of our conversation with Monika Bauerlein and Andy Kroll of Mother Jones magazine, we continue to look at "dark money" — the hundreds of millions of dollars being spent by outside groups who are helping to make the 2012 presidential race the most expensive race in history. Bauerlein and Kroll discuss the role of attorney James Bopp, a key legal adviser behind the Citizens United decision; how Karl Rove, Sheldon Adelson...
Jun 27, 2012 | Story
Wanna Buy an Election? Mother Jones Exposé on Dark Money, Citizens United (Pt. 2)

Part two of our conversation with Monika Bauerlein and Andy Kroll of Mother Jones magazine. The new cover story in the magazine is called "Follow the Dark Money." We discuss at how Karl Rove, Sheldon Adelson and others are bankrolling Mitt Romney’s campaign, why President Obama has opted to accepted unlimited super PAC donations, as well, and Stephen Colbert’s role in the debate over campaign finance. [includes rush transcript]
Jun 22, 2012 | Web Exclusive
Dark Money: Will Secret Spending by a Group of Billionaires Decide the 2012 Election? (Pt. 1)

The 2012 presidential election is set to become the most expensive race in history, with spending projected to top $11 billion — more than double the 2008 total. It will be the first presidential election since the Supreme Court’s landmark Citizens United decision, which lifted a 63-year-old ban prohibiting corporations, trade associations and unions from spending unlimited amounts of money on political advocacy. We’re joined...
Jun 22, 2012 | Story
Walker Survives Wisconsin Recall After GOP, Corporate Backers Rally and Dems Stay on Sidelines

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has survived a historic recall election more than a year after launching a controversial effort to roll back the bargaining rights of the state’s public workers. Walker outspent his opponent, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, seven to one after raising millions of dollars from right-wing donors outside the state. We’re joined by John Nichols, a correspondent for The Nation. "We always like to tell ourselves...
Jun 06, 2012 | Story
The OCCUPIED Amendment: Rep. Ted Deutch on Banning Corporate Campaign Money Post-Citizens United

In December Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL) joined with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to introduce the OCCUPIED constitutional amendment to overturn the Citizens United campaign finance decision. It stands for "Outlawing Corporate Cash Undermining the Public Interest in our Elections and Democracy." Deutch says the effort is aimed at stopping corporate dominance over politics. "The problem in our political system today is, is that special interest...
Jun 01, 2012 | Story
Vermont Voters Back Grassroots Campaign to Abolish Corporate Personhood

In another "Super Tuesday" vote, some two dozen towns in Vermont called on Congress to push a constitutional amendment to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. FEC ruling and address the issue of corporate personhood. Vermont could become the third state, after Hawaii and New Mexico, to endorse similar proposals. Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont has proposed a related amendment and has been an outspoken...
Mar 07, 2012 | Story
Supreme Court to Decide Whether U.S. Corporations Can Be Sued for Abuses Overseas

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Tuesday on whether U.S.-based corporations can be sued in U.S. courts for human rights abuses committed overseas. The case involves nine Nigerian activists, including Ken Saro-Wiwa, executed for protesting Royal Dutch Shell. We’re joined by Marco Simons, legal director of EarthRights International, which filed a "friend of the court" legal brief in this case and has been a pioneer...
Feb 24, 2012 | Story
"New Obama Campaign Co-Chair: 'The President Is Wrong'." By Amy Goodman

Russ Feingold writes: "The President is wrong to embrace the corrupt corporate politics of Citizens United through the use of Super PACs." As the Obama campaign "dances with the devil" according to Feingold, perhaps as the President’s new election co-chair, he will help us follow the money.
Feb 23, 2012 | Columns & Articles