Tag Archives: Citizens United

Corporatio​ns are people, my friend …Rainforest Action Network


Corporations are people, my friend.”

Take a guess. Is this:

A. a line from eerie new sci-fi flick starring Christopher Walken
B. a statement by Republican presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney
C. a typical morning self-affirmation by oil & gas industry CEOs

The answer is B. Mitt Romney made this statement with a straight face in front of both public and press at the Iowa State Fair last year. And if you’ve heard about the infamous Citizens United ruling, then you know that the U.S. Supreme Court agrees.

Do you think that “corporate personhood” is best kept in the world of science fiction? Ready to fight back? Good. So are we! Join us this week on the anniversary of Citizen’s United in letting corporations and their political allies know that democracy is for the people. Real people. We The People.

Table of Contents

  1. Understanding Citizen’s United
  2. Take Action on Anniversary of Citizen’s United
  3. President Obama Rejects Keystone XL Pipeline
  4. Levi’s Takes a Stand for Rainforests
  5. Bankrupting America on Tumblr
  6. Great Moments in Stupid Chevron PR
  7. Field Report: The High Stakes of Palm Oil

Understanding Citizen’s United

Understanding Citizen’s UnitedTrying to understand the many frustrating complexities of “corporate personhood” and its role in the Citizens United Supreme Court ruling could drive some people to want to just crack a beer and watch Simpsons reruns all night long. Do not fear. We’ve got a cartoon here (from the brilliant people who brought you The Story of Stuff) that makes understanding Citizens United a snap.

Watch

Take Action on the Anniversary of Citizen’s United

Bankrolling Climate ChangeThis Friday and Saturday, you will have a historic opportunity to challenge corporate power on the anniversary of Citizen’s United. Join us in the streets at events in San Francisco and Minneapolis or find an action in your town!

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President Obama Rejects Keystone XL Pipeline

President Obama Rejects Keystone XL PipelineGreat news! President Obama has just rejected the Keystone XL pipeline. Thanks to all of you who were part of the grassroots opposition to this massive pipeline. Against huge threats from Big Oil, President Obama stepped up to defend the health of the American people and our climate. Join us in thanking the president and encouraging him to continue the fight for our green energy future.

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Levi’s Takes a Stand for Rainforests

Levi’s Takes a Stand for RainforestsRAN is pleased to announce that denim giant Levi Strauss & Co. has implemented a new paper policy in its operations around the globe. This makes Levi’s the latest company in an ever-growing list of major corporate customers to exclude supplier Asia Pulp & Paper for its human rights abuses and blatant rainforest destruction. Kudos to Levi’s for taking a strong stand to protect forests in Indonesia and around the world.

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Bankrupting America on Tumblr

Girl Scouts headshotFrom fees to foreclosures to coal financing, Bank of America has got zero love these days. In fact, we thought BoA deserved its own shiny new website to track the vast amounts of ire it’s garnering from people across the country, so RAN and The New Bottom Line are bringing you Bankrupting America on Tumblr. This blog features BoA’s foibles, follies, and clever pushback from people who’ve had enough (like the activists who modified every BoA ATM screen in San Francisco in a single night). If you’ve got a juicy video, photo, news story or personal account about Bank of America, we want to hear about it. Submit your story today!

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Great Moments in Stupid Chevron PR

Give the gift of RANNow that Chevron has been found guilty—again —for intentionally dumping a massive amount of toxic oil waste in the Ecuadorean Amazon, the company has become particularly desperate to explain why it refuses to take responsibility. We’ve remixed some of the most ridiculous excuses Chevron spokespeople have made over the years into a magnum opus of Great Moments in Stupid Chevron PR. Check out the video, then submit your own brilliant ideas for Chevron’s next stupid excuse!

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Field Report: The High Stakes of Palm Oil

Give the gift of RANTo understand how palm oil—an ingredient in more than 50% of household products in the U.S.—really affects the people, ecosystems, and animals on the ground in Indonesia, read this latest field report from RAN forest campaigners Lafcadio Cortesi and Ashley Schaeffer. These two traveled deep into the jungles of Borneo to document the tragic impacts of palm oil plantation expansion on some of the most beautiful primary rainforests in the world.

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huge developmen​t …Crystal King, DSCC Political Director


News just broke that a major Tea Party organization has created a new “Super PAC” to elect extreme right-wing candidates like Rand Paul and Jim DeMint. I put together a quick memo below about the major threat this poses to our 2012 plans.

This is a huge development that we will watch closely. But we can’t take them on unless everyone pitches in before this deadline.

Please contribute $5 to fight against this extreme group before midnight Sept. 30. Meeting this goal just got a lot more crucial to keeping the Tea Party from taking over the Senate.
WWW.DSCC.ORG

TO: Grassroots Activists
FROM: Crystal King, Political Director

PROBLEM: Yesterday, a major Tea Party group announced the launch of a SuperPAC, “FreedomWorks for America.” This group is planning a $20 million campaign dedicated to electing candidates in the mold of Jim DeMint and Rand Paul. They could spend even more. Thanks to the Citizens United decision, this PAC can spend unlimited money attacking our candidates.

THIS IS DIFFERENT: Unlike many other organizations, this well-funded group will focus on the most extreme, right-wing candidates. In fact, the PAC is already pledging support for Tea Party-Republican Senate candidates in Texas, Arizona and Florida.

IF THEY WIN: The Tea Party takes over the Senate, just like the House. The current Senate firewall blocking their dangerous agenda would be gone. Led by FreedomWorks’ new senators, they would end Medicare, privatize Medicaid, stop unemployment benefits, repeal health care reform, roll back civil rights, and shutter the EPA.

HOW WE WIN: Fulfill every fundraising goal, especially the one coming at midnight on Sept. 30. It’s the only way we can fight them head-to-head in every state. Otherwise, we hand over states – and likely the majority – to the GOP.

WHY: Because the DSCC is currently protecting 23 seats, under a razor-thin four-seat majority. We have to meet monthly budgets to stay ahead of the Republicans. Also, if the GOP gains a fundraising advantage, it can create runaway momentum before campaign season even starts.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: More than 90% of the DSCC’s contributions come from grassroots supporters. We absolutely can’t hold the Senate without your help. Please give $5, $10 or whatever you can. We still need to raise $465,000 by midnight Friday to stop the Tea Party takeover.   WWW.DSCC.ORG

TGIF &some News


We are all waiting, watching, listening, and judging not only the behavior of President Obama but comparing and contrasting it to the current rhetoric and behavior coming from the Republican Party. It is obvious for me that Republicans put Party and Profit before the People; folks like Senator John McCain, who called himself a maverick throughout the 2008 campaign turned out to be a big flip flopper.  I am not sure which Republican came  out first but the flip flopping of Republicans definitely caused their own constituents to blink then rise up at most of the town hall meetings in disbelief. I have to say it took way too long for the truth to come out but a certain amount of buyer’s remorse has set in- Finally. Now, mostly in Republican controlled states American workers have had to fight back against the lie that is the Republican Political Party.  Who knew that a Grover Norquist maybe some other outsiders have such a power over the people we call public servants, and their votes.  I have to say any candidate willing to sign off on a document that would only serve or give an advantage to their Political Party and not be good for “We the People” sounds like a candidate unworthy of being in public service.  The 2012 election season is one that will affect all our lives in that this President could continue the move toward the 21st Century, nominate, and confirm another left leaning justice maybe two which could counter anything like Citizens United.  It cannot be lost on anyone that it is even more important now that those of us on the left make sure our neighbors know what is at stake as the Republicans continue to pull Americans back to the days when the privilege were in control the middle class barely living while the poor live on the street. We must all take responsibility for making sure the truth about healthcare reform, climate change, immigration reform and what positive things equality can do for All Americans not some or a selected few. Instead, we are now facing a default on our debt because of the Political Party of No who feels not cooperating with the Democratic members of Congress or the Obama Admin and get them a win in 2012. I think stripping away worker rights, trying to ban abortion, strip Veteran funding, union rights, programs that will help the elderly and the poor should be enough to prove who is incapable of governing based on that agenda alone  . The Republican Party and its leaders have managed to fool the public and side step their responsibilities while tossing double speak with a substantial amount of the vitriol.  Americans have seen members of Congress and some of our Supreme Court Justices engage in what seems like a lot of negative activism, overt discrimination, exclusion, and lack of compassion over the last two years.  I have been saying, It’s the Republicans Stupid and all you have to do to believe that is to get the facts … get informed and while Republicans managed to trick their constituents into believing they are the ones who will save them just look at  states like WI,FL,IA,OH,TX,ME,TN, ID,NH,NC,  and lean left in 2012

It is clear, at least for me that the right person is in the office of President. But it’s just my rant

Other News …

Atlantis roars into space on final shuttle mission

US jobs stall, setting back recovery hopes

Sudan officially recognizes South Sudan

Violence erupts in Karachi, Pakistan; at least 80 dead

Oakland Athletics (39-50) at Texas Rangers (48-41), 8:05 p.m.

Taxes and Billionaires

CSPAN …

Space Shuttle Launches for the Final Time

Atlantis heads into orbit for 12 day mission

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Lawmakers Examine Social Security Cuts

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Debt Talks Continue

Debt ceiling deal still uncertain

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Egypt protests: Speedier trials, reforms demanded in protests across Egypt – latimes.com

a message from Sen.Patty Murray -dogged


Republicans don’t have to destroy Medicare. Republicans are choosing to destroy Medicare because preserving tax breaks for oil corporations and billionaires is a bigger priority to them.

This is why we fight. We can’t allow Republicans – and their skewed priorities – to control the Senate, and they will if they gain just four seats. What you do right now truly matters!

The end of this month marks a critical FEC deadline. If we don’t raise $710,342 by June 30, we won’t have the resources to hold the Senate and stop their extreme agenda – such as ending Medicare – from becoming law. We CAN win, but it won’t happen without an army of grassroots supporters – including you.

Please give an immediate $5 or more to the DSCC. Every dollar you give will help Democrats fight – and will help keep Republicans out of power in the Senate. I’m counting on you to help stop them!

When I stepped up to lead the fight to keep our Senate majority, I told my Democratic colleagues that I would be all in, but I needed them to be all in, too. And they are. But that’s not enough. I need each and every grassroots Democrat to step up, too.

We’ve seen the extremes Republicans are willing to go to – their dogged pursuit of ending Medicare is just one example. And they’ll be attacking our candidates even harder than they’re attacking our social safety net. Karl Rove’s American Crossroads and Citizens United’s own PAC are already gearing up.

We see what’s coming. We know the fierce fight that lies ahead. And we know exactly what we need to do to win it. We can’t wait. The Republicans sure aren’t.

We must raise $710,342 by June 30 if we’re going to keep Republicans out of power. Please give $5 or more right now. Every dollar you give will help Democrats fight – and will help keep Republicans out of power. We need your help!

The stakes are higher than a simple Senate majority. This election will determine the path our nation takes. Are we the type of nation that protects the least among us? Or are we the type of nation that allows the young, old, sick and needy to fend for themselves while oil corporations and billionaires reap all the rewards?

This is the time to stand up for what we – as Democrats – believe in. Thank you for joining the fight.

Sincerely,

Sen. Patty Murra

Supreme Court: The Chamber’s Genie


Ever since Chief Justice Roberts joined the Supreme Court, corporate America has treated his Court as its personal genie, and Roberts has been eager to grant even many of their most outlandish wishes. As soon as Roberts and his fellow conservative Justice Alito joined the high Court, the Chamber of Commerce’s win rate before the justices spiked eight percentage points above its already very high levels under his conservative predecessor William Rehnquist. Nor is Roberts alone in his willingness to go the extra mile for wealthy corporations. A recent study found that every single justice is more likely to side with the Chamber than the just ice who held the seat 25 years ago. As one of the Chamber’s top Supreme Court litigators bragged, “except for the solicitor general representing the United States, no single entity has more influence on what cases the Supreme Court decides and how it decides them than the National Chamber Litigation Center.” This week, corporate America made three especially large wishes to the justices, and the Court’s conservatives once again appear eager to grant them.

ELECTIONS FOR SALE: The best way for big business to push its agenda is to ensure that elected officials throughout the country owe wealthy corporations their jobs — and the Supreme Court took a big step towards making this vision a reality with its infamous Citizens United decision. In the wake of Citizens United, the Chamber pledged to spend a massive $75 million to elect corporate-aligned conservatives, and the Chamber’s right-wing allies kicked in hundreds of millions of dollars more. Yet Citizens United is merely one part of a much larger campaign to cement big money’s control over American elections. On Monday, the justices moved on to the next stage of this effort. Public financing laws provide one of the strongest defenses against the corrupting influence of big money in politics, but public financing schemes only work if they allow candidates who opt into them to remain competitive. To defend against this problem, Arizona developed a two-tiered public financing system. Candidates receive additional funds if their opponent or corporate interest groups overwhelm them with attack ads, and thus candidates who are determined not to be tainted by the corrupting influence of major donors are n ot left defenseless . Yet, in a case called McComish v. Bennett, the Court’s five conservatives appear poised to strike this two-tiered system down. If they do so, it could be the death knell for public financing, since no candidate is safe from massive infusions of corporate money after Citizens United.

SLAMMING COURTHOUSE DOORS: Many of the Court’s most corporate-friendly decisions create complicated and arcane procedural barriers to Americans seeking justice. The Court’s discredited Ledbetter decision didn’t literally take away women’s right to equal work for equal pay. It just created a procedural rule that made it impossible for women to vindicate their rights if they didn’t learn that they were paid less than their male colleagues until a short time after the discrimination began. In Wal-Mart v. Dukes, the Supreme Court will decide whether to shut off another opportunity f or women in the workplace to seek relief — class actions. Class action lawsuits are brought by groups of plaintiffs who share a common injury with each other. These suits are essential to allow ordinary Americans, who often lack the resources to hire lawyers capable of taking on a major corporation on their own, to pool their resources in order to hire counsel that are capable of facing off against someone like Wal-Mart. There is substantial evidence that women who work for Wal-Mart stores shared the same experience of systematic pay and promotion discrimination and thus should be able to bring a class action. If the Supreme Court denies them this right — which it seems likely to do — many of them will be left powerless before Wal-Mart’s legal team.

IMMUNITY TO THE LAW: Procedural victories are all well and good, but there’s nothing corporate America loves more than actual immunity from the law. Past Supreme Court decisions gave sweeping legal immunity to medical device manufacturers and health insurers, and even gave the thumbs up to a biased system of corporate-owned courts that overwhelmingly rule against consumers and employees. In a case called PLIVA, Inc. v. Mensing, the justices will now decide whether to give sweeping im munity to the makers of generic prescription drugs. If the Court sides with the drug makers in this case, two women could be left with no recourse after a prescription drug caused them to develop a horrific neurological disorder resulting in “grotesque involuntary movements of the mouth, tongue, lips, and extremities, involuntary chewing movements, and a general sense of agitation.” And thousands of other Americans could be left similarly defenseless against the powerful pharmaceutical industry.