Toxic Democracy

by
Corporations don’t have a vote. But when Chevron dumped $2.5 million into a super PAC devoted solely to  running negative ads against environmentally-friendly congressional  candidates, it exercised the kind of influence over our political system that few voters could ever dream of having.For Chevron, it was a business investment, an investment in congressional hard-liners who refuse to cut corporate welfare subsidies and ignore the overwhelming  scientific evidence that suggests we are heading towards catastrophic  climate change.  Members who side with Chevron and Big Oil on such issues demonstrate by their  actions that they would  rather prop up the companies’ short-sighted,  record-breaking profits than leave their grandchildren a livable planet.Chevron must be held accountable. Demand that Chevron keep its corporate profits out of We the People’s politics. Why is Greenpeace involved? Because this sort of corporate meddling in elections is toxic to our  democracy, and impedes our ability to pass any kind of comprehensive  environmental legislation— including legislation to tackle climate  change. In Chevron’s case, it also appears to be illegal, according to a 90-page  complaint filed with the Federal Election Commission by Public Citizen,  with Greenpeace’s support.1 Despite the Supreme Court’s abominable Citizens United ruling, Chevron’s political spending seems to have violated the law  because Chevron is a federal contractor. Chevron has received government contracts worth more than $44 million since 2000. The Citizens United ruling didn’t eliminate the laws against bribery in federal  contracting, which prohibit contractors like Chevron from directly or  indirectly supporting candidates for elected office. Allowing Chevron to get away with this apparent violation would create a  self-perpetuating cycle of corruption, in which corporations spend their money to elect candidates, who then reward the corporations with  government contracts and other favors, which in turn generate more  revenue to be spent on still more candidates— actively destroying our environment in the process. Help Greenpeace & Public Citizen break the cycle and tell Chevron to keep its corrupting cash out of our democracy. Thanks for all you do, Your friends at Greenpeace ——————————— 1 http://www.citizen.org/chevron-fec-complaint-super-connected-report-update

the New 113th House Democrats

In the last week alone, over 30,000 of you renewed your 2013 membership and committed to stand with us in President Obama’s second term. Your continued activism ensures that we can fight right-wing extremism and make progress on behalf of the middle-class.

We can’t thank you enough for all that you do. All the best in 2013!

Nancy

P.S. There’s still time to join us in Washington, DC for President Obama’s inauguration weekend. Donate $3 or more today and you will be automatically entered to win!

Media Matters for America – Weekly

The media is shutting out economists from a budget debate, Fox News never wants to talk about gun violence, and conservative media are a moneymaking “racket.” But don’t get discouraged. Let’s keep fighting for the media all Americans deserve.John Whitehouse Twitter: @existentialfish Economists Ignored In Budget Debate News broadcasts covering the ongoing budget negotiations are ignoring the best experts: economists. Economists have been completely excluded by broadcast channels ABC, CBS, and NBC during their coverage of budget negotiations, and have scarcely appeared on cable news. Our economic team has compiled everything you need to know about media coverage of of these budget negotiations in five simple charts: http://mm4a.org/STAt7R Get The Facts On “Right-To-Work“ Protests erupted in Michigan this week after the passing of the so-called “right-to-work” law. From Fox News to CNN to even The New York Times, there’s been a lot of misinformation in the media about the law. We’ve put together a list of myths and facts about the law in a single place to clear everthing up. If you have a skeptical friend or family member, this is what you’ll want to show them: http://mm4a.org/W5CONr The Right-Wing Media Racket Half of the money Dick Morris raised for his Super PAC was spent on renting his email list. But the “scam” goes beyond just Morris. Rush Limbaugh has reportedly been paid millions by the Heritage Foundation and will read ads encouraging his listeners to give the group donations on air. Eric Boehlert examines how conservative media has turned into a virtual ATM machine. http://mm4a.org/QTPA2y Steve Doocy Doesn’t Understand President Obama made a proposal to give future presidents the ability to avoid America defaulting. The idea is based on a plan initially put forward by Republican Senator Mitch McConnell. But now that President Obama has gotten behind it, Fox’s Obama Derangement Syndrome has kicked in. Steve Doocy even claimed Obama “wants to change the Constitution” – even though the Obama administration has specifically rejected that idea: http://mm4a.org/Us1wGK FEATURED VIDEO For Fox News, it’s never the right time to discuss gun violence. Fox lashed out at Bob Costas for trying to engage in a national conversation about gun violence. Jon Stewartexamined Fox’s coverage of Costas – and its hypocrisy.  http://mm4a.org/12iMBDv CHIP IN We’ve already raised 30 percent of our year-end fundraising goal! Stopping conservative misinformation is a big job – and we can’t do it without your help. Donate $5 and support our work here: http://mm4a.org/2012fundraiser LIE OF THE YEAR: THEY BUILT IT Politifact awarded its 2012 Lie Of The Year to the Romney campaign for its ad about Jeep manufacturing in Ohio. But the Romney campaign didn’t build that lie – the conservative media did. Oliver Willis looks at how Fox News and right-wing media build and amplify lies:  http://mm4a.org/VVWTJN IMAGE OF THE WEEK Gangnam Style Overshadows Uganda’s “Kill The Gays” Bill In Cable News Coverage

a message from Alan Grayson

What We Need on Nov. 6, And After That.

We spend so much time thinking about who will be elected to office, and so little time thinking about what they will do when they get there.  Campaign consultants tell candidates that promises are inconvenient; you might have to keep them.  And candidates dance around the issues as though they were lit firecrackers.

Not me.  Here are my goals, after Nov. 6:

(1) Full employment.
(2) Universal healthcare.
(3) Taking corporate money out of politics and government.
(4) Reinstituting progressive taxation, to reduce the deficit and the debt.
(5) Ending corporate welfare.
(6) Improving labor standards, including pensions, sick leave and paid vacations.
(7) Ending discrimination against minorities, women and gays.
(8) Providing higher education to every student who wants it.
(9) Ending the war, bringing the troops home, and reining in the military-industrial complex.
(10) Reducing the brutal and pervasive inequality in American life.

If that’s what you want for America, too, then you need to click here, and support our campaign.

I’m working 14 hours a day, seven days a week, to try to win our race for the House on Nov. 6.  I have to, because in 2010, I was the target of the most pitch-black, break-your-back, wolf-pack Super PAC attack that any Member of the House has ever seen.  The Koch Brothers, the insurance companies, the Chamber of Commerce and the Republican Party spent over $5 million to denigrate, deprecate, devastate and decimate me.  My friends, my neighbors and even my own children saw an average of 70 blistering negative ads against me on TV — paid for by nameless, faceless monsters.

It doesn’t matter.  That was then, and this is now.  We’re winning, and after the election, we’ve got work to do.  If I’m working 14 hours a day now, then I’ll work 16 hours a day after Nov. 6.  Because America’s problems can be solved, and they must be solved.

If you want to be part of that, then help make it happen.  Show your support for our ’30 Days to Victory’ Moneybomb.

But here’s the thing – a Congressman like me, who fights for progressive, fair taxation, can’t finance his campaign with “trickle down” checks from the super-rich.  A Congressman like me, who fights against corporate welfare, can’t finance his campaign with corporate PAC contributions.  A Congressman like me, who fights for peace, can’t finance his campaign with blood money from the military-industrial complex.

On the contrary, they’re the ones who firebombed us last time.

So I have only one choice.  I have to invite you to join – or re-join – our legion of contributors, who now number almost 100,000.  People who want nothing in return for their contributions but government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

When you contribute to our campaign, you give me the freedom not to kowtow to lobbyists and special interests.  You make it possible for me to do the job the way that you would do it  — honestly, and for the greater good.

In 2010, in House races around the country, big donors ($200+) supplied 92% of the cash, and small donors provided 8%.  In our race, we reversed those numbers.  And with your help, we’ll do it again.

With your help, we will win.  And then on November 7th, that’s when the real work starts.  If you want someone in Congress who will fight – every day – for justice, equality and peace, then click here, and show that you care.

Courage,

Alan Grayson

Our new ad that extreme conservatives will hate

Rep. Jeff Flake.  He is one of the most extreme conservatives ever to run for the Senate.  The people in Arizona know it.

What the people may not know is how Flake has already and plans to hurt veterans.  That changes today, with this new ad from VoteVets.org and Majority PAC.

We’re putting $280,000 behind this ad.  It’s going to flood the airwaves.

Now, we need you to help us raise another $10,000, to get it even more exposure on the internet.

In the ad, Iraq War veteran Steven Lopez from Chandler, AZ makes it clear.  Jeff Flake is so extreme that he:

• Voted to cut veterans benefits by billions
• Was one of only twelve to vote against the new GI Bill
• Was only one of three to vote against job training programs for veterans

CLICK HERE TO HELP US SPREAD THESE FACTS WITH OUR NEW AD
Right now, Flake is in a tied race with Vietnam Veteran Richard Carmona.  There is no doubt.  When Arizonans find out about this, Flake’s credibility as a candidate will plummet.  Now, you have the chance to help us take that effort even further.  Please help us do that by clicking above.
Sincerely,
 General (Ret.) Wes Clark
 Chairman, VoteVets.org Board of Advisors

PAID FOR BY VOTEVETS ACTION FUND NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE’S COMMITTEE

the Progress Report

This is how elections are bought…

| By ThinkProgress War Room

Putting the Mega in Mega-Donor

Casino magnate Sheldon Adelson is by far the GOP’s biggest donor. He has already plowed more than $35 MILLION into the presidential race and says he’ll spend a “limitless” amount to defeat President Obama, perhaps more than $100 MILLION.

Adelson also has his eye on the House of Representatives. He is almost single-handedly bankrolling a Super PAC associated with House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA), having given the group $5 MILLION. And just last week, Adelson is reported to have contributed $500,000 to a Super PAC backing a single House candidate. That’s right, half a million dollars to influence a single House race.

While these numbers are huge — and pose a huge threat to our democracy — they are actually small potatoes for right-wing billionaires like Adelson.

This handy infographic puts it all into perspective.

Evening Brief: Important Stories That You May Have Missed

The GOP’s new women’s outreach strategy: free hair and make-up touch ups.

Pennsylvania GOP senate candidate: getting pregnant from rape is “similar” to having a baby out of wedlock.

Texas GOP senate candidate: Hurricane Isaac is a “blessing” that we should be “thankful” for.

Better know an anti-LGBT senate candidate: Scott Brown (R-MA).

Mitt Romney kicked the overt race-baiting of his campaign up a few notches.

Chris Matthews goes after the RNC Chairman for the GOP’s race-baiting on the campaign trail.

Men defining rape, a history.

GOP platform chair: rape is just a “detail” in the abortion debate.

Republicans held disaster relief funding hostage several times last year.

Media Matters for America – This Week

This week is about examining some basic media flaws. From whatThe Wall Street Journal refuses to disclose,Newsweek‘s aversion to factchecking, CNN pushing right-wing extremism, and more.John Whitehouse Twitter: @existentialfish Top Editors Call For The Wall Street Journal To Tell The Truth About Rove The Wall Street Journal publishes a weekly column by Karl Rove. In the midst of a campaign to build a “permanent” conservative majority, Rove co-founded a super PAC that Vanity Fair says will spend over a billion dollars this election cycle. But to Rupert Murdoch’s Journal, Karl Rove is just a guy who used to work for George W. Bush. Despite it being standard practice,the Journal refuses to disclose Rove’s super PAC role. When asked by Investigative reporter Joe Strupp, newspaper editors across the country denounced the Journal‘s practice of non-disclosure: http://mm4a.org/PCsB7H Newsweek Exemplifies Media Vulnerability Respected economists like Brad DeLong and Nobel laureate Paul Krugman noted gross factual inaccuracies in Niall Ferguson’s Newsweek cover story.Newsweek took no responsibility for any inaccuracies though,casually admitting that they don’t even fact checkthe articles they publish. Against a backdrop of shrinking newsrooms and layoffs, I explained how the conservative echo chamber exploits such vulnerabilities:   http://mm4a.org/RAlguR Media Ignore Record Ice Melt Scientists last week announced that this year’s Greenland ice melt has shattered all previous records. The lead scientist at the National Snow and Ice Data Center told Media Matters‘ Jill Fitzsimmons “I absolutely think the media should cover this more, along with the record-breaking pace of Arctic sea ice loss for the summer.” And yet this story received no mention at all by any broadcast network, cable news network, or major newspaper. Find out what the media isn’t telling you about the increasing pace of climate change: http://mm4a.org/Pudk8Z Elephants In The Room Fox distorted President Obama’s remarks tying business success to “this unbelievable American system” that happens to include government spending on infrastructure. Independent fact checkers thoroughly debunked the Fox-fueled ‘you didn’t build that’ smear. Jon Stewart mocked Fox for the self-evident distortion. The Republican National Committee on the other hand adopted the distortion as a theme for this year’s convention. And wouldn’t you know – Fox praised the RNC for doing so. But as Eric Hananoki noted, the Convention is being held in an arena built by Florida taxpayers:  http://mm4a.org/NFDfOM

FEATURED VIDEO  A panel discussion on a Fox business show was entirely about how the poor are a burden on the wealthy, with a panelist wondering: “Why can’t we make someone embarassed” for being on welfare? http://mm4a.org/S5EO7N CNN’S RIGHT-WING BLOGGER PROBLEM Follwing Missouri Senate candidate Rep. Todd Akin’s claim that is is “really rare” for victims of “legitimate rape” to become pregnant, CNN’s Erick Erickson and Dana Loesch excused the comments. Eric Boehlert analyzed CNN’s decision to mainstream the views of right-wing extremists: http://mm4a.org/P9yj0i MINITER’S LABYRINTH As part of the right wing’s quixotic quest to attack President Obama over the Osama bin Laden raid, the right-wing echo chamber is promoting Richard Miniter’s book on the raid. Simon Maloy examined how Miniter gets basic factual details wrong, like dates: http://mm4a.org/OuRzGX IMAGE OF THE WEEK Rush Limbaugh on Rep. Todd Akin

the Progress Report … Meet Some Right-Wing Attack Groups

| By ThinkProgress War Room

To Better the Know Right-Wing Groups Trying to Buy the Election

A small number of right-wing billionaires are trying to buy this election. And they’re doing it using a variety of right-wing attack groups that have unleashed avalanche of negative ads attacking the president and Democratic Senate and House candidate. These groups may spend as much as $1 BILLION before everything is said and done.

Here’s the rundown on three of these groups: Crossroads GPS, American Crossroads, and Americans for Prosperity.

Crossroads GPS

Created in 2010, Crossroads GPS is a tax-exempt501(c)(4) organization co-founded by former George W. Bush campaign architect Karl Rove and Mitt Romney campaign adviser and former Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie. Ironically, Gillespie in 2007 blasted the growing role of similar outside political groups, telling the Center for Public Integrity that independent spenders now “run wild, unfettered, unregulated, not subject to the same rules and regulations as the national parties. And I think that’s been incredibly unhealthy.”

As a 501(c)(4), the group is not legally required to identify its donors — unlike its affiliated Super PAC, American Crossroads. Crossroads GPS notes on its website that its policy is “to not provide the names of its donors to the general public.” It has spent millions of dollars running attack ads against Democrats, including a $25 million blitz against President Obama announced last month.

Ann Coulter Demands Romney Fire Andrea Saul

Aug  8, 2012 by     MrObamanos

Rush Limbaugh And Ann Coulter Absolutely Lost Their Minds Over Andrea Saul’s Romneycare Defense. Add influential conservatives Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter to the crowd of conservatives dismayed about Romney campaign spokeswoman Andrea Saul’s off-message comments on Fox News this morning. Limbaugh said on his radio show that Saul flubbed the proper response to a controversial pro-Obama super PAC ad. Meanwhile, Coulter went on Hannity tonight and suggested that Saul should be fired. Earlier today on Fox News, Saul said that if the steelworker, Joe Soptic, had lived in Massachusetts, he and his wife would have been able to get health insurance under Romney’s health-care reform legislation. Limbaugh suggested it would not play well with the base — some of whom have already said it could cost Romney the election — even comparing it to the campaign’s lack of vocal support for “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day” last week.

the Progress Report

The One Thing You Need To Know About Today’s Jobs Report

By         ThinkProgress War Room

4.2 MILLION Private Sector Jobs

Most of the press coverage of today’s jobs report has been focused on the two topline findings — that the economy created a less-than-expected 115,000 jobs last month and that the unemployment rate edged down slightly to 8.1 percent.  While these numbers are certainly important, they miss the forest for the trees.

The biggest news today is the economy has now recovered all of the private sector jobs lost since President Obama took office.  The Center for American Progress’ Michael Linden explains:

Unfortunately, the news is not nearly so good when it comes to the public sector, where there are currently 607,000 fewer people working than there were when President Obama took office.

The chart below tells the whole story. Under President Obama, the private sector experienced a relatively robust recovery, and is now back to where it started when he took office. But due in large part to spending cuts at the state and local level, the public sector continues to shed jobs, and as a result, the overall jobs picture in the United States remains weak.

Keep this chart in mind the next time you hear someone rail about “big government” and complain about the slow pace of overall job creation.

The job losses at the state and local level could have been significantly curtailed if conservatives had not rejected a larger (or additional) aid package for state and local governments. Last fall, Republicans, of course, also rejected the president’s jobs plan that would keep hundreds of thousands of teachers, cops, firefighters, and others on the job. What’s more, the deep spending cuts being proposed under the Romney-Ryan GOP budget plan would only dig the hole deeper.

IN ONE SENTENCE: Instead of the GOP plan to slam the brakes on the recovery and go back to the Bush economic policies that caused this mess in the first place, we need Congress to get serious about passing a jobs bill to help the millions of Americans still looking for work.

Evening Brief: Important Stories That You May Have Missed

The New York Post indulges in reprehensible casual racism by printing this column about rapper Jay-Z.

The founder and chairman of the “grassroots” group Veterans for a Strong America admits that yes, he is attempting to swift boat President Obama with the group’s new ad attacking Obama for politicizing Osama bin Laden’s death.

In his remarks at the annual Cinco de Mayo reception at the White House, President Obama says “no is not an option” for the DREAM Act and he is ready to sign the legislation as soon as Republicans stop blocking it.

Arizona House candidate Jesse Kelly Etch-A-Sketches his earlier plans to privatize and phase out entitlements.

A new super PAC forms with the aim of…eliminating all super PACs.

An offensive Chicago billboard from the climate denial group the Heartland Institute compares belief in climate change to mass murder.

Mitt Romney demands Obama create 500,000 jobs — which has only happened four times in the last 50 years.

That other time Mitt Romney fired a gay aide in 2004. Meanwhile, Romney says we should just let states decide whether or not it’s okay to fire someone just for being gay. (29 states have decided it is.)

R.I.P. MCA.

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