Prop C Wins: LA Voters Send Strong Message Against Supreme Court's Citizens United Ruling

[tofuandbeer]

Source: Huffington Post

"In a blow against the Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling, the second-largest city in the U.S. sent a strong, if symbolic, message against corporate personhood and unlimited corporate spending on political campaigns.

Los Angeles voters overwhelmingly passed Proposition C, a resolution that instructed local and state officials to promote the overturning of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. With 100 percent of precincts reporting by 3:16 a.m. Wednesday, Prop C had won 76.6 percent of the vote, according to the LA City Clerk's unofficial results.

In the Citizens United case, the Supreme Court ruled that corporate spending on political campaigns was protected by the First Amendment. The controversial decision has since unleashed a deluge of donations from corporations, unions and individuals that have affected everything from the 2012 presidential election to this year's mayoral race in LA."

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/22/prop-c-wins-la_n_3316619.html

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Sorry if this was posted earlier. I didn't find it. But will delete if someone alerts me as such.

[meti57b]

1. Congrats to Los Angeles!!!.....................very nice work!!!

May every city, county and state do the same!

[another_liberal]

2. Good news!

We should all support the campaign for a Constitutional amendment against Corporate Personhood and the Robert's Court's ruling that spending money equals free speech.

If the people demand it, that is what will happen.

[Baitball Blogger]

4. Isn't it obvious that if money=free speech, then

many of us are being gagged?

[another_liberal]

6. Too true!

I have no doubt that was part of the overall plan.

[Nye Bevan]

18. Well, you can pool your resources with a bunch of like-minded people,

in order to raise enough money to make your voice heard. And the Citizens United decision protects the right of you and your friends to do this.

[defacto7]

21. No, it protects the rights of those who have money...

Our rights are inalienable. Our rights have nothing to do with money which means money is not required to have our voices heard and acted upon. If that is not the case and money must be required to be heard above the din of the wealthy and non-living entities, then The United States of America is dead.

I hope you were being sarcastic.

[MADem]

27. If you have no money to pool, though, you're muzzled.

Money does not equal speech. That was just a dogshit decision.

I applaud LA, and I wish more cities and states would pass similar legislation.

[CarrieLynne]

12. LOL! no shit!

[Heywood J]

30. What about the non-Roberts court decisions that started it all?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckley_vs_Valeo

In Citizens United, the Court, following Buckley's holding providing more expansive First Amendment protections for independent expenditures made on a candidate's behalf, held that Congress could not ban independent expenditures by corporations.

[another_liberal]

31. I initially misunderstood your post. Now I see what you mean.

Last edited Thu May 23, 2013, 02:54 PM - Edit history (2)

Buckley opened the door a crack in regard to the wealthy buying our elections. Citizens United kicked the door wide open.

[Baitball Blogger]

3. So it begins.

Let there be a ground swelling of support for this movement.

[AndyA]

5. Good job, Los Angeles!

Money = free speech. BS. I've never seen a dollar bill that could speak.

Money = corruption + non-representative government.

[Catch2.2]

7. HA!

I just posted about this. My frustration is that I flipped channels all night and did not see one news organization mention it. One of the most damaging rulings (Citizens United) to ever happen to this country, one of the largest cities in the country overwhelmingly voices their rejection of it and corporate media doesn't even mention it. Shocking!

[mrdmk]

16. Do not expect to see one either

Last edited Thu May 23, 2013, 03:21 AM - Edit history (1)

Welcome to D.U. Catch2.2

[Catch2.2]

22. Thanks!

Glad to be here!

[Gregorian]

8. Unequal representation must end.

[Judi Lynn]

9. Thank you,Los Angeles.Hope it spreads.Now would be a good time. n/t

[SCVDem]

10. This was only LA city.

The rest of LA county didn't get to add our support.

You always have that 20 - 25% who are disconnected from the rest of us.

[gopiscrap]

11. Yes!!!

Allowing corporations and businesses into the political arena has been the biggest factor into bastardizing our democratic process!

[xtraxritical]

13. That's where I'm from!

[Hekate]

14. Congratulations to our gigantic neighbor to the south!

Central Coast says Thanks! This is a great start to the movement to overturn that immoral ruling.

[tofuandbeer]

17. We finally get something right. :)

[Maineman]

15. Good! Because essentially everything wrong with government can be traced to corporate funding of

politicians. The religious extremism, we can probably cope with.

We need structured campaigns with equal time for political ads.

Money is not speech, no matter what corporations, billionaires, and Republicans claim.

[perdita9]

19. Why wasn't it 100%?

I'm stunned that anyone voted for corporations being treated as people.

[okaawhatever]

20. those 24 per cent would be the gotp and Pat Robertson's fan club..... nt

[Iwillnevergiveup]

23. Very nice

to be part of the 76.6%....3 votes for this from my household. I truly believe those of us under 80 years of age will live to see this abomination overturned.

[davidthegnome]

24. Excellent news.

When I first read of Citizens United, I basically reached the conclusion that democracy was dead. Well, perhaps it is... but maybe we can resurrect it.

Citizens United should have never even been entertained as a possibility within a Country which generally considers itself either a democracy or a republic. The Supreme Court is a joke that stopped being funny a number of years ago - the fools who promoted and ultimately passed the Citizens United ruling ought to be deeply ashamed of themselves. A corporation is not a human being - and enormous financial contributions are not "free speech" any more than me offering a cop a hundred bucks to look the other way would be.

What shocks me still, is that a fair number of "democrats" have admitted to supporting the Citizens United ruling. Corruptocracy at it's finest.

This may be largely symbolic, as the article points out, but it is very important symbolism, as it reflects the feelings of the vast majority of Americans - by far. We're sick of huge financial interests buying our politicians and screwing us over with the blessing of the so called "highest authority" of the Nation.

The Supreme Court should sit up and pay attention - so should our "elected representatives", if they want to have any employment in the next few decades - and avoid prison - they should note the popularity of folks like Elizabeth Warren, who are finally daring to speak the truth. This corporate tyranny will not be tolerated forever.

[WebAntOnYouTube]

25. Step In The Right Direction

Hopefully more cities & states will pass similar legislation & officials will do everything legally possible to resist following that ridiculous Citizens United Supreme Court ruling.

[tofuandbeer]

26. Welcome!

...I'm kinda new too, but WELCOME!

[Rhiannon12866]

28. And a belated welcome to you!

It's great to have you with us!

[blkmusclmachine]

29. .

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