Enough with the term "Special Interests"

[info being]

I cringe when I hear Kerry and the other Dems talk about "catering to the special interests and lobbyists." The term is propagandistic in that it paints a picture of an isolated problem off to the side. You conjur up images of sleazball lobbyist-insiders in Washington, not the systemic powers behind them.

Our candidates need to replace the terms "special interests" and "lobbyists" with any of the following:

- Corporate Power
- Ultra-wealthy
- Big Business

Doing so will breed a deeper understanding of the problem. It must be phrased as "people vs. corporate power", not "honesty vs. catering to special intersts." It just doesn't resonate and people can sense political speak vs. honesty.

[ima_sinnic]

1. I SO AGREE!

The same thought has occurred to me so many times. People are numb to the phrase "special interests"--Reich Limpballs accuses "liberals" of catering to "special interests" fercrissake! It has become an empty phrase and our candidates need to be specific: "giant corporations," "private industry," etc.

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Yes

We need to take up a "separation of corporation and state" mantra.

[jmaier]

3. Agreed.

I think we need to focus on making a pejorative out of the term the "Corporate Elite".

[bryant69]

4. Yeah, but

What about the NRA? What about the Christian Coalition? What about the Right to Life Organizations? They are special interests too, and in some ways their agenda might be even worse for America (not as much the NRA, in my opinion). But it's kind of stretch to label them as Corporate.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[swittersnc]

5. edwards was the worst

but at least he didn't talk about how his mama had to work at the post office to provide health insurance for the family.
his rattling about "special interests" was a welcome respite from the tired ol' story about the middle class kid who came from nothing.

[felonious thunk]

6. The term has been used for 100 years

It's not going anywhere. It seems to resonate and politicians have used that term for a long long time, and it's not about to stop now.

[Maine-i-acs]

7. How about "Corporate Martial Law?"

I didn't coin it but I like it. aka Fascism...

I agree 'Special Interests' is a term the general public is confused by, like the term "Federal Deficit".

"Lies by the Appointed President" should be another Democratic plank.

[mb7588a]

8. Next time you're in D.C.,

look up "Association" in the phone book. It's astonishing. Lobbying is D.C.'s second largest industry, behind tourism. These guys can't walk 2 feet without bumping into one of these guys.

The things you mention - corporate wealth, ultra-wealthy, big busines... they all have powerful lobbies.

These three things that you mention are problems with campaigns. Special interests are things that literally/physically get in the way of the jobs of Congress: making/amending laws, oversight, investigations and appropriations. Anything that gets in the way of Congress is a serious problem.