Endorsing Obama's Executive Order

[PACmenDotOrg]

This went largely unnoticed in the mainstream media, but in April, president Obama drafted an executive order requiring all corporations vying for federal contracts to disclose their political donations. Obviously, this doesn't end the post-citizens united style election finance system, but it would curtail it somewhat.

My organization, PACmen, has endorsed the executive order here: http://pacmenblog.wordpress.com/endorsements/corporate-spending-an-executive-order/

But, what do you guys think? A step in the right direct, or too little, too late? Also, could Obama draft an executive order requiring all corporations to disclose their political donations, or would that be overstepping his executive powers?

[Scuba]

1. It's a start, but we need a Constitutional Ammendment limiting corporate...

...and other spending.


Money does not equal free speech.

[FBaggins]

2. A bad idea.

It only works when there's a good guy in the WH.

It's far too easy to abuse... and just the appearance of a conflict of interest damages the credibility of the federal contract process.

"Before we'll give you federal dollars we want to see who you donated money too... but we promise we won't take your politics into account when we make up our minds"

Better to simply require disclosure of all donations. But of course the executive can't do that by fiat.