Why AFL-CIO Likes Supreme Court’s New Campaign Finance Ruling

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.inthesetimes.com/working/entry/5468/why_afl-cio_likes_supreme_courts_new_campaign_finance_ruling/

Monday January 25 11:44 am

By Lindsay Beyerstein

It may surprise you to learn that the AFL-CIO joined forces with the GOP-linked Citizens United to overturn campaign finance law as we know it.

Citizens United (CU) is a nonprofit advocacy group headed by veteran GOP operative David Bossie. In 2008, CU released "Hillary: The Movie," a "documentary" so blatantly one-sided and hostile that the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) chose to regulate it as a feature-length attack ad.

CU wanted to advertise the film and distribute it to cable customers on demand, but the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) refused on the grounds that the self-proclaimed documentary referenced Hillary Clinton, who was a candidate for federal office at the time.



Last Thursday, the Court ruled 5-4 in favor of Citizens United against the FEC. The court found that corporations (and by extension, unions) have the same First Amendment rights as individuals when it comes to buying political advertising. Experts expect the ruling to open the door to tens of millions of dollars in independent political expenditures.

Corporations and unions still won't be allowed to donate directly to campaigns, but they will be allowed to spend freely to influence voters.

Citizens United, the AFL-CIO, and their allies argued that the status quo violated their right to free speech. They say that if individuals have the right to express their political opinions, groups of people should also be allowed to do so without interference from the FEC. The Court agreed.

FULL story at link.

[Ian David]

1. The full name is Citizens United Not Timid. They're a real classy outfit.

The C-word as a political tool
A new anti-Hillary organization calls itself Citizens United Not Timid. Get it?
Thursday, Jan 24, 2008 17:04 EST



More:
http://www.salon.com/mwt/broadsheet/2008/01/24/roger_stone/

[Hannah Bell]

2. wtf?

[NoNothing]

3. Link?

The board is different...I think they are two separate organizations.

[NoNothing]

4. In fact, from your own link!

"The Washington Times also reported that another, similarly named anti-Hillary organization, Citizens United, has sent a cease-and-desist letter for name infringement."

So...yeah, not the same group.

[Ian David]

8. Really? I missed that part. Thanks!

Apparently, Citizens United did have due cause to sue them, because people can be confused by the similarity.

[Canuckistanian]

5. I find it hard to believe that the AFL-CIO would support this

After all, do they not realize that they joined forces with vehement anti-union activists who would like nothing but the complete annihilation of unions in general?

Who at the AFL-CIO decided to throw their collective lot in with David Bossie?

[doc03]

7. There are two Unions you know the out of

touch leaders and the rank and file, the leaders have more in common with the corporate CEO's than they do with their membership.

[doc03]

6. So the Unions think they can compete with

Exxon, not with my dollars!