CEOs to Hill: Quit Calling Us For Campaign Cash

[Purveyor]

(01-22) 09:03 PST WASHINGTON, (AP) --

Dozens of current and former corporate executives are sending Congress a strongly worded message: Quit hitting us up for campaign cash.

Roughly 40 executives from companies including Playboy Enterprises, ice cream maker Ben & Jerry's, the Seagram's liquor company, toymaker Hasbro, Delta Airlines and Men's Wearhouse sent a letter to congressional leaders Friday urging them to approve taxpayer financing for campaigns. They say they are tired of getting fundraising calls from lawmakers — and fear it will only get worse after Thursday's Supreme Court ruling.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/01/22/national/w090330S80.DTL#ixzz0dMYyRNOS

[last1standing]

1. What's the opposite of a boycott?

We should all be letting these companies know that we approve of this letter.

[MadBadger]

2. Getting Disgustingly fat on the Ben and Jerry's Diet?

3 Pints a Day!

[donheld]

22. That can be hell on us lactose intolerant.

[Jamastiene]

3. Support

http://www.answers.com/topic/boycott#Antonyms_d_ans

boycott
v

Definition: ban; refrain from using
Antonyms: buy, encourage, support, use

[last1standing]

9. Let's organize a Support! That doesn't work...

A Supportcott? himm....

A 'BOYSUPPORT'! I kind of like that.

Or maybe a 'Useboy'. "Let's all useboy that company!"

I think I should stop now... :evilgrin:

[Jamastiene]

15. Support Campaign?

You are right. We need to come up with something better than "a Support."

:rofl:

Is there a such word as "girlcott?"
Oops, there is already a campaign for that:
http://www.thegirlcott.com/

:shrug:

Here we go:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buycott

A Buycott, that's it.

[DrToast]

5. Seriously. Maybe these CEOs can use the SCOTUS ruling to advertise for campaign finance reform!

[yodermon]

a girlcott

:hide:

[Eric J in MN]

17. Buycott. NT

NT

[last1standing]

19. Still prefer a 'useboy' but your suggestion would be more effective.

:rofl:

[Hello_Kitty]

4. K and R. eom

[Jamastiene]

6. I wonder if there is a way to organize a Support Campaign

for these companies.

[DrToast]

8. If you insist, I'll pick up some Ben and Jerrys and a Playboy on my way home from work

[Jamastiene]

16. ...

:spray:

I want one of each too. :D

[brooklynite]

27. Remember, only read the ice cream container for the articles...

[flpoljunkie]

11. You can pledge here not to donate to any candidate who does not support public financing.

CHANGE CONGRESS ASKS YOU TO JOIN THE DONOR STRIKE! Current Tally:

$1,870,550

“I’m pledging not to donate to any federal candidate unless they support legislation making congressional elections citizen-funded, not special-interest funded.”

What legislation are we rallying around?

The bipartisan Fair Elections Now Act was offered last Congress, and was offered again this year by Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Arlen Specter (R-PA), and Reps. John Larson (D-CT) and Walter Jones (R-NC). (The respective bills are S.752 and H.R. 1826.)

Under this legislation, congressional candidates who raise a threshold number of small-dollar donations would qualify for a chunk of funding—several hundred thousand dollars for House, millions for many Senate races. If they accept this funding, they can’t raise big-dollar donations. But they can raise contributions up to $100, which would be matched four to one by a central fund. Reduced fees for TV airtime is also an element of this bill. This would create an incentive for politicians to opt into this system and run people-powered campaigns.

http://change-congress.org/about/

[harkadog]

25. Does this include Obama?

He refused public financing in 2008 and most DUers thought it was a good strategy.

[flpoljunkie]

7. There are bills in both chambers to publicly finance their campaigns--S.752 and H.R. 1826.

There are 126 co-sponsors of the Fair Elections Now Act in the House bill and only a lowly five co-sponsors of Dick Durbin's companion bill in the Senate.

Urge your Senators to co-sponsor this bill.

[GreenPartyVoter]

12. Thanks for that info!! You should start a new thread, if you haven't already. People need to

know about this.

[LiberalEsto]

10. "Don't call us, we'll call you" nt

[newtothegame]

13. I don't want my taxes going towards somebody elses campaign expenses. n/t

[tranche]

14. The beauty of the ruling is that REAL CASH isn't even needed.

It's the THREAT of a multimillion dollar campaign against said pols which will now do the job. In most cases we'll never even see the corruption taking place.

[wroberts189]

18. My guess...They are worried about having to spend more .....

Like a giant insane game of monopoly they know it is only a matter of time before the biggest companies come in and put them out of business the same way Blockbuster put the small video rental stores out and are now getting put out of business themselves by Netflix.

It will all be a matter of who can pay the most for the laws they want. These "mid cap" companies know that the even larger Corps. which are flush with cash could easily start building their own versions of the mid caps business model. A Walmart version of Ben & Jerry's opening up next door to them everywhere offering more flavors at a cheaper price.. and now Walmart owns the town council etc..

But again I am just guessing.

[Jamastiene]

20. Maybe it is time for a Buycott of these companies.

I think I'll eat some Ben & Jerry's, drink some Seagram's, look at Playboy, play some Hasbro games, fly on Delta Airlines and wear some kickass flannel from Men's Wearhouse while I do it.

:D

[krabigirl]

21. interesting. nt

[Land Shark]

23. If they don't call CEOs, etc, then they'll have to prostitute DIRECTLY to the corp pocket. n/t

[LatteLibertine]

24. Actually I feel the same way

I've "hit the pause button" on my donations. When they start passing legislation in the best interest of 90% of the United States population, give me tap.

[brooklynite]

26. Quoting Nancy Reagan...

...why not "Just Say No"?


I say 'no' to candidates all the time when they call me.