Previously, in Part One, I pointed out a couple of senior U. S. Senators who attract very large alleged campaign contributions. A lot of this CASH comes from firms who have a vested interest in the issues the Schumer and McCain committees work on – “for the people!!” (couldn’t resist this sick joke).
As I said in Part One of what a billion dollars can buy there is a very simple way Americans can go about starting to reverse this pattern of corruption.
Here’s how to have some fun and hit these political scumbags where it hurts!:
First, go to http://www.opensecrets.org/index.php and look up your U.S. Senator and House Member. They’re easy to find and there is necessary contact info for these “elected officials” on Open Secrets, or on iPolitics.com.
Second, take notice of who their largest “campaign contributors” are. Contributions are attributed to firms on Open Secrets.org based on a methodology they use, take the time to read it, it’s very informative. The firms themselves do not contribute these huge sums. Never-the-less, these firms evidently are responsible for the collection and bundling of contributions. This perfectly legal activity indicates an expenditure of time, money and effort by an organization, company or political action entity, all of which would cause someone of average intelligence to question what these folks are looking for in return.
Third, GIVE THE ELECTED OFFICIAL’S (GAG!) WASHINGTON DC OFFICE A PHONE CALL!! Here’s what to say, choose your own words, of course, but make this point: “Records show you’ve received “$$$$” attributed to the efforts of “contributor X”. What EXACTLY HAVE YOU DONE FOR “contributor X’ or what have you promised to do?
Here’s where the fun can really start! If their office claims they did “nothing” for this large contributor, then ask the simple question: “You mean you took money from someone and did nothing in return, isn’t that fraud or otherwise illegal?”
But, if the elected official “proudly” claims he or she worked on the interests of “contributor X” as was part of the arrangement for securing the big alleged campaign contribution, then the next question is very simple: “Did you work for the exclusive benefit of “contributor X” while on the taxpayer’s dime, and if so how does that benefit your constituents”. Please be specific in your answer. Here’s why this is so important to get the answer, one way or another.
There is a Federal law that says the public is entitled to receive honest services from public officers and it is a felony to use their office to enrich oneself. Now lawyers familiar with the honest services statute say it can successfully be applied to wide variety of improper activities of public officers because it is so malleable.
How about taking alleged VERY LARGE campaign contributions from a special interest and not doing what they were meant for? Reelection, or even election, can certainly be considered “self enrichment” under the honest services statute.
Here’s another real question: At what point, size matters, does a “campaign contribution” become so large as to be something else? Go to Senator John, “the campaign reform champion”, McCain’s Open Secrets.org’s page and note the tremendous contributions from Wall Street’s “too big to fail” banks – draw your own conclusions.
Get your family, friends and associates to join in – this is more than just busting b****, this is justice – American frontier style.
I’VE SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST!!
Taking money from one special interest is bad enough, but how about the elected official that takes money from not just two sides, but from all sides!
Remember my reference to Senator Charles, “Show me the camera”, Schumer, Democrat of New York. Well, according to the records posted on Open Secrets.org, the good (I use that term loosely) Senator for the 2010 election cycle has accepted very large campaign contributions, if you can call them that, from law firms that represents PLAINTIFFS in mass tort lawsuits.
He has also accepted similar sized contributions from law firms that represent DEFENDENTS in mass tort lawsuits.
THIS GUY REALLY SHOULD BE CALLED Senator Charles, “Show me the MONEY”, Schumer BECAUSE HE ALSO ACCEPTED LARGE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM VICTIMS!! Go to Open Secrets and check it out for yourselves!
This guy must be a genius to keep this money train running. Conventional wisdom says no one can serve two masters, but who can serve all “comers”? What profession would that be?
Enough rock throwing and entertainment for now, you know what to do and where to go with the answers you get. But exposing corruption is not going to save our democratic Republic. Only a complete change in political parties and a refocusing of issues that are truly important to our free enterprise system and restoring Constitutional government to, by and for the people, not just Wall Street and the special interests.
This corruption by the huge money interests was what I had in mind when I wrote “Common Sense – Part Two” in which I put forth both issues and the way to restore our government to the people.
Think Internet! Think new National political party!
Before getting to the argument for a new National political party, my next article will be focused on the question: “How much media can you buy for $1 BILLION plus dollars?”
Tpaine2009© http://www.commonsenseparttwo.com |
