An uncommon calling: Common Cause quietly kicks some campaign finance ass

[leftchick]

Published on The Smirking Chimp (http://www.smirkingchimp.com)


By Alan Bisbort
Created Jun 5 2008 - 10:29am

There's a time and place for all styles in politics.

Take Bob Edgar. A former U.S. Congressman (1974-1986) — the first Democrat elected from his arch-conservative district since 1868 — and current president of the nonpartisan watchdog group Common Cause, Edgar has the button-down look and manner of a Methodist minister (which he is). Moderate to a fault, and energetically nonpartisan, even (holy cow!) bipartisan, he disarms his political opponents with civility and restraint. Which makes what he says, beneath the politesse, hit even harder.

He, for example, pulls no punches when it comes to White House crimes.

"We want oversight of executive branch abuse of power," he says, smiling benignly behind the biting words. "Bush's use of signing statements and fear as an organizational tool is unprecedented and abusive, but Congress could have shut the war down by simply denying him the funds. Personally, I would have been for impeachment."

Edgar was there the last time the Congress cut the funds for a war. He was on the floor of the House when the plug-pulling vote was made to end the Vietnam War on April 25, 1975. Prior to that pivotal vote, he reminds people, President Ford was being furiously lobbied by two aides to send another 25,000 troops to Vietnam after 12 years of fighting and 57,000 dead American soldiers. A surge, if you will.

Common Cause — devoted to "holding power accountable" — takes its cue from Edgar. The group is fighting for media reform (e.g., "no" to consolidation, "yes" to keeping the Internet an open forum), clean elections (including electing the president by national popular vote) and campaign finance reform.

[yellerpup]

1. Common Cause is terrific.

We've supported them for years. Let Bob Edgar get those signing statements all sorted out for prosecution! K&R! :kick:

[lyonn]

2. Ya gotta love the internet

Where else does so much info get spread around so quickly? It doesn't take long for someone on the Net to counter bad info. Years ago the media could start a story and it would take weeks before word got out that it was crap. It still needs to be seen and read by more people, but word is getting out.

I like Common Cause's idea to elect the president by national popular vote.

[leftchick]

3. ....

kick

[G_j]

4. good stuff

K&R