Obama Embraces The “Threat To Our Democracy” and Endorses Use of SuperPac

[Karmadillo]

http://jonathanturley.org/2012/02/07/obama-embraces-the-threat-to-our-democracy-and-endorses-use-of-superpac/

Obama Embraces The “Threat To Our Democracy” and Endorses Use of SuperPac
Published 1, February 7, 2012 Congress , Politics , Society103 Comments

President Barack Obama has pledged that he would not accept help from “super” political action committees — denouncing them as a “threat to our Democracy.” That pledge, like many of his civil liberties pledges, has now gone into the waste basket. Obama has now called on supporters to load up the Superpac funds — erasing any difference (again) between him and his Republican rivals.

Once again, Obama supporters are blaming the GOP for the flip-flop — arguing that Obama had to lower himself to their level. Two former Obama aides are organizing the effort just as a former aide organized Romney’s controversial SuperPac. For about a week, I have noticed leaks going into the press about how Obama staffers are warning about the expected dirty attacks that will come from the Romney SuperPac. It now appears that those stories may have been placed in anticipation of this flip flop.

What is interesting is that Obama is not lacking funding. He is hauling in huge contributions. Yet, principles seem to be the first to go in this Administration when it is not politically convenient. What they have lost (beyond credibility) is a campaign issue. They could have run on the corporate influence on our political process. What is left is the cult of personality surrounding the President: it is not the principle, just the person.

[jefferson_dem]

1. "...What is left is the cult of personality surrounding the President..."

Turley or Hannity? They have become indistinguishable from one another.

[Gman]

2. I suppose Turley wants Obama to lose honorably

And he's prepared for president Santorrum. Turley's a smart guy. Too smart to be that stupid.

[SidDithers]

6. Exactly...

Seems to be the opinion of many DUers too.

Sid

[Renew Deal]

11. Bullshit gets eyeballs

Nobody would be talking about Turley if he said Obama should fight fire with fire. It's the same bullsit that goes on with NorquistDogLake.

[madrchsod]

3. when one goes into war one uses every available weapon.

not to do so leads to defeat

[Donald Ian Rankin]

16. And that is why we have war crimes tribunals. N.T.

[nobodyspecial]

20. Yes, Obama is just like a war criminal

[Bonobo]

4. I'm going to encourage my son to cheat in school

...because others do and I don't want him to lose out.

[bowens43]

7. that's ridiculous. this isn't cheating, it's playing by the rules.

Obama would have to be an idiot to not fight fire with fire.

[jefferson_dem]

10. The teacher says your son can use his notes on the exam.

Tell him not to because that's not an honorable way to demonstrate academic ability. Don't worry that all other students will be using notes, and they will be put into a grading curve against one another.

[FSogol]

15. Perfect analogy, btw. n/t

[JFN1]

21. Ummm - no.

Would be good, except you left out the part where the student's use of notes is (per Obama himself) "a danger to democracy," or in your analogy, using notes could, I don't know, result in the school burning down.

When you factor that little tidbit in to your argument, "using notes" is not such an innocent thing after all...sort of changes the metric...you know, just "a bit."

[Karmadillo]

22. Perfecter analogy, btw. n/t

[spanone]

23. perhaps the President has realized that a repub president is a greater danger to democracy

[jefferson_dem]

25. It's a shame some posters here have trouble recognizing that obvious fact.

[jefferson_dem]

26. So the class discussed whether notes should or should not be used. His son argued against it.

The teacher decided notes are allowed. His son should stick to his principled position of not using notes and "earn" one of the lowest grades in the class, with honor. Then, you would be happy. ...As the kids who used notes do, in fact, burn down the school.

[Fumesucker]

5. The very best way to point out the evil of super PAC money..

Is to embrace it wholeheartedly..

That will show people how evil the system really is, it will make it clear.

Brilliant eleven dimensional chess once again President Obama.

[Arkana]

8. You don't have to like the rules to abide by them.

I think we should run in the same election as everyone else, hmmm?

[Le Taz Hot]

9. Great insight on how politics really works.

This:

For about a week, I have noticed leaks going into the press about how Obama staffers are warning about the expected dirty attacks that will come from the Romney SuperPac. It now appears that those stories may have been placed in anticipation of this

[FSogol]

12. Unrec. You want Obama to enter the race with one leg tied behind his back?

Now what does this post remind me of?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002286937

Copy and Paste!
Copy and Paste!

[JoePhilly]

13. Obama Bad Obama Bad Obama Bad

[Renew Deal]

14. I wonder what Darcy Richardsons position is on this issue.

[Karmadillo]

19. Really? Well,

this is the best I can find, but it probably is sufficient to justify a conclusion he doesn't support Obama's embrace of this "threat to democracy."

http://www.uncoveredpolitics.com/2012/01/18/exclusive-interview-obamas-democratic-challenger-on-the-issues/

<edit>

On the other hand, people are really hurting financially, so I’m really reticent about asking them to dig too deep into their pockets for what will clearly amount to a lost cause. Contributions are welcome, of course, but any help is deeply appreciated — letters-to-the-editor, blogging, organizing an event, literature distribution, whatever people are willing to do will help us immensely. This is a really decentralized effort, so the campaign is essentially whatever people want it to be. Folks can volunteer on my website at www.darcy2012.com.

[ProSense]

17. What a

hypocrite. Here is what Turley wrote about Citizens United:

<...>

I was sympathetic with Citizens United and the free speech groups. In the end, I have to favor more speech than less in such conflicts. While I would have written a concurrence and have difficulty with aspects of the majority opinion, I probably would have voted to support the majority in the result in this case. However, I do consider this to be one of the most difficult free speech cases to hit the court in decades. Many of my friends are on the other side and I understand that this is quite a blow. People of good faith can disagree on such issues. It really broke along a fine line. It depends on whether your gravitational point tended to fall along the free speech line or the good government line. It is a rare case where those lines ran perpendicular rather than parallel with each other.

http://jonathanturley.org/2010/01/21/supreme-court-rules-5-4-against-campaign-limitations-in-the-hillary-the-movie-case/

[Romulox]

18. You weren't paying attention to what he said during.... Oh. You were? Um, then I got nothing. nt

[Honeycombe8]

24. It's like outsourcing, Even if you don't want to, if your competitors are doing it, you have to.

If you want to survive.

Example: Ross Perot warned abou the trade agreement with Mexico, if you recall. He said if Clinton did that deal, you'd hear a giant sucking sound, which would be lots of jobs being sucked from America down to Mexico. He explained that if one company did it, other companies would have to do it. Clinton won the election and did the deal.

Years later, Perot's company, EDS, outsourced to Mexico.

There are realities in the world that none of us likes.