Lobby Firm Tells Clients How To Sway Elections While Avoiding 'Public Scrutiny'

[OregonBlue]

In the wake of last month's Citizens United ruling, a powerhouse Washington lobbying firm is informing its corporate clients on how they can use middlemen like the Chamber of Commerce to pour unlimited amounts of money into political campaigns, while maintaining "sufficient cover" to avoid "public scrutiny" and negative media coverage.

A "Public Policy and Law Alert" on the impact of the Supreme Court's ruling, prepared by two lawyers for K&LGates and posted on the firm's site last Friday, notes that, thanks to disclosure rules, corporations could alienate their customers by spending on political campaigns -- especially because they could become the target of negative media coverage.

So, what's a corporation looking to advance its political goals to do? According to the alert, written by K&L lawyers Tim Peckinpaugh and Stephen Roberts:

roups of corporations within an industry may form coalitions or use existing trade associations to support candidates favorable to policy positions that affect the group as a whole. While corporations that contribute to these expenditures might still be disclosed, this indirect approach can provide sufficient cover such that no single contributing entity receives the bulk of public scrutiny.

more.....

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/02/lobby_firm_tells_clients_how_to_sway_elections_whi.php?ref=fpb

[Echo In Light]

1. "maintaining "sufficient cover" to avoid "public scrutiny"" = The US corporate/state nexus

[tom_paine]

7. That's the beauty of Inverted Totalitarianism for the Aristocracy.

It's all hiding in plain sight. But not if you rely on Corporate-State-Controlled Media for your information.

I will say this: like the Nazis before them, they have the opposition flummoxed and forever outflanked. CIA methods adopted to the American populace has been wildly effective these last 30-50 years. Certainly a big improvement from Prescott Bush & friends' effort to unseat FDR in 1934, eh?

In fact, the powers of the Constitutional Republic have been so usurped and destroyed by the Bushies after 20 of the past 30 years under Bush Rule (and Clinton was also Bush Rule in many ways, economically, etc.), that if times get truly "Depression-tough" we could quickly devolve into more classical forms of totalitarianism.

I never considered it like that before, but in ever MORE ways the Bushies and Nazis parallel, their development.

Prescott and friends try and fail with their "Beer Hall Putsch" (American-style) against FDR, who foolishly lets them go and helps bury the evidence. The Dulles-Bush Faction, now the Bush-Cheney Faction, decides to abandon the frontal assault but try to take it over from within, in the new oversight-less intelligence agencies they created as a base from which to expand.

Ed Luttwak described it in his book "Coup D'Etat: A Practical manual" in 1968 and while the tactics and techniques have long surpassed this, you can see what has happened to our country because it follows in many ways the blueprint that Luttwak laid down 40 years ago.

[puebloknot]

10. The book "Defying Hitler" describes exactly what you're referring to here.

Creeping totaliarianism sweetened with promises of a better life for the populace. Group energy too powerful for the weak minded to resist.

The book was written by a German jurist, who got out of Germany and went to England. Haffner -- the name just came back to me. I don't recall if that's the father or the son, who found his manuscript and published it in recent years. There was a name change.

Amazon has it. It's worth a read.

[Mari333]

2. we will uncover you anyway you corporate assholes

[Turbineguy]

3. They should be registered

under the foreign agents registration act.

[yurbud]

4. it's time to make the Chamber of Commerce radioactive. It's already starting.

[SlingBlade]

5. Well, Hope they get more for thier time and money than we did,

[dmr]

6. This is like money laundering campaign contributions aka bribes

Isn't that what hiding your money to make it look legit, or less scrutinized called? Money laundering?

[Heywood J]

9. You're right about that.

If a foreign agent hides political donations to a campaign, it's a crime. If an individual hides a donation of more than $2400 to a campaign, it's a crime. If a corporation launders money to avoid public scrutiny of their business practices (thwarting the vote-with-your-wallet capitalism check), it's perfectly OK.

[classysassy]

8. Democracy down and out

that was the idea from the start of this stolen country,tell the rubes this is a democracy,one man one vote( with exceptions,blacks and women need not try to vote),tell the rubes that they can work their way to the top,just apply yourself,play by the rules(the rules were and still are made by the rich The people that run and are ruining this country have tunnel vision they only see the money.The rubes continue to support the men and women they are told to support,our country deserve better than we are getting from our leaders,but all of them are owned by big business.People we are no longer a democracy,not that we ever were,we all believed we were but the truth is we are a land owned by the few and supported by an il informed majority.

[Edweird]

11. I thought the gist of Citizens United was that corporations had 'rights' that obviated 'scrutiny'.

[Kyril Enko]

12. And I'm PROUD to be an Umerican.....

...where at least I know I'm free (excepting certain circumstances pertaining to viability, means of production, permutations of excessive capital endeavors, loss and/or diminution of fiduciary values as regards to dollar inflation and/or deflation. Do not take with blood-pressure medication as this may result a serious condition known as "cynicism regarding government." Possible side effects include but are not limited to death via insufficient health care, getting shot by a teabagging fuckwad, explosion of eardrums upon hearing the sound of Michele Bachmann's voice, pulverization caused by Rush Limbaugh jumping up and down thus causing an earthquake, insanity by Hannity, or suicidal thoughts and/or action after watching Glenn Beck on television)!

God Bless the/U/S/A!