In today's Letter, Heather speculates that given The Republican Party's furor over Corporate America's cold shoulder since January 6th attempted Insurrection, there may be an even bigger split in the Party. Could the Republicans get by without their best friend and depend mostly on small donations? Reading the following may give pause t…
In today's Letter, Heather speculates that given The Republican Party's furor over Corporate America's cold shoulder since January 6th attempted Insurrection, there may be an even bigger split in the Party. Could the Republicans get by without their best friend and depend mostly on small donations? Reading the following may give pause to Heather's speculation of a deep split between The Republican Party and its dance partner.
I've been keeping the following information for a time like this.
from: Public Citizen APRIL 5, 2021
'The Corporate Sponsors of Voter Suppression'
'Since 2015, Corporations Have Contributed $50 Million to the State Lawmakers Supporting Voter Suppression Bills, Trade Groups Have Given Another $36 Million'
'Key Findings'
'Corporations have contributed $50 million since 2015 to state legislators supporting voter suppression bills, including $22 million during the 2020 election cycle. More than 60 corporations have contributed more than $100,000.
Among the Fortune 100, 81 companies have contributed to these lawmakers, giving a combined total of $7.7 million.
Among the Fortune 500, 45 percent of companies have contributed to these lawmakers, giving a combined total of $12.8 million.'
Industry trade groups contributed $36 million to state legislators supporting voter suppression bills, including $16 million during the 2020 election cycle.'
•Three-fourths companies that paused some or all political contributions in response to the January 6 Capitol insurrection have contributed to state legislators who are supporting voter suppression legislation.
• AT&T has given the most to supporters of state-level voter suppression bills, at more than $811,000. AT&T is followed by Altria / Philip Morris ($679,000), Comcast ($440,000), UnitedHealth Group ($411,000), Walmart ($377,000), State Farm ($315,000) and Pfizer ($308,000).'
You cannot miss the names of the companies, which have been major supporters of the Republican state legislatures and bankrolling all that voter suppression stuff. When you think about the problems we've got, think about the Democratic Party, too. Howard Dean, when Chairman of Democratic National Committee, successfully implemented the fifty-state-strategy, which met with great success. Naturally, the Party didn't stick with it.
Public Citizen is just one source. The big bankers behind Right Wing (anti-government, anti-regulations, anti-taxi, ANTI-CLIMATE CRISIS are CHARLES and DAVID KOCH. David died in 2019, but what is Charles up to? There are a lot of Big Money Men still alive, and they are not going to make love to the Democratic Party. Oh no, there are a few crumbs left in the Republic Party, who of them would turn a date with these companies?
The point Prof Richardson was making wasn't so much the corporate world's loss of its own power as it was a divide between "corporate Republicans" and "Movement Conservatives." The corporate world - or at least certain C-suites within it - are questioning whether they want to risk alienating customers and employees by being so closely associated with the racist, nationalist and xenophobic parts of Movement Conservatives (who, let's be honest, aren't really conservative in any way except for "culture war" issues).
The corporate world has relied on getting low-information, socially conservative voters to support largely corporate policy interests by aligning itself with - or supporting candidates who curry votes by talking up - issues like abortion restriction, fear of immigrants, loss of a sense of superiority.
In short, White Grievance has been the partner that gets Republicans elected to foster policies that support corporate interests far more than the economic interests of "conservative" voters themselves. Heather's post tonight mostly focused on wehther that marriage will survive - and as she noted - it's speculation on her part. Your source material is interesting and provides a good base to see if corporate spending after January 6, 2021, maintains the patterns from the prior years that Public Citizen was reporting in that article.
Steve, I would say that the gross nature of campaign finance is at the core of mounting insanity of our current elected officials. As the measure of campaign strength continues to rely on, and escalate, the financing of candidates, only those with the best donation "snow jobs" survive. The idea of buying our electoral candidates with our donations, and the continual support of the importance of donated money to our elections is what assured the election of guy like djt. The bewildering blathering is the smoke-screen. The money is the problem.
I agree - how we finance campaigns is grotesque, and I'm not defending it. Fern is correct in noting that state legislators, and corporate donations to them, need to be scrutinized as much as federal-level political donations. Prof. Richardson's article was musing about the possibility that there may be a fissure between corporate political interests and the interests that have so far brought populist/nationalist/racist into the Republican voting base. The discussion's gotten a little off track from the Professor's post, and that was why I responded to Fern's comment.
PS Steve, I think you missed in my comment that companies continued to contribute to state legislatures in support of voter suppression bills after 1/6.
Yes, I donate to Public Citizen and read articles and research from it frequently. I think you're misstating what the article says
It's a good article and it clearly points out that corporate America needs to be accountable for funding the anti-democratic state legislators who are promoting voter suppression laws, but I think the article's weakness is assuming that past behavior will continue.
That's possible and maybe likely, and the article does a great job of tracing contributions from 20115 to 2020, but I couldn't find anything in it about contributions in first 4 months of 2021.
Steve, I included excerpts. It think it is a good idea for you to read the entire report, for you to fairly evaluate it. It sounds as though it would not be difficult for you to read on line or have the organization send you a copy.
All of the data sets and tables in the Public Citizen article are from 2020 or earlier.
Your comments about corporations continuing their pre-2021 contribution patterns AFTER January 2021 MIGHT be true, but there's no evidence for it in any of the articles you've shared with us so far (not Rolling Stone, not in Public citizen).
For the record, MY COMMENT NEVER INDICATED THAT PUBLIC CITZEN'S REPORT REFERRED TO CORPORATE DONATIONS FOR VOTER SUPPRESSION IN THE YEAR OF 2021. I referred to that in a response to a fellow subscriber without claiming a source. It is my understanding from wide range reading. I have not misquoted or made inferences based of Public Citizen's material.
Actually, you did, in reply to Mary Beth, say this:
"Public Citizen's report indicated that after the failed insurrection, the companies continued to shovel money to state legislatures for the purpose of voter suppression."
I twas that comment that lit me up. I understand you've stood down from that conclusion, and I thank you for reading my comments.
You and I appear to be on the same side. And it's possible that those prior donation patterns wil re-emerge.
I think we'd both agree that just like many large corporations stopped donating to Republicans who supported the insurrection after feeling public pressure, we also need to apply the same pressure to those corporations who've previously donated to state-level politicians to have them stop state-candidate donations to those who support voter suppression laws.
Good morning, Steve. I would prefer to say that I have made a correction rather than 'stood down', which is more commonly associated with matters of law, military and competition. You will note my reply to Mary Beth concerning the issue, which so consumed our time yesterday:
Hi Mary Beth. I am communicating with you today as a result of zealous fact-checking on the part of subscriber, Steve Lord. He questioned my unsubstantiated claim, when writing the following to you, 'Public Citizen's report indicated that after the failed insurrection, the companies continued to shovel money to the state legislatures for the purpose of voter suppression.' He was correct. The report's language was vague on that score. The report did not have any information about contributions in 2021. I apologize for my error. Here is what the report had to say on the matter:
'Conclusion
After the January 6 insurrection many corporations announced they were pausing their campaign donations in some capacity. Public Citizen noted at the time that any measures short of lifetime bans on donations to federal level disenfranchisers likely amounted to nothing more than PR stunts'
I hope that you do not mind me posting a copy of this correction to Steve as an end note.
Fern the challenge is great, but in 2020 a re-invigorated Democratic organization was able to turn out 92% of registered Dems to vote. We didn't turn Collier County blue but if each county can arise and get their registered Dems to vote Florida can be turned Blue. DeSantis and Scott won by small margins. We can win, right now we need candidates to take on DeSantis and Rubio.
Carol, That would be sensational. I know she will get the support she deserves. I saw her level Jim Jorden during the week. I never saw her so fierce and triumphant. Val Demings would make a significantly important difference.
Yes, I cannot be stopped. I don't know if we can be successful in courts given that deck has been stacked. Bills suppressing the vote and penalizing demonstrations is so old and new, brutal and demonic.
Mary Beth, I am sorry that I didn't understand your reply. Could you spell it out a bit more? Thanks. I was very interested the companies that contribute to voter suppression and wonder what more than a letter would be appropriate. The biggest donors are listed but there are many more companies making contributions to this despicable and undemocratic practice.
I really should be out of bed before I start responding to other people’s posts. (Lol). I was attempting to say, corporations that stop national donations but continue to donate to state and local politicians need to be held accountable. My more naive side prefers to think it has more to do with who you know on the local level than it does the corporate policy. After all, Coca-cola uses distributors to move its product. And the local distributor might get more benefit from supporting the republican (I refuse to capitalize that word) running for office than the their opponent. If I’m going to write a letter to Coca-Cola, then I need to also make those views knows at the local distribution company. It is not enough to address this on the national level. In fact, recent history would indicate that ignoring the local level is part of what has gotten us in the mess. Does that help? I don’t want to go on and on about something I believe you already know. To be clear, I agree wholeheartedly with your concerns and I’m grateful for the information and the links.
Thank you Mary Beth. I think you raise good questions about how to respond the companies. Public Citizen's report indicated that after the failed insurrection, the companies continued to shovel money to state legislatures for the purpose of voter suppression. I will follow your lead by writing to national and local offices. My idea is to have them explain themselves. I also think that voting-rights groups, Stacy Abrams, etc., should know about this in case they don't. AT&T, UnitedHealthcare, Pfizer...!! Every time I read their names or type them, by body tightens. Good communicating with you.
I've read the article twice now, and the only data on contributions that I can find is from 2015 to 2020.
Can you point me to the paragraph that says
Public Citizen's report indicated that after the failed insurrection, "the companies continued to shovel money to state legislatures for the purpose of voter suppression."?
I don't doubt that they do, I just couldn't find it in the Article - here's the actual link -
'•Three-fourths companies that paused some or all political contributions in response to the January 6 Capitol insurrection have contributed to state legislators who are supporting voter suppression legislation.' Steve, It's in the comment but thought to copy it for you.
The language you quoted is vague. It's vague and ambiguous becasue it doesn't say whether the companies made those contributions before or after they paused in response to the events of January 6, 2021.
In other words, it doesn't state what you implied - that the contributions are documented to have been made AFTER January 6, 2021. They may have been, but the article itself doesn't cite any evidence that they have.
The article leaves it to you to draw that conclusion - that they maintained their contribution patterns (well documented from 2015-2020) AFTER January 6, 2020. While it may indeed be a fair inference, Public Citizen never said that those companies started shoveling money to the pro-suppression state legislators AFTER January 6.
'The deadly January 6th Capitol attack was merely the first salvo. The next one is here (Georgia), in the form of S.B. 202, as well as bills like the one Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed earlier this month, cutting her state’s early voting period and closing the polls one hour earlier on Election Day. New York University’s Brennan Center for Justice has counted more than 250 bills like those proposed this year alone, in 43 states. '(Rolling Stone, 3/26/2021) I'm done now, Steve. You are on your own.
'...in response to the January 6 Capitol insurrection have contributed to state legislators who are supporting voter suppression legislation.'. Why don't you check the source?
You keep quoting that language as if it says that "corporations re-started contributions AFTER January 6, when they paused in response to events of January 6 and in light of voter suppression bills in 2021 legislative sessions."
It doesn't say that.
I've read the article 5 times now. All of the contribution data in every one of the tables is from 2015 to 2020.
None of the financial contribution data is from 2021.
The problem is that frequently these companies are the only or better source for their product. I live in an area where the telcomms choice is ATT or Spectrum (formerly Time-Warner Cable, aka The Doesn't Work Phone Company, where your service dies 2-3 days a month, and the costs are higher). Amazon is for me the place where the majority of my readers buy my books. The list, unfortunately, goes on, but it comes down to There's A Reason They're So Big. I literally can't do what I do without dealing with them.
What about letters and phone calls? You know how to corner them. Ask them to explain and to write and you a letter.. Why oh why do they hurt their customers so? "Voter suppression', Is that what they want to be know for?
Hi Mary Beth. I am communicating with you today as a result of zealous fact-checking on the part of subscriber, Steve Lord. He questioned my unsubstantiated claim, when writing the following to you, 'Public Citizen's report indicated that after the failed insurrection, the companies continued to shovel money to the state legislatures for the purpose of voter suppression.' He was correct. The report's language was vague on that score. The report did not have any information about contributions in 2021. I apologize for my error. Here is what the report had to say on the matter:
'Conclusion
After the January 6 insurrection many corporations announced they were pausing their campaign donations in some capacity. Public Citizen noted at the time that any measures short of lifetime bans on donations to federal level disenfranchisers likely amounted to nothing more than PR stunts'
I hope that you do not mind me posting a copy of this correction to Steve as an end note.
I recall question that article when I first saw it a few months back. While it’s important to get the facts right, and I do appreciate someone willing to go back and correct the record, I believe we need to be diligent nonetheless when it comes to state level politics. Your original comment prompted my thoughts about local beverage distributors in relation to the big soda manufacturers. I may not have made that connection with out our conversation. Thank you. Lovely Sunday wishes to you as well. ~mb
Thanks for this, Fern. One of the reasons I love this forum is because we are so sincere in our desire for accuracy and not afraid to admit when we are wrong. Nicely done.
I just wonder, if corporations have been defined as persons by the SC, shouldn't each corporation be limited to the amount a single human person is allowed to contribute? Chuck Theisen, Naples, Florida
I think the real money powering the gop core is 100-1,000 of the wealthiest Americans because they don’t have to disclose anything. Corporations do, and it does play a part, a percentage that can be directed by those few, but harder to keep a public Corp budget in the dark.
Fern, thanks for your informative contributions. Corporations will never move against their bottom line..unfettered access to profit. The second that this admin or any other moves towards regulations of any kind, especially with regard to taxes and labor, they will be motivated by a higher interest than courting the new consumer base. And, correct me if I'm wrong, but not all large corporations are consumer demand dependent, as in "defense contractors", for instance.
One source, Fern? Seriously? You're not a journalist, I see. To ensure this information is true, we need at least two disparate sources for corroboration. (Please excuse my annoyance. It's what QAnoner family members don't understand when they preach, "Do the research." Corroboration is what sets off truth from not truth. It's what makes Dr. Richardson's work so compelling -- cited sources.)
SLWeston if it is my business comment all info is from Public Citizen, all of it and I referred that source three times, REALLY! Look again. And guess what, I was a reporter for public television and WCBS-TV. I always provide my sources and there is a link at the end of my comment to Public Citizen's website. Any more that I can help you with? You do seem out of sorts.
But, Fern, it's still only ONE source. You even say that: "Public Citizen is just one source." Public Citizen is a lobbying and advocacy group -- yes, liberal, on the side of the good guys. But it thrives on donations. It can't be expected -- nor can it afford -- to keep its opinions and information neutral and unbiased.
No other reputable organization has compiled this information, so there in only one source. Pubic Citizen in noted for the high accuracy of its reports. It is considered to be moderate to left leaning. FYI:
Only in America are political contributions considered free speech. Which means a few have an enormous and disproportionate obscene amount more speech than the many.
Dear Fern McBride, NYC - follow the money... conscience for the wealthy leads to guilt, a luxury they cannot afford... our most wealthy have the Devil in mind, and God takes the hind most... agnostics get it, atheists get it, true believers can get it... but IT is nowhere. Nihilism is where we are, existentialism is where we are, and this Universe, ever expanding, has Plant Earth floating billions of light years from other life, if that matters, for we are destroying Earth, destroying Planet Earth daily, driven by Greed, we are destroying our only home, and the children that kill daily, suicide by cop, are telling us that the food and water they consume is corrupt, as corrupt as the farmer that grows it... and the land he has destroyed... for we humans have met the enemy - and The Enemy Is Us... as for Trump, Hawley, Bezos, Kudlow, FOX and Sean, Tucker the latent homosexual from St. George's School, the PEA crowd of Phillips Exeter, the Andover crowd from Phillips Andover, the Deerfield boy - and girls now - from Frank Boyden's days, read McPhee... all these folks get it... sort of - and they are all of it... what is it? Isn't that the question? Dear Heather Cox Richardson vents her nightly nightmare of semi truths and platitudes to her audience of aging white women, a few of them feel what they were when they were insidious and nasty at 15, but most have made it to the point where they can spend $50 a year and suck up to the nightly therapy - historical nothingness that ignores what we whites have done to all those with color, the poor Negro lady obliged to make that mulatto to satisfy her master's son's need to become a man... feed the master's child while his white bitch ignores that child... yes, those Negro women with all their majesty served Tom Jefferson and the others, and said, Yes, Please... and No, Please.. and anything else, Please... as slavery mashed the humanity from our most elegant servants dealing with white and whiter supremacy ... then, back then and NOW - while much has changed, the feelings have not changed... we do not care about their feelings... we only care about ours.. Dear Heather, the $5 per month educator peddling her half truths... putting herself to sleep at 60, wondering how long she will live this charade... .before she will gather up all of it - and do her last book... and try to tell it like it is... just once.
Dear Aging Male, fear not. It will all be over soon. Do not hold your breath. Semi conscious thoughts? You should be so lucky. Only for the comatose. Feel better? At 82, if I hurt, I know that I am alive. I am alive... I think, therefore I am... GS.. check him out.
National Book Award finalist... sent to me by a deaf student at Middlebury College, a nice young man with a sense of humor to die for, and he is living... and wants to help... and we may include him in a project now taking form... go figure...
DEAF REPUBLIC poems by Ilya Kaminsky - start there... he's deaf... and hears everything, feels it all... and his students are listening with cochlear implants.
Thank you, Sandy. I have so many books to read, five sets of eyes wouldn't take care of it. I will read Ilya Kaminsky's Deaf Republic, because you recommended it to me.
In today's Letter, Heather speculates that given The Republican Party's furor over Corporate America's cold shoulder since January 6th attempted Insurrection, there may be an even bigger split in the Party. Could the Republicans get by without their best friend and depend mostly on small donations? Reading the following may give pause to Heather's speculation of a deep split between The Republican Party and its dance partner.
I've been keeping the following information for a time like this.
from: Public Citizen APRIL 5, 2021
'The Corporate Sponsors of Voter Suppression'
'Since 2015, Corporations Have Contributed $50 Million to the State Lawmakers Supporting Voter Suppression Bills, Trade Groups Have Given Another $36 Million'
'Key Findings'
'Corporations have contributed $50 million since 2015 to state legislators supporting voter suppression bills, including $22 million during the 2020 election cycle. More than 60 corporations have contributed more than $100,000.
Among the Fortune 100, 81 companies have contributed to these lawmakers, giving a combined total of $7.7 million.
Among the Fortune 500, 45 percent of companies have contributed to these lawmakers, giving a combined total of $12.8 million.'
Industry trade groups contributed $36 million to state legislators supporting voter suppression bills, including $16 million during the 2020 election cycle.'
•Three-fourths companies that paused some or all political contributions in response to the January 6 Capitol insurrection have contributed to state legislators who are supporting voter suppression legislation.
• AT&T has given the most to supporters of state-level voter suppression bills, at more than $811,000. AT&T is followed by Altria / Philip Morris ($679,000), Comcast ($440,000), UnitedHealth Group ($411,000), Walmart ($377,000), State Farm ($315,000) and Pfizer ($308,000).'
You cannot miss the names of the companies, which have been major supporters of the Republican state legislatures and bankrolling all that voter suppression stuff. When you think about the problems we've got, think about the Democratic Party, too. Howard Dean, when Chairman of Democratic National Committee, successfully implemented the fifty-state-strategy, which met with great success. Naturally, the Party didn't stick with it.
Public Citizen is just one source. The big bankers behind Right Wing (anti-government, anti-regulations, anti-taxi, ANTI-CLIMATE CRISIS are CHARLES and DAVID KOCH. David died in 2019, but what is Charles up to? There are a lot of Big Money Men still alive, and they are not going to make love to the Democratic Party. Oh no, there are a few crumbs left in the Republic Party, who of them would turn a date with these companies?
Below is the link to Public Citizen's web site:
https://www.citizen.org/
The point Prof Richardson was making wasn't so much the corporate world's loss of its own power as it was a divide between "corporate Republicans" and "Movement Conservatives." The corporate world - or at least certain C-suites within it - are questioning whether they want to risk alienating customers and employees by being so closely associated with the racist, nationalist and xenophobic parts of Movement Conservatives (who, let's be honest, aren't really conservative in any way except for "culture war" issues).
The corporate world has relied on getting low-information, socially conservative voters to support largely corporate policy interests by aligning itself with - or supporting candidates who curry votes by talking up - issues like abortion restriction, fear of immigrants, loss of a sense of superiority.
In short, White Grievance has been the partner that gets Republicans elected to foster policies that support corporate interests far more than the economic interests of "conservative" voters themselves. Heather's post tonight mostly focused on wehther that marriage will survive - and as she noted - it's speculation on her part. Your source material is interesting and provides a good base to see if corporate spending after January 6, 2021, maintains the patterns from the prior years that Public Citizen was reporting in that article.
Steve, I would say that the gross nature of campaign finance is at the core of mounting insanity of our current elected officials. As the measure of campaign strength continues to rely on, and escalate, the financing of candidates, only those with the best donation "snow jobs" survive. The idea of buying our electoral candidates with our donations, and the continual support of the importance of donated money to our elections is what assured the election of guy like djt. The bewildering blathering is the smoke-screen. The money is the problem.
I agree - how we finance campaigns is grotesque, and I'm not defending it. Fern is correct in noting that state legislators, and corporate donations to them, need to be scrutinized as much as federal-level political donations. Prof. Richardson's article was musing about the possibility that there may be a fissure between corporate political interests and the interests that have so far brought populist/nationalist/racist into the Republican voting base. The discussion's gotten a little off track from the Professor's post, and that was why I responded to Fern's comment.
In regards to White Grievance, please read this assessment by Dr Justin Frank, a psychologist w/ 40 years experience. It discusses the Grievance Addiction of him and his followers and the potential consequences thereof. https://www.salon.com/2021/02/12/dr-justin-frank-on-the-trial-for-trump-capitol-riot-was-a-source-of-incredible-pleasure/
Wow. That was really interesting!
And right on.
Very interesting. And since this was written during the trial, much of the prognosticating has come true.
PS Steve, I think you missed in my comment that companies continued to contribute to state legislatures in support of voter suppression bills after 1/6.
I agree with you, Fern, that that state support must be called out.
Yes, I saw that comment, but because there haven't been many FEC reports filed since then, most reporting on that issue is anecdotal.
It may very well be that corporations will continue to say one thing and do the opposite - after all, they've been doing it for a long time.
Public Citizen reports are not anecdotal. Do you know Public Citizen? It doesn't research by using handouts from Corporations.
Yes, I donate to Public Citizen and read articles and research from it frequently. I think you're misstating what the article says
It's a good article and it clearly points out that corporate America needs to be accountable for funding the anti-democratic state legislators who are promoting voter suppression laws, but I think the article's weakness is assuming that past behavior will continue.
That's possible and maybe likely, and the article does a great job of tracing contributions from 20115 to 2020, but I couldn't find anything in it about contributions in first 4 months of 2021.
Steve, I included excerpts. It think it is a good idea for you to read the entire report, for you to fairly evaluate it. It sounds as though it would not be difficult for you to read on line or have the organization send you a copy.
I've read it 5 times now.
Here's the link to the article from which you copied the bullet points in the opening paragraph (your "excerpts").
https://www.citizen.org/article/corporate-sponsors-of-voter-suppression-state-lawmakers-50-million/
All of the data sets and tables in the Public Citizen article are from 2020 or earlier.
Your comments about corporations continuing their pre-2021 contribution patterns AFTER January 2021 MIGHT be true, but there's no evidence for it in any of the articles you've shared with us so far (not Rolling Stone, not in Public citizen).
For the record, MY COMMENT NEVER INDICATED THAT PUBLIC CITZEN'S REPORT REFERRED TO CORPORATE DONATIONS FOR VOTER SUPPRESSION IN THE YEAR OF 2021. I referred to that in a response to a fellow subscriber without claiming a source. It is my understanding from wide range reading. I have not misquoted or made inferences based of Public Citizen's material.
Actually, you did, in reply to Mary Beth, say this:
"Public Citizen's report indicated that after the failed insurrection, the companies continued to shovel money to state legislatures for the purpose of voter suppression."
I twas that comment that lit me up. I understand you've stood down from that conclusion, and I thank you for reading my comments.
You and I appear to be on the same side. And it's possible that those prior donation patterns wil re-emerge.
I think we'd both agree that just like many large corporations stopped donating to Republicans who supported the insurrection after feeling public pressure, we also need to apply the same pressure to those corporations who've previously donated to state-level politicians to have them stop state-candidate donations to those who support voter suppression laws.
Good morning, Steve. I would prefer to say that I have made a correction rather than 'stood down', which is more commonly associated with matters of law, military and competition. You will note my reply to Mary Beth concerning the issue, which so consumed our time yesterday:
Hi Mary Beth. I am communicating with you today as a result of zealous fact-checking on the part of subscriber, Steve Lord. He questioned my unsubstantiated claim, when writing the following to you, 'Public Citizen's report indicated that after the failed insurrection, the companies continued to shovel money to the state legislatures for the purpose of voter suppression.' He was correct. The report's language was vague on that score. The report did not have any information about contributions in 2021. I apologize for my error. Here is what the report had to say on the matter:
'Conclusion
After the January 6 insurrection many corporations announced they were pausing their campaign donations in some capacity. Public Citizen noted at the time that any measures short of lifetime bans on donations to federal level disenfranchisers likely amounted to nothing more than PR stunts'
I hope that you do not mind me posting a copy of this correction to Steve as an end note.
I understood what Heather wrote, sorry that was not clear to you.
Fern the challenge is great, but in 2020 a re-invigorated Democratic organization was able to turn out 92% of registered Dems to vote. We didn't turn Collier County blue but if each county can arise and get their registered Dems to vote Florida can be turned Blue. DeSantis and Scott won by small margins. We can win, right now we need candidates to take on DeSantis and Rubio.
I heard on the grape vine that Val Demings is perhaps considering challenging Rubio.......
Carol, That would be sensational. I know she will get the support she deserves. I saw her level Jim Jorden during the week. I never saw her so fierce and triumphant. Val Demings would make a significantly important difference.
She was great. He shouts at absolutely everyone but cannot stand being "shouted at"!!
Sorry, Carol, I am typo liable: Jim Jordan.
Yes, I cannot be stopped. I don't know if we can be successful in courts given that deck has been stacked. Bills suppressing the vote and penalizing demonstrations is so old and new, brutal and demonic.
Thank you. Sounds like more pressure on corporate donations beyond the national landscape is needed.
Mary Beth, I am sorry that I didn't understand your reply. Could you spell it out a bit more? Thanks. I was very interested the companies that contribute to voter suppression and wonder what more than a letter would be appropriate. The biggest donors are listed but there are many more companies making contributions to this despicable and undemocratic practice.
I really should be out of bed before I start responding to other people’s posts. (Lol). I was attempting to say, corporations that stop national donations but continue to donate to state and local politicians need to be held accountable. My more naive side prefers to think it has more to do with who you know on the local level than it does the corporate policy. After all, Coca-cola uses distributors to move its product. And the local distributor might get more benefit from supporting the republican (I refuse to capitalize that word) running for office than the their opponent. If I’m going to write a letter to Coca-Cola, then I need to also make those views knows at the local distribution company. It is not enough to address this on the national level. In fact, recent history would indicate that ignoring the local level is part of what has gotten us in the mess. Does that help? I don’t want to go on and on about something I believe you already know. To be clear, I agree wholeheartedly with your concerns and I’m grateful for the information and the links.
Most of them haven't really stopped on the national level, either. They are playing a shell game, trying to have it both ways.
Thank you Mary Beth. I think you raise good questions about how to respond the companies. Public Citizen's report indicated that after the failed insurrection, the companies continued to shovel money to state legislatures for the purpose of voter suppression. I will follow your lead by writing to national and local offices. My idea is to have them explain themselves. I also think that voting-rights groups, Stacy Abrams, etc., should know about this in case they don't. AT&T, UnitedHealthcare, Pfizer...!! Every time I read their names or type them, by body tightens. Good communicating with you.
Thanks Fern.
I've read the article twice now, and the only data on contributions that I can find is from 2015 to 2020.
Can you point me to the paragraph that says
Public Citizen's report indicated that after the failed insurrection, "the companies continued to shovel money to state legislatures for the purpose of voter suppression."?
I don't doubt that they do, I just couldn't find it in the Article - here's the actual link -
https://www.citizen.org/article/corporate-sponsors-of-voter-suppression-state-lawmakers-50-million/
'•Three-fourths companies that paused some or all political contributions in response to the January 6 Capitol insurrection have contributed to state legislators who are supporting voter suppression legislation.' Steve, It's in the comment but thought to copy it for you.
The language you quoted is vague. It's vague and ambiguous becasue it doesn't say whether the companies made those contributions before or after they paused in response to the events of January 6, 2021.
In other words, it doesn't state what you implied - that the contributions are documented to have been made AFTER January 6, 2021. They may have been, but the article itself doesn't cite any evidence that they have.
The article leaves it to you to draw that conclusion - that they maintained their contribution patterns (well documented from 2015-2020) AFTER January 6, 2020. While it may indeed be a fair inference, Public Citizen never said that those companies started shoveling money to the pro-suppression state legislators AFTER January 6.
'The deadly January 6th Capitol attack was merely the first salvo. The next one is here (Georgia), in the form of S.B. 202, as well as bills like the one Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed earlier this month, cutting her state’s early voting period and closing the polls one hour earlier on Election Day. New York University’s Brennan Center for Justice has counted more than 250 bills like those proposed this year alone, in 43 states. '(Rolling Stone, 3/26/2021) I'm done now, Steve. You are on your own.
Now you're diverting the discussion to introduction of voter suppression laws.
That's not the same as whether corporations have re-started their pattern of political donations after they paused them in January, 2021.
Wasn't that the main thesis of your main comment and the Public Citizen article?
I'm clearly not following you, so I guess I'm done here, too.
'...in response to the January 6 Capitol insurrection have contributed to state legislators who are supporting voter suppression legislation.'. Why don't you check the source?
You keep quoting that language as if it says that "corporations re-started contributions AFTER January 6, when they paused in response to events of January 6 and in light of voter suppression bills in 2021 legislative sessions."
It doesn't say that.
I've read the article 5 times now. All of the contribution data in every one of the tables is from 2015 to 2020.
None of the financial contribution data is from 2021.
The problem is that frequently these companies are the only or better source for their product. I live in an area where the telcomms choice is ATT or Spectrum (formerly Time-Warner Cable, aka The Doesn't Work Phone Company, where your service dies 2-3 days a month, and the costs are higher). Amazon is for me the place where the majority of my readers buy my books. The list, unfortunately, goes on, but it comes down to There's A Reason They're So Big. I literally can't do what I do without dealing with them.
What does that tell you about corporate oligarchy vs a free market with lots of buyers and sellers?
What about letters and phone calls? You know how to corner them. Ask them to explain and to write and you a letter.. Why oh why do they hurt their customers so? "Voter suppression', Is that what they want to be know for?
Hi Mary Beth. I am communicating with you today as a result of zealous fact-checking on the part of subscriber, Steve Lord. He questioned my unsubstantiated claim, when writing the following to you, 'Public Citizen's report indicated that after the failed insurrection, the companies continued to shovel money to the state legislatures for the purpose of voter suppression.' He was correct. The report's language was vague on that score. The report did not have any information about contributions in 2021. I apologize for my error. Here is what the report had to say on the matter:
'Conclusion
After the January 6 insurrection many corporations announced they were pausing their campaign donations in some capacity. Public Citizen noted at the time that any measures short of lifetime bans on donations to federal level disenfranchisers likely amounted to nothing more than PR stunts'
I hope that you do not mind me posting a copy of this correction to Steve as an end note.
Have a lovely Sunday, cheers.
.
I recall question that article when I first saw it a few months back. While it’s important to get the facts right, and I do appreciate someone willing to go back and correct the record, I believe we need to be diligent nonetheless when it comes to state level politics. Your original comment prompted my thoughts about local beverage distributors in relation to the big soda manufacturers. I may not have made that connection with out our conversation. Thank you. Lovely Sunday wishes to you as well. ~mb
Thanks for this, Fern. One of the reasons I love this forum is because we are so sincere in our desire for accuracy and not afraid to admit when we are wrong. Nicely done.
I just wonder, if corporations have been defined as persons by the SC, shouldn't each corporation be limited to the amount a single human person is allowed to contribute? Chuck Theisen, Naples, Florida
We'll know corporations are people when a Republican governor signs a death warrant for one.
Or gives corporations the franchise. Oh wait... is that what citizens United is?
A socio-political partner! Thank you, Ted. I'm smiling with amusement and satisfaction.
All talk and no action!
I think the real money powering the gop core is 100-1,000 of the wealthiest Americans because they don’t have to disclose anything. Corporations do, and it does play a part, a percentage that can be directed by those few, but harder to keep a public Corp budget in the dark.
Great question, Charles, clever and true.
Fern, thanks for your informative contributions. Corporations will never move against their bottom line..unfettered access to profit. The second that this admin or any other moves towards regulations of any kind, especially with regard to taxes and labor, they will be motivated by a higher interest than courting the new consumer base. And, correct me if I'm wrong, but not all large corporations are consumer demand dependent, as in "defense contractors", for instance.
One source, Fern? Seriously? You're not a journalist, I see. To ensure this information is true, we need at least two disparate sources for corroboration. (Please excuse my annoyance. It's what QAnoner family members don't understand when they preach, "Do the research." Corroboration is what sets off truth from not truth. It's what makes Dr. Richardson's work so compelling -- cited sources.)
SLWeston if it is my business comment all info is from Public Citizen, all of it and I referred that source three times, REALLY! Look again. And guess what, I was a reporter for public television and WCBS-TV. I always provide my sources and there is a link at the end of my comment to Public Citizen's website. Any more that I can help you with? You do seem out of sorts.
But, Fern, it's still only ONE source. You even say that: "Public Citizen is just one source." Public Citizen is a lobbying and advocacy group -- yes, liberal, on the side of the good guys. But it thrives on donations. It can't be expected -- nor can it afford -- to keep its opinions and information neutral and unbiased.
No other reputable organization has compiled this information, so there in only one source. Pubic Citizen in noted for the high accuracy of its reports. It is considered to be moderate to left leaning. FYI:
https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/public-citizen/
Only in America are political contributions considered free speech. Which means a few have an enormous and disproportionate obscene amount more speech than the many.
https://www.citizen.org duly subscribed...
Another in the windstorm... of a planet self-destructing... bless Biden... at 78, he finally is where his words will be heard... and ignored.
Dear Fern McBride, NYC - follow the money... conscience for the wealthy leads to guilt, a luxury they cannot afford... our most wealthy have the Devil in mind, and God takes the hind most... agnostics get it, atheists get it, true believers can get it... but IT is nowhere. Nihilism is where we are, existentialism is where we are, and this Universe, ever expanding, has Plant Earth floating billions of light years from other life, if that matters, for we are destroying Earth, destroying Planet Earth daily, driven by Greed, we are destroying our only home, and the children that kill daily, suicide by cop, are telling us that the food and water they consume is corrupt, as corrupt as the farmer that grows it... and the land he has destroyed... for we humans have met the enemy - and The Enemy Is Us... as for Trump, Hawley, Bezos, Kudlow, FOX and Sean, Tucker the latent homosexual from St. George's School, the PEA crowd of Phillips Exeter, the Andover crowd from Phillips Andover, the Deerfield boy - and girls now - from Frank Boyden's days, read McPhee... all these folks get it... sort of - and they are all of it... what is it? Isn't that the question? Dear Heather Cox Richardson vents her nightly nightmare of semi truths and platitudes to her audience of aging white women, a few of them feel what they were when they were insidious and nasty at 15, but most have made it to the point where they can spend $50 a year and suck up to the nightly therapy - historical nothingness that ignores what we whites have done to all those with color, the poor Negro lady obliged to make that mulatto to satisfy her master's son's need to become a man... feed the master's child while his white bitch ignores that child... yes, those Negro women with all their majesty served Tom Jefferson and the others, and said, Yes, Please... and No, Please.. and anything else, Please... as slavery mashed the humanity from our most elegant servants dealing with white and whiter supremacy ... then, back then and NOW - while much has changed, the feelings have not changed... we do not care about their feelings... we only care about ours.. Dear Heather, the $5 per month educator peddling her half truths... putting herself to sleep at 60, wondering how long she will live this charade... .before she will gather up all of it - and do her last book... and try to tell it like it is... just once.
As an aging male I have tried to follow your stream of semi conscious thoughts. Still have no clue where you are going. Hope you feel better soon.
Dear Aging Male, fear not. It will all be over soon. Do not hold your breath. Semi conscious thoughts? You should be so lucky. Only for the comatose. Feel better? At 82, if I hurt, I know that I am alive. I am alive... I think, therefore I am... GS.. check him out.
Hi Sandy. What a time this is! I hope you get some sun. I'm going out to take a walk. Spring is my season.
National Book Award finalist... sent to me by a deaf student at Middlebury College, a nice young man with a sense of humor to die for, and he is living... and wants to help... and we may include him in a project now taking form... go figure...
DEAF REPUBLIC poems by Ilya Kaminsky - start there... he's deaf... and hears everything, feels it all... and his students are listening with cochlear implants.
Thank you, Sandy. I have so many books to read, five sets of eyes wouldn't take care of it. I will read Ilya Kaminsky's Deaf Republic, because you recommended it to me.