Canceled.LTroll.8
Banned
Throughout the history of America, money has always influenced elections.
That’s always been the case, starting from the very first presidential election, and the truth is also that Democrats, just like Republicans, have to get their message out, and that means we’ve got to send out direct mail and we’ve got to run television ads.
In a big, complicated democracy like ours it requires resources to get out your message, and there’s nothing wrong with that, per se.
But, what’s happening in this election is unprecedented because what we’re seeing, partly as a consequence of a Supreme Court decision called Citizens United, is the ability of special interests to mobilize millions of dollars from donors who are undisclosed to run negative ads at levels that are outspending, in some cases, the candidates themselves or the parties.
And when I say negative ads, there was a recent study done estimating that 86 percent of these ads that are being run by these so-called third-party organizations are negative.
Eighty-six percent of them are negative ads that are just bombarding candidates all across the country, and we don’t know where this money is coming from.
We don’t know if it’s being paid for by oil companies who don’t like some of our environmental positions.
We don’t know if they’re being run by banks who are frustrated by some of our financial positions.
We don’t know if they’re being funded by foreign corporations because they’re not disclosed, and so this poses an enormous challenge, and one of the most frustrating things is that these ads, when they run, the names of these groups are all really innocuous sounding, right?
There’s Americans For Prosperity and Moms For Motherhood.
I made that one up, but you get the idea.
So, if you’re just watching the screen you think, well, gosh, Americans For Prosperity.
I’m for prosperity and they’re saying all these horrible things about the Democratic candidate.
Maybe the Democratic candidate is not for prosperity.
Now, they have every right under the First Amendment to let their voices be heard, but I think all of us would agree that it would make a difference if you were watching these ads and you found out, well, Americans For Prosperity actually are bankrolled by a bunch of very wealthy special interests that are opposed to legislation that you support, that might have an influence in terms of how you interpret that ad.
This is a huge problem.
Now, for this election we’re not going to be able to change the law.
I hope that the Supreme Court at some point looks at the evidence that’s accumulated over the past several months and says, this is really hijacking our democracy, this is not a healthy thing.
In the meantime, though, the most important thing we can do is make sure that we vote and make sure that we’re talking to our friends and neighbors and getting out facts and information.
I am confident that if people have good information and can make up their own minds, that we will do well.
The people, by the way, who have the most credibility in delivering that message are you.
Because the truth of the matter is, no matter how negative an ad it may be, it’s sort of background noise.
Most people kind of tune out, especially in these states where they’re getting it every two seconds.
I mean, heaven forbid that you live in a competitive congressional district.
I mean, it must just be nonstop, so at a certain point, people tune those things out.
But, if they hear from their friend who they respect, their neighbor who they respect, here are the facts about what President Obama did with financial regulation to make sure that credit card companies can’t jack up your rates without any reason or without any notice.
It turns out that because of health reform, you’re going to be able to get health insurance even though you’ve got a preexisting condition.
When they hear those things from you directly, that has more credibility than any television ad, and that’s how you overcome all this money that’s pouring into the elections.
You are the most powerful messengers possible, and that’s how democracy ultimately should work.
That’s always been the case, starting from the very first presidential election, and the truth is also that Democrats, just like Republicans, have to get their message out, and that means we’ve got to send out direct mail and we’ve got to run television ads.
In a big, complicated democracy like ours it requires resources to get out your message, and there’s nothing wrong with that, per se.
But, what’s happening in this election is unprecedented because what we’re seeing, partly as a consequence of a Supreme Court decision called Citizens United, is the ability of special interests to mobilize millions of dollars from donors who are undisclosed to run negative ads at levels that are outspending, in some cases, the candidates themselves or the parties.
And when I say negative ads, there was a recent study done estimating that 86 percent of these ads that are being run by these so-called third-party organizations are negative.
Eighty-six percent of them are negative ads that are just bombarding candidates all across the country, and we don’t know where this money is coming from.
We don’t know if it’s being paid for by oil companies who don’t like some of our environmental positions.
We don’t know if they’re being run by banks who are frustrated by some of our financial positions.
We don’t know if they’re being funded by foreign corporations because they’re not disclosed, and so this poses an enormous challenge, and one of the most frustrating things is that these ads, when they run, the names of these groups are all really innocuous sounding, right?
There’s Americans For Prosperity and Moms For Motherhood.
I made that one up, but you get the idea.
So, if you’re just watching the screen you think, well, gosh, Americans For Prosperity.
I’m for prosperity and they’re saying all these horrible things about the Democratic candidate.
Maybe the Democratic candidate is not for prosperity.
Now, they have every right under the First Amendment to let their voices be heard, but I think all of us would agree that it would make a difference if you were watching these ads and you found out, well, Americans For Prosperity actually are bankrolled by a bunch of very wealthy special interests that are opposed to legislation that you support, that might have an influence in terms of how you interpret that ad.
This is a huge problem.
Now, for this election we’re not going to be able to change the law.
I hope that the Supreme Court at some point looks at the evidence that’s accumulated over the past several months and says, this is really hijacking our democracy, this is not a healthy thing.
In the meantime, though, the most important thing we can do is make sure that we vote and make sure that we’re talking to our friends and neighbors and getting out facts and information.
I am confident that if people have good information and can make up their own minds, that we will do well.
The people, by the way, who have the most credibility in delivering that message are you.
Because the truth of the matter is, no matter how negative an ad it may be, it’s sort of background noise.
Most people kind of tune out, especially in these states where they’re getting it every two seconds.
I mean, heaven forbid that you live in a competitive congressional district.
I mean, it must just be nonstop, so at a certain point, people tune those things out.
But, if they hear from their friend who they respect, their neighbor who they respect, here are the facts about what President Obama did with financial regulation to make sure that credit card companies can’t jack up your rates without any reason or without any notice.
It turns out that because of health reform, you’re going to be able to get health insurance even though you’ve got a preexisting condition.
When they hear those things from you directly, that has more credibility than any television ad, and that’s how you overcome all this money that’s pouring into the elections.
You are the most powerful messengers possible, and that’s how democracy ultimately should work.
O---BA--MA