Spurred on by recent revelations that companies such as Target are dumping money into retrogressive political campaigns in California and other states, the progressive organization MoveOn.org is moving Tuesday, August 10th, against corporate corruption by pressuring San Diego’s two liberal Congressional representatives to sign an anti-corruption pledge. MoveOn.org is touting this tactic nation-wide in their “Stand against Big Money: Stand with the Other 98% against corporate corruption” campaign. There are 167 similar actions across the country Tuesday, according to their website.
MoveOn is organizing two protests – one for Congressman Bob Filner in the South Bay and the other for Congresswoman Susan Davis.
Both actions will be at noon on Tuesday, August 10th. The South Bay event is at Filner’s office in Chula Vista: 333 F Street, Suite A, Chula Vista, CA 91910 – located at the corner of F street and Landis across from Marie Callendars and The Red Lobster.
The other action will also be at noon, and at the Community Concourse, located at Second and “C” Streets in downtown San Diego. (However, Susan Davis’ office is in City Heights.)
In terms of pre-event responses, this one appears to be the larger protest. Here is what MoveOn.org says:
We have to stop Target and other big corporations from changing the rules of democracy. The Fight Washington Corruption pledge aims to stop corporations from buying our elections and holds politicians accountable to the Other 98% of us. But politicians will only sign on to the pledge if voters demand it—that’s why we’re gathering across the country on Tuesday to ask all politicians to sign the pledge.
Target is one of the first corporations to take advantage of Citizens United. It donated over $150,000 to an anti-gay, anti-immigration candidate in Minnesota. We need to hold Target accountable—and show other corporations that they will pay a price if they follow Target’s lead in hijacking our democracy.
The OB Rag joins in condemning corporate corruption and take-over of our electoral system. We have been involved in the nation-wide Coffee Party movement, and were involved in starting a chapter here in San Diego. We think that all progressives should be working together, especially here in a traditional conservative area. We call on other progressive groups to join MoveOn.org in their action, and we urge MoveOn.org to join other groups in their actions, as well.
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Right on!
Corruption comes from all campaign contributions or bribes including individuals, corporations and unions. We need publicly financed elections and quicker justice for our congressional lawbreakers.
It would be nice, but unfortunately it will never happen. There’s just too much money involved. It would sure serve to find us the best, most qualified candidates, because then they’d have to run on equal footing. The only problem would be how to publicly fund a primary campaign with 5 or more candidates running from each side?
Andy, the big money sink for campaigns is TV. When I was growing up, broadcaster were required to give public service time as part of their license to use the PUBLIC airwaves. Fair distribution of the public airwaves would be an important first step for fair publicly financed campaigns. Neither party would support this but independents, the fastest growing voter group, would.
I had no idea of Target doing that. So much for my shopping trip this afternoon to Target. I am glad I read this.