Don’t you just hate it when this happens? A conservative firebrand congressman or senator comes along. They get elected, they say and do all the right things, and they’re a constant thorn in the sides of their political enemies and the media. Then one day, from out of nowhere, they completely step in it and ruin everything.
We really like Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO). We do! But Hawley is suddenly—for no apparent reason—spearheading a piece of legislation whose biggest champions are Joe Biden, Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT), and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). Hawley wants to legislate the Citizens United Supreme Court decision out of existence.
Even Hawley himself admits that the Citizens United vs. FEC case from 2010 “predates me.” That’s true. Hawley is only 43 years old, and he’s only been in the US Senate since 2019. He’s not old enough to remember or understand the hellscape of American presidential campaigns for conservatives over the last 40 years or so prior to Citizens United.
“My goal is to get corporate money out of our politics,” says Hawley. “I am an originalist, and I don’t think you can make an originalist case for business corporations being treated like individuals when it comes to the right to political speech.”
Maybe not. But we live in a world where Democrats are willing to cheat in elections using every possible means because they care more about power than they do about the rule of law, our American traditions, the Constitution, or even their own mothers.
What Citizens United did, and which many of these younger whippersnappers who showed up five minutes ago don’t realize, is that the conservative 5-4 Supreme Court ruling finally balanced a major imbalance that had been in place that favored the Democrats for decades.
The huge difference between Republicans and Democrats in federal elections has always been that the labor unions are allowed to donate unlimited amounts of money to a candidate. That’s why the Democrat running for president always raised a billion dollars and the Republican frontrunner would be lucky to pull in $400 million.
The Democrat Party and the labor unions are basically one hive-minded entity. The unions wash unprecedented amounts of cash—often from foreign sources—and can donate as much as they possibly want to a candidate. Can you name a single major public or private labor union that supports Republicans? I can’t even think of one.
Prior to the Citizens United case, this lopsided advantage was controlled by Democrats for decades. In 2008, Barack Obama took in hundreds of millions of dollars from the labor unions. Meanwhile, John McCain and Sarah Palin’s campaign was stuck with no comparable fundraising mechanism.
What Citizens United did was create a new class of political action committee—the Super PAC—that was suddenly allowed to raise unlimited campaign donations. This finally created parity for Republicans with the Democrats. Sure, the Democrats still owned the labor unions. But Republicans could finally compete with them in terms of contributions!
If you don’t have money, you’re not going to win the presidency. Right or wrong, that is simply true. Starting in 2028, our next Republican nominee is unlikely to be a billionaire who can carry himself into the White House by not needing contributions. If Josh Hawley succeeds in abolishing Citizens United, he will have unraveled the only thing that finally gave us a fair playing field with the labor unions’ massive amounts of cash to the Democrats.
Barack Obama was so mad at the Supreme Court over the Citizens United decision that he stood up there at the State of the Union address in 2011 and waved his little finger in their faces. He lectured them about how the court had suddenly allowed “corporate money” to flood into politics. “Not true,” Justice Samuel Alito famously mouthed at Obama.
We can understand why Josh Hawley wants to get corporate money out of politics, but he’s going about this the wrong way. He’s pushing legislation that will take a major fundraising tool away from Republicans, while ignoring the massive flood of dark money from labor unions that flows into the Democrat Party’s campaign coffers. If Hawley wants to get rid of so-called corporate money in politics, that’s fine—but tie it to the labor unions and get rid of it all at the same time.
Don’t screw this up, Senator Hawley!
I thought he was actually a good, smart guy.
Wishful thinking.
Look for the MONEY. It’s always: Money; Power; sex!!! What a shame. Betrayal is
always painful.
Look for the MONEY. It’s always: Money; Power; sex!!! What a shame. Betrayal is
deeply painful.
He’s just another Operative of The Democrat Communist Criminal Terrorist Organization.
Nice guys always finish last! That’s what Sen. Hawley is saying! If we don’t call people out for what they are doing they are going to run over the ‘Constitution!’ and do what want! Send. Hawley is not talking about playing dirty, which they are willing to do. Are we going to sit back and behave like puritans. This is a war against American Citizens. Her Heritage, while our Country is being invaded! So we should hand them a blanket and say bless your heart! Americans will give you housing, welfare, food stamps and healthcare! Are you comfortable now!? Are you out of your mind? Why they say no I don’t need a job, “Joe Biden is going to take care of me.” While they are calling their 12 family members and friends! The President of Mexico said if you had just taken care of them in their own Countries they would have come! Really? They destroyed their Countries with Socialism they thought their Government would take care of them! Margaret Thatcher said I paraphrasing: Socialist works great until you run out of other people’s money! Look at California! They should rebuild their own Countries and commit to their God, Families and Country! America Citizens can fix what they broke!
I agree with him. Citizens United has been a disaster. Too much money and control from the wealthy. It has been a way to get around the donation rules. Unions have to be included. No more PACs.
What? and its ok for the democrats to continue getting money from the unions and the republicans get their money from the water fountains that people throw pennies into. Come on you fight fire with fire not with a broom.
No. I believe he wants to stop union donations altogether to BOTH. Parties. It’s only fair. Isn’t that what the article said?
They used Ukraine to launder their money from the Unions Boss! Some things never change. You better learn the game they are playing and fast! Otherwise, we don’t have a prayer to save our Country!
I agree. It’s the big corporations are writing our laws. Our politicians are in office for power and money on both sides. It’s the big corporations that are writing our laws. Our congressmen don’t even read what the lobbyists has written. They say vote first then read it. Take the money from the Unions, too.
I, for one, am tired and disappointed at these “youngsters” who think they have come up with the unique idea to right some of what they perceive “wrongs”. The fact is that most are too young and inexperienced in “life” to even conceive what we (old timers) have battled for eons. Starting at ground ZERO is not a good idea. Our GOOD LEGISLATORS who are honest and speak for the People need to rein them in.
What GOOD LEGISLATORS are you referring to? I have yet to find one that isn’t corrupted the minute they enter Congressional Chambers. Jesse Ventura was the ONLY one and he has been run out on a rail.
Name one “ good old legislators”…. No disrespect intended, just don’t believe there are any. They are all on the take!
I understand what you are saying, I’m no Spring Chick myself. I feel sure you watch the State of the Union Address. You have seen how Nancy P and her Democrat Socialist Party has behaved that’s when an audience is watching. She has talked about running the Democrat Socialist Party like the Mob in Italy!
Another RINO in the making?
OUTLAW LOBBYING PERIOD. INCLUDING labor unions, corporations, big pharma, The abortion industry, all of hunter and joe biden’s buddies, the military industrial complex, George Soros, et…No one should run for congress to get rich. And they all do…Look at their net worth going in and what they have in about 4 years.
Yes congress needs to stop all donations over 5,000. None from other countries, stop all these bribery lobbyists that is what they are they bribe these politicians to go their way, that is illegal and needs prosecuted if caught lobbying 10 years in prison, banned for life of any public office jobs, including state federal, no security clearance ever, we allow way to much money wasted on elections that needs to stop, all that money can be used for much better things this country needs, so candidates have to get off their lazy asses and talk to the people, in person door to door, and town hall meetings so we can really ask questions so we find out what they really stand for America, the American People our Constitution as Written, safe and secure boarders, Our Freedoms put back as No.1 those that don’t uphold their oath be fired immediately, anyone trying to Change, Twist, Distort, Ignore, or Destroy Our Constitution as Written fired immediately prosecuted for TREASON it is a Treasonous Act to try any of the above mentioned that includes this communist pretending to be a republican
Well said!!!
More “Backwards” movement within government. Must be contagious!!!!
Businesses and individuals should be treated the same. A business is people. Take the Christian bakery as an example. The owners are covered by the First Amendment and their business is also.
As a person born in St. Louis I am deeply ashamed of you being able to represent good, honest, and loyal Republicans, Get on your knees and pray for wisdom and guidance.
It seems that Josh Hawley misunderstands why the Citizens United was formed. The Dems seemingly have always owned the labor unions bringing in over the top financing that the Republicans could not compete with. Thus they formed Citizens United to bring in funding from large corporations and entities so they would be able to have a level playing field with the Dems. If Hawley thinks taking that away is good then he is just shooting the Republican party in the foot. Seems at times Hawley says wonderful things then other times he says nonsense like this. Ufda!
Make it illegal for Lobbyists to give money to Legislators to vote the way Lobbyists employers want. It amounts to legal bribery and does not help the citizens of this country.
Hey Hawley, Wake the hell up!!