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Sunday, January 06, 2008
What does it mean to be a Democrat?
Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati
At a 2007 forum in Oakley, politicians and voters gathered to discuss what it means to be a Democrat. At the forum, I asked what it means when Democrats receive large campaign contributions from the same people who give lots of money to Republicans. State Representative Steve Driehaus gave the following answer, which I found surprising:
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06 Jan 2008 at 10:23 am | #
When I tried to play the video, a message appeared saying it isn’t available anymore.
06 Jan 2008 at 10:28 am | #
I just checked, successfully, on two browsers.
Try this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0sVTw1-cKk
06 Jan 2008 at 02:11 pm | #
And of course Steve D. ulitimately voted for this AT&T bill that screwed cities left and right.
It will be interesting to see if they put money in his coffers for his U.S. House Run.
The difference between a Cincinnati Democrat and Cincinnati Republican is spelling!
07 Jan 2008 at 12:05 am | #
I was having trouble viewing the video too, but it is interesting to hear what he said. As a legislator, Dreihaus says he sees the influence of money every day. (After all, there are 50 lobbyists for every member of the house.)
But he then disagrees that this money from lobbyist and entities (corporations) influences his behavior or the way he and other legislators vote.
The best example State Rep. Steve Driehaus could think of was the one where AT&T bought a bill. It was a bill he ended up voting for.
Adding;
But AT&T did get what it wanted with the help of Democrats like Driehaus. Are we to believe that AT&T and the cable company’s interests are the same as the public’s interest? Absolutely not. Driehaus doesn’t try to make an argument for how this bill could possibly be in the public’s interest.
It is the undue influence of big money which really cuts off the voice of a lot of the folks they “really represent”. But who do they really represent?
By Driehaus’ logic, I guess that Todd Portune’s ideology and beliefs are in line with Bush backer and major Republican donor Carl Lindner’s. David Pepper, Jeff Berding, John Cranley, Laketa Cole and just about every other Democrat must also be in line with Lindner’s ideology and beliefs as well. They must share similar beliefs with Dick Weiland, the CEO’s of 3CDC and the fictitious entities that they run as well because they all take large campaign contributions from them.
Let’s for arguments sake give all politicians the benefit of the doubt and assume that they are all above being influenced by big money (which obviously makes their political campaigns and careers more viable and secure). The undue influence of big money still works as a filter that allows corporate candidates to rise above those that are more concerned with and focused on the public interest.
Money opens doors and buys access. Money isn’t free speech, it’s influence. In this pay to play corrupt campaign finance system the undue influence of big money helps powerful voices get heard while shutting out others.
While Democrats might talk about how they hate to have to raise money when pinned down, they fail to challenge this elaborate money laundering and bribery scheme. They try to pretend that this corrupt system isn’t rotten to the core and doesn’t affect them or even the alleged opposition party.
When money rules a political system it is a plutocracy. The men with the money and the corporations they control too often write their own rules, only to be rubber stamped by the politicians they now own. The commons are continuously sold to the highest bidder in the best democracy money can buy, but this is supposed to be government of, for and by the people. We should demand clean elections. Campaign Finance reform is too important to be left to politicians.
07 Jan 2008 at 12:32 am | #
JJ/DYNOMITE, finally took up space with a little substance. I agree with him for the most part. But so does everyone else who isn’t living with their head in the sand.
Campaign finance reform, somehow, someway, needs to be fixed.
Now, if the NAACP wants to circulate petitions and do something worthwhile - that would be something I would sign
07 Jan 2008 at 01:36 pm | #
anon, the Democratic Party doesn’t agree with me. They are happy to take money from special interests and pretend it doesn’t influence their voting.
Somehow, someway it needs to be fixed? You don’t think that somehow, someway you could get your buddy Todd Portune to push the issue since he made a deal with the GOP not to be challenged do you? Now that he’s taken all that money from Lindner I kind of doubt it.
Maybe you could get your friend David Pepper to take on the issue since he talked about it on the campaign trail. Or would that limit his parents “free speech”?
The NAACP is busy overturning stupid laws that the Democratic Party keeps passing. Why can’t the Democratic Party take on this issue? You have a majority at the county and the city. It would be easy for them to do and much more difficult for the NAACP.
Is it because the Democratic Party shares the values of big business and is too beholden to special interest money and corrupt campaign finance system?
07 Jan 2008 at 03:56 pm | #
This was the forum where I posed a question to the panel about the disenfranchisement of Black folks from the leadership within the party as well as the party distancing itself from everyday Black folks. The answers that I received further bolstered my understanding that the party has no real interest in addressing the concerns of Black folks.
08 Jan 2008 at 01:59 am | #
.
”...Monica says: 07 Jan 2008 at 01:56 pm | # This was the forum where I posed a question to the panel about the disenfranchisement of Black folks from the leadership within the party as well as the party distancing itself from everyday Black folks. The answers that I received further bolstered my understanding that the party has no real interest in addressing the concerns of Black folks.”
And where we pointed out that Monica and the community are all talk and no action. They had the opportunity to gain representation on city council and refused to go to the poll !
Great work, Monica !
What a leader !
Society will no longer spoon-feed anyone !
.
08 Jan 2008 at 10:40 pm | #
Thanks FF, I am a great leader and that is your problem not mine. Additionally, maybe there was no one worth voting for. Afterall all the local democratic party has given us are the likes of Jeff Berding, Laketa Cole, Alicia Reece, Issue 27 and the list goes on and on. How do you like those apples??