There is an old adage, “all’s fair in love and war” and whether or not we buy into that saying, it is a fact that there has been waged on the United States a “political war” by Charles and David Koch and their allies. Let me explain.
Charles and David Koch are two of the most powerful individuals in America but also two of the most dangerous and anti-Americans in recent times. Because of their enormous wealth, they have been able to influence the outcome of political elections and legislation at both the national and state levels.
Through one of its major Super Paks, Americans for Prosperity, during the 2012 presidential election, the Koch brothers spent over $400 million dollars in an attempt to purchase the presidency, Senate and House. Moreover, conservative Billionaire, Sheldon Adelson, personally spent an additional 101 million dollars on Republican candidates. Almost 6 Billion Dollars were spent during the 2012 elections and it is estimated that approximately two-thirds were spent by Republican Super Paks and individuals. The President and every democrat running for national or state offices were targeted with a major invasion of “negative” political ads filled with distortions and lies. Even with several states attempting to implement actions to suppress voting by African Americans, women, Hispanics, young people and the poor through legislation making it difficult for these constituencies to vote, and in gerrymandering legislative districts, the American people responded with a determination not to allow the Koch Brothers and their allies to deprive them of their right to vote. Because of the overwhelming response to the Koch Brothers “buy America” campaign, President Obama won a second term by more than 5 million votes, and the Democratic Party picked up additional seats in the Senate and in the House of Representatives.
Despite their 400 million dollar investment the 2012 elections were a major defeat for the Koch Brothers and they went away licking their wounds determined to fight another day. Now, they have resurfaced with vengeance, determined to purchase the 2014 elections. Through their Americans for Prosperity Super Pak, the Koch Brothers have already spent an estimated 30 million dollars in negative ads targeting democrats and we are not even close to November. In embracing this “all’s fair in love and war” saying, the Koch Brothers have hired “actors and actresses” to “play the role” of average Americans. Because these paid actors have been distorting the facts, several news organizations have debunked the ads as out-right lies. Of course, the Koch Brothers will never let facts get in the way of their agenda and this is just the beginning of their quest to takeover federal and state governments by purchasing their candidates. In addition to their unlimited spending on the 2014 election, the Koch Brothers have also implemented a massive “ground operation” where thousands of paid folks will be knocking on doors in many communities spreading lies and misrepresentations about democratic candidates. Their major focus will be on the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare).
This myriad of unlimited spending in political races was brought about by the Supreme Court’s 2010 decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. In this decision the Court held that the First Amendment prohibits the government from restricting political independent expenditures by corporations, associations, or labor unions. The conservative lobbying group, Citizens United, wanted to air a film critical of Hillary Clinton and to advertise the film during television broadcasts in apparent violation of the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (commonly known as the McCain-Feingold Act or “BCRA”). In a 5-4 decision, the Court held that portions of the BCRA, Section 203, violated the First Amendment. In other words, the Court said that organizations are people and they can spend as much money as they want in political elections.
Although the Democratic Party has by some standards, significant financial resources, they have nothing compared to the unlimited funds available to the Koch Brothers and their constituencies. How, then, will Democrats be able to compete in the 2014 elections where they will be outspent by a factor of at least 3 to 1? In my view, the only way that the Democratic Party can retain the Senate and “possibly” take the House is by turn-out. That is how the 2012 elections were won.
During the 2010 mid-terms, in addition to the rigging of some state legislative districts, the Republican base turned out in greater numbers than the Democratic base. Consequently, John Boehner became the House Speaker who has been presiding over a “do nothing” majority conservative House since 2010. Under Boehner’s leadership, the most “significant” legislation they have passed has been to vote 51 times to repeal ObamaCare.
If the Republican Party obtains control of the House and Senate in 2014, here are just a few things that will happen:
· ObamaCare will be repealed;
- · Social Security and Medicare will be destroyed;
- · Food Stamps for the poor will be eliminated;
- · The US Postal Service will be privatized;
- · Unemployment insurance benefits will be significantly reduced or eliminated;
- · The middle class will see higher taxes;
- · The rich will see lower taxes;
- · Immigration reform will be side-tracked;
- · Legislation to restrict gay and lesbian rights will be passed;
- · Legislation affecting women’s reproductive rights will be passed;
- · The Voting Rights Act will not be fixed;
- · Corporations will be given the “green” light to ship jobs overseas;
- · Seniors will be disenfranchised;
- · Violence against women legislation will not pass;
- · Civil Rights will be gutted;
- · Domestic policy will be compromised;
- · Unemployment will significantly increase; and
- · The President’s agenda for the working class will be done.
Although the President will veto much if not all such legislative actions, nothing else in Congress will be accomplished. We should be reminded, however, that a two-third majority in Congress can over-ride a presidential veto.
You may recall that on June 25, 2013, the Supreme Court struck down Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act, the provision of the landmark civil rights law that designates which parts of the country must have changes to their voting laws cleared by the federal government or in federal court. The 5-4 ruling authorized by Chief Justice Roberts and joined by Justices Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, ruled in Shelby County v. Holder that “things have changed dramatically” in the South in the nearly 50 years since the Voting Rights Act was signed in 1965. The Voting Rights Act had previously been used to block a voter ID law in Texas and delay the implementation of another in South Carolina. Both states are no longer subject to the preclearance requirement because of the court’s ruling.
As of December 18, 2013, restrictive voting bills have been introduced in more than half of the states:
· At least 92 restrictive bills were introduced in 33 states.
· Of those, 13 restrictive bills are still pending in 5 states;
· Of those, 5 restrictive bills are currently active in 2 states in that there has been legislative activity beyond introduction and referral to committee; and
· 8 states have already passed 9 restrictive bills this session.
The 2014 elections will become one of the most significant elections in history if the American people buy-in to the adage that “all’s fair in love and war.” The Koch Brothers are determined to buy America and as noted above, will be assisted by state voter suppression bills. As Americans, we should insist on a fair elections process and not succumb to the onslaught of money to buy elections and the only way we can stand united in this process is to vote. It is not only our right that some want to remove but our responsibility, but that’s just my take.
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