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But when a Company or a consortium of corpoRats do it, it’s “lobbying.”

Distinction without ‘difference.’

President Obama wants a public plan. So far this week, I have received two telephone calls requesting help with promoting President Obama’s public health plan in my locality. He wants it done. The Republicans are so against insuring all Americans except themselves. They want us to keep paying for their health insurance and to h*ll with the rest of us.

We do need public financing of campaigns. The lobbyist usually wins and we lose. Just look at the commercial food industry. Monsanto GMO monster foods are killing Americans and yet the corn, wheat and soybean industry is federally subsidized.

So — pay to play for politics under the nominal guise of freedom of speech is a load of $hit.

Yes, a “lobbyist” is, technically, anyone who goes to talk to a politician about an issue. But “The Lobbyists” that we have today are high-paid corporate types, and they do not “just talk” to politicians — they offer campaign funds and other items — they BRIBE the politicians. If they JUST talked, that would be Jim Dandy, but they do not “just talk”. Offering free dinners, ballgames, cvampaign contributions, ads to smear opponents, etc., are ALL BRIBES. As soon as a lobbiest offers bribes they are no longer acting under the free speech of the constitution. And as an aside to that, if you are not a professional lobbiest paid by one of these bigwigs, with perks and goodies to offer the politicians, your chances of gaining ANY access to any of these politicians is slim to none. Thus, in theory anyone has access to the politicians to lobby an issue, but in practice only those who can offer something to the politicians will ever gain real access and consideration of their issues.

Free speech is free. As soon as it costs, it is no longer free speech.

Freedom of speech in the constitution protects everyone’s right to go into a public place and publicly announce thier political beliefs. It does not protect any “rights” to advertising in any media — unless that media is considered public property. You can protest in the streets (with reasonable limits — like not blocking traffic), but it is not at all legal for you to protest ON someone’s private property (without their express permission). The former is constitutionally protected, the latter is not.

If you want health insurance legislation you first need public financing of federal elections.

This is a very important point.

Equally important is the fact that candidate Obama ruined our chances for publicly-financed elections, so that he could spend his head off during the campaign.

Thus, even before he was elected, Obama dealt progressives a crippling blow.

Rupert Murdoch in Pain

Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009 –
Title I: Defense Matters - Makes supplemental appropriations for FY2009 to the Department of Defense (DOD) for: (1) military personnel in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force (military departments); (2) operation and maintenance for the military departments, DOD, the reserves, and the Army National Guard; (3) the Iraq Freedom Fund; (4) the Afghanistan Security Forces Fund; (5) the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Fund; (6) procurement for the military departments, DOD, and National Guard and reserve equipment; (7) research, development, test and evaluation for the military departments and DOD; (8) Defense Working Capital Funds; (9) the Defense Health Program; (10) drug interdiction and counter-drug activities; (11) the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Fund; (12) the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle Fund; and (13) the Office of Inspector General.
(continued)

From original link…

NAYs —5
Coburn (R-OK)
DeMint (R-SC)
Enzi (R-WY)
Feingold (D-WI)
Sanders (I-VT)

… The fat elephant in the room says:

What was HR 2346? Description/context please?

… The fat elephant in the room says:
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00210

.

Speech is free — lobbying is not

Lobbying is speech. Want to go speak to your local Congressperson about an issue you’re concerned with? Congrats, you’re a lobbyist.

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Xisithrus Says:

Thats not freedom of speech, thats investing in politics under the guise of freedom of speech.

One of the great things about Obama is that his web-enabled campaign made him able to take small amounts of money from a large amount of people. Thus, he is beholden to none of us (yes, I kicked in too). More politicians should push for this campaign finance method.

Thats not freedom of speech, thats investing in politics under the guise of freedom of speech.