Received this e-mail today from U.S. Senate candidate, Rick Weiland (D. SD), regarding the Supreme Court's most recent ruling:
"Today's decision of the United States Supreme Court to strike down any real limit on the purchase of our democracy by big money may be the worst decision made by any Supreme Court since the Dred Scott case reaffirmed slavery in 1857."
That is what I had to say about today's Supreme Court ruling that destroyed the free speech rights of every American who cannot contribute hundreds of thousands of dollars to politicians.
Contribute today and stand up to big money who is trying to buy our government.
https://act.myngp.com/...
In Dred Scott, the Court said people with money had the constitutional right to purchase and enslave other human beings. In its line of "money has the right to free speech" decisions, including today's McCutcheon decision, the Court is saying that people with unheard of amounts of money have the constitutional right to enslave our democracy.
As we speak the inevitable result of this Court's willingness to grant great riches unlimited power is playing out in Las Vegas. Leading candidates for the Presidency of the United States have been summoned there by a billionaire who has made his money preying on the gambling addiction of millions of Americans and they are being made to grovel for his ill-gotten billions courtesy of the United States Supreme Court's decision that money has the right to buy anything it wants, including our democracy.
Today the Supreme Court said that any as yet unconvicted mafia Don or druglord, literally any citizen with enough money, can contribute $5,200 a head directly to every one of the 468 Republicans or Democrats running for Congress every year. That is $2,433,600 from one person directly to every single Federal candidate of a political party, plus more to as many party committees as they can find.
So, if you are an ordinary South Dakotan wishing to have your voice heard in our democracy, your ten dollar opinion will be competing with the $2,433,600 voices of the handful of billionaires who are buying our democracy.
Who do you think will be heard by politicians needing money for their campaigns?
Help me stand up to the billionaires by donating today.
https://act.myngp.com/...
Today I am as proud as I have ever been of the proposed constitutional amendment I have printed on the back of every business card I have handed to the thousands of South Dakotans I have met in the 338 towns I have campaigned in since May of last year. It reads, "So that the votes of all, rather than the wealth of the few, shall direct the course of this Republic, Congress shall have the power to limit the raising and spending of money with respect to federal elections..."
If I am elected, despite the additional millions todays McCutcheon decision means can be raised and spent by Mike Rounds against me, I reaffirm that my first act in the Senate will be to introduce this amendment to end big money purchase of our country and return it to its rightful owners, the people.
Thanks,
Rick Weiland
Click here if you want to donate to Weiland's campaign:
https://act.myngp.com/...