Horse racing over COVID relief? Thank Mitch and Citizens United.
Campaign Financing,Citizens United,COVID Relief,Mitch McConnell,OpenSecrets
Horse racing is important to some. American lives matter to even more people. Why would a politician prioritize horses over people? Money, judges and voter suppression.
Why would Mitch McConnell support horse racing but block COVID relief? How much does he get in political donations? How much came from horse racing lobbyists? How can political donations be traced? How did Citizens United give the super-rich so much political power?
"McConnell knows how the Senate works, he knows how to get ideas into law quickly, and he knows how to kill or drag initiatives to a halt. And he seems to be slowing - or killing the $2,000 checks." - Politico
Connect the dots
Kentucky suffering
"Kentucky suffers worst day for COVID-19 deaths with 54 losses and 3,349 new cases. The commonwealth has lost at least 2,316 people since March from the coronavirus, with 234,021 verified cases of infection." - Courier Journal
"Extended federal benefits put in place during high periods of unemployment this year is ending in Kentucky. The U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) announced that its Extended Benefits program, which is triggered when a state’s insured unemployment rate is higher than 5%, will end in Kentucky on Nov. 28. No new applications will be permitted after that date, and those who fail to exhaust their benefits before then will not receive any remaining funds." - Courier Journal
Horse racing
"Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, whose home state, Kentucky, has (Churchill Downs) one of the most famous horse racing tracks in the world, pushed for a provision that would create national medication and safety standards for the horse racing industry..." - NBC News
"The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, is a provision included deep in the measure signed Sunday by President Trump to provide $900 billion in pandemic aid." - NYT
Blocking COVID relief
"Senator Mitch McConnell blocked an attempt by Democrats to hold an immediate vote on increasing stimulus checks to $2,000 from $600" - NYT
"McConnell has consistently held the stance that both checks to individuals would create a disincentive for people to go back to work." - Newsweek
"McConnell, has fought to limit the package and worked to exclude broad-based aid to state and local governments — help that many local officials in Kentucky say they desperately need." - NY Times
Accepting Donations
"These top 25 donors alone have contributed far more than half of the $118 million total contributed these four McConnell committees since Jan. 1, 2009.
Craig and Richard Duchossois, Elmhurst, Ill., directors of Churchill Downs, horse racing: $1,165,600" - Courier Journal
OpenSecrets reports that William Carstanjen, the CEO of Churchill Downs donated $13,000 to Mitch McConnell and the Republican Party of Kentucky in October 2020. To research this, I simply checked on the executives on Churchill Downs website and then entered the CEO's name into OpenSecrets to query his political donations.
"I would not say that he (Mitch) ever was a staunch ally of the sport, except when comes to mirroring the positions of Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI)... McConnell is a man who looks at situations through a political lens—the procedure. He does not alter positions unless it is advantageous. He has made his career, so to speak, looking at the form, knowing the odds, and making a wager that benefits his position... CDI possesses a powerful Washington lobby that funnels money into protecting their interests." - HorseRacing.net
Citizens United
"The ruling for Citizens United ushered in massive increases in political spending from outside groups, dramatically expanding the already outsized political influence of wealthy donors, corporations, and special interest groups. In a time of historic wealth inequality our democracy primarily serves the interests of the wealthy few, and that democratic participation for the vast majority of citizens is of relatively little value. An election system that is skewed heavily toward wealthy donors also sustains racial bias and reinforces the racial wealth gap." - Brennan Center (paraphrased)
"Chief Justice John Roberts presided over the Supreme Court that gutted voting rights and approved Citizens United in 2010. The group that brought the case was chaired by David Bossie, who would later serve as Trump’s deputy campaign manager." - Salon
"Politicians are expected to be appropriately responsive to the preferences of their supporters. Indeed, such “responsiveness is key to the very concept of self-governance through elected officials." Roberts appears to believe that they should “follow the preferences” of their supporters and give “special consideration” to the disproportionately wealthy individuals who fund their election. - Think Progress
Of the Rich, By the Rich, For The Rich
This cruel cycle involves the super-rich funding politicians who stack the courts to give more power to the rich and disenfranchise the poor. This leads to politicians where horse racing gets prioritized over COVID relief knowing full well they cannot be voted out.
The rich given more political power
The Supreme Court's 2010 decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission helped unleash unprecedented amounts of outside spending in election cycles. The case, spawned the creation of super PACs, which can accept unlimited contributions.
The U.S. now has almost 800 billionaires — and Citizens United effectively gave them and corporation the legal rights to influence elections very directly — with almost unlimited money. The flow of money influences our relatively fragile republic in ways that will further divide our country between the top 1% — and literally everyone else. This isn’t healthy, desirable — or the original intent of our foundational principles. In fact, it’s a direct assault on those principles. - OpenSecrets/Quora
Voter protections are weakened.
"The Voting Rights Act is widely recognized as the most effective civil rights legislation ever passed. Since 1965, it has enabled millions of Black, Latinx, Asian American and Native American citizens who were previously denied suffrage an equal opportunity to cast a ballot. On June 25, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court (under John Roberts) seriously weakened the landmark law. The Shelby County v. Holder decision meant that states with histories of racial discrimination were no longer required to pre-clear changes in voting rules with the federal government before they went into effect.
The decision has led to the enactment of a host of voter suppression tactics such as purging voter rolls, restricting voting rights of returning citizens, instituting onerous voter ID laws, limiting access to voting by mail, and other measures that disproportionately affect low-income and Black and brown voters." - Southern Poverty Law Center
Politicians appoint judges to give them even more power
"Mitch McConnell is focused solely on confirming conservative justices to federal courts. That’s why he referred to his decision to block Obama’s Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, as his most consequential political accomplishment. McConnell knows that the GOP is destined to become a minority party in the coming years. If they maintain their slight majority in the Senate, they have the power to obstruct anything a Democratic president tries to accomplish.
Ultimately, minorities and majorities are meaningless if McConnell can stack the federal courts with extremist judges and use them to bypass both congress and the president. That is precisely why he had that little smirk on his face when responding to the question about whether the Senate would confirm a Trump-nominated Supreme Court nominee in 2020." - Washington Monthly
Follow the money
The system is rigged - just not the way they would have you believe. You see it when politicians care more about their wealthy donors (and their horses) than helping the thousands of Americans dying every day from COVID-19. And voters unable to vote for change due to voter suppression and harsh voter ID laws.
"40 million Americans filed for unemployment during the pandemic, but billionaires saw their net worth increase by half a trillion dollars. The Small Business Administration made $349 billion available to small businesses with the Paycheck Protection Program. $243 million of that was snapped up by large, publicly traded corporations, some of which were valued at over $100 million. Even hedge funds submitted claims to try to tap into what they saw as free money." - Business Insider
Three good sites to track the dark money destroying democracy:
Open Secrets
Nonpartisan, independent and nonprofit, the Center for Responsive Politics is the nation's premier research group tracking money in U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public policy. OpenSecrets.org, which is the most comprehensive resource for federal campaign contributions, lobbying data and analysis available anywhere. And for other organizations and news media, the Center's exclusive data powers their online features tracking money in politics - counting cash to make change. [Support Open Secrets]
Follow The Money
The nonpartisan, nonprofit National Institute on Money in Politics (NIMP) promotes an accountable democracy by compiling comprehensive campaign-donor, lobbyist, and other information from government disclosure agencies nationwide and making it freely available at FollowTheMoney.org. It researches and archives a 50-state federal/state database of contributions documenting $100+ billion, plus more than 2 million state lobbyist-client relationships that are registered annually. Recent expansions include selected local-level data, collecting independent spending reports for federal campaigns and in 31 states, and lobbying spending in 20 states. [Support Follow The Money]
MapLight
MapLight is a nonpartisan, nonprofit research organization that reveals and tracks the influence of money in politics in the United States. The organization publishes a free public database linking money and politics data sources, including campaign contributions to politicians, how politicians vote on bills, and support and opposition to legislation. MapLight provides data on both campaign finance and voting behavior in one database. [Support MapLight]
Takeaway:
“The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerated the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than the democratic state itself." ― Franklin D. Roosevelt
Sunlight is the best disinfectant. Track and expose the money corrupting politics which lets horses race and people die.
Deepak
DemLabs
Image Credit: Pixabay
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D.C. Statehood would give 712,000 tax-paying Americans full equality and taxation with representation. DC has more residents, more than Vermont and Wyoming and comparable with other...
Corporate political donations, voter suppression and gun control: Top political cartoons
This week's top Political Cartoons cover corporate political donations, gun violence legislation, and Jim Crow voter suppression bills. Enjoy the cartoons individually, as a GIF or as a video. Takeaway: Political...
Lessons from how corporate boycotts led to fair elections in South Africa
A white minority clung to power by denying Blacks their right to vote till corporate boycotts led to fair elections. A white minority supported by corporate...
Advocating for infrastructure investment? Show the local benefits with an interactive map.
Political decisions have real consequences. Investing in infrastructure that improves public safety should not be a political issue. How do you let the public know how...
Explaining voter suppression? Use an infographic.
Visual storytelling is fast, friendly and powerful. Use infographics to help more people understand vital issues - such as new schemes to make it harder to...
Fundraising on Zoom? Add a Give Button.
Make it easy for people on Zoom to follow your directions with Give Buttons. Keep it simple when requesting donations, asking for volunteers or have people...
Georgia Voter Suppression – Illustrated Edition
We interrupt the regular blog for this special Illustrated Edition of Voter Suppression in Georgia. Enjoy as a GIF or Video. Now back to our regular...
Cash cows block rural internet
Corporations love cash cows: businesses that generate them a steady stream of cash for no money. AT&T, Verizon and Comcast treat internet services as cash cows....
Mobilizing Latinx voters? Use relational organizing with WhatsApp.
WhatsApp is the favorite Latinx messaging app. It's free and messages come from a known sender. WhatsApp campaigns cost less than SMS and is ideal for...
Canvassing for H.R. 1 over Facetime
How do you bring the personal appeal of in-person canvassing online? How can volunteers be more persuasive with a good script? Use FaceTime with an onscreen...
Friends don’t let anti-vaxxer friends stay at risk. Conversation guide shows how to engage.
Friends don't let friends stay at risk. How do you engage with an anti-vaxxer with so much COVID disinformation? Arguing with the facts against disinformation doesn't...
Are you being tricked into funding the spread of disinformation? Check the GDI Index.
Groups spreading disinformation siphon funds meant for legitimate advertising. Ad networks like Google and Facebook are complicit and make money when they direct ads and revenue...
Mass shooters, Jim Crow and racist Republicans: This week’s top political cartoons.
This week's top Political Cartoons cover racist mass shooting, Republican voter suppression and obstruction with the filibuster. Enjoy the cartoons individually, as a GIF or as a video. DeepakDemLabs Voter suppression...
Zoom fundraising goes better with a teleprompter
Don't take chances with important presentations. Use a teleprompter. Fundraising online is stressful. It helps to maintain eye contact with potential donors while making your appeal....
The ultimate voter registration machine
How can remote, under-served communities get reliable information? How can advocacy groups promote voter registration and COVID vaccinations? And build opt-in contact lists at the same...
Conducting a survey? Use this free solution to collect more responses in less time.
Conducting a survey doesn't have to be complicated, expensive, nor time-consuming. "How can we quickly survey a community of 1,000 families in 10 city blocks to...
Racist killings and voter suppression bills: The week’s top political cartoons.
This week's top Political Cartoons cover racial killings and Republican voter suppression bills. You can view the cartoons individually or as a GIF or a one minute video....
Racism has consequences
Eight people including six Asian women killed in racist shooting spree with a gun bought hours earlier. This isn't a random event. Hate crimes against Asian...
How much will you get from the American Rescue Plan? Check this map.
Americans are feeling the benefits of public investment as they receive direct survival checks and tax credit expansions to keep food on the table and a...
Jim Crow lives here
Republican racists bills to suppress voting have been called "Jim Crow in a Suit". We mapped where Jim Crow breeds, groups like ALEC supporting, companies supporting...
Paid fellowships bring innovation to grassroots groups
How can grassroots groups learn about new ways to have a bigger impact with less money? How can college students find paid internships, learn new skills...
Fact or fiction? Find out with Checkology.
Learn to separate fact from fiction. Use the free Checkology app to determine the credibility of what you're reading. "Lack of news literacy is a threat...
Jim Crow. Cat-In-The-Hat. COVID Stimulus Bill. The week’s top political cartoons.
‘Jim Crow in a suit and tie’: Outrage over Georgia’s new bills to restrict voting access. Bills would reduce weekend voting , end automatic registration, and...
Black Owned Media Matters
Media outlets serving immigrant and communities of color are under threat and deprived of resources needed to sustain their vital role. "Communities of color and immigrants...
Think different to persuade more people
Polarized voters. People trapped in information bubbles. Corporations making billions spreading disinformation in order to sell more ads. How do you get heard when calling and...
Zoom event production made easy
Presenters run over their allotted time, others drift off script, struggle with audience questions... How can virtual events be kept on track and presenters on script?...
How Senator Joe Manchin’s cuts to unemployment benefits will hurt his state of West Virginia
West Virginia is already the poorest state in the country. It'll be even poorer because of Senator Manchin's cuts to benefits in the American Rescue Plan....
Unemployment insurance. Domestic terrorism. Texas. The week’s top political cartoons.
Republicans gave billions in tax cuts to the wealthy but now vote against a living wage for workers. This week's top Political Cartoons capture the hypocrisy,...
When they go low with more voting restrictions, we expand free internet access so no voter is left behind
As Republicans introduce new Jim Crow style voting restrictions, it's vital to empower more eligible citizens to vote. Free internet access enables more people to learn...
Why do poor Americans get bad water? What’s race got to do with it?
Contaminated water is a health hazard for many Black, Hispanic and Native American communities. It is even more fatal with disasters such as the recent Texas...
Minimum wage. Filibuster. Cult followers. This week’s top cartoons.
Republicans give billions in tax cuts to wealthy donors but use the filibuster to deny working Americans a living wage. They gerrymander and deny the poor...
How to FOLLOW THE MONEY driving politicians
Money is the root of all evil. Especially in politics. Learn how to trace the money behind a political decisions. Who is donating? What do they...
For The People. Mapping how H.R. 1 fights voter suppression.
"We the People deserve a responsive, accountable government that gives us all a stronger voice and puts our needs ahead of special interests. Congress must pass...
Bickering. Conspiracy theories. Beach time. This week’s top ten political cartoons.
The top ten Political Cartoons this week showcase Republican bickering, conspiracy theories and beach time. Check out these cartoons in two new formats: as a GIF on GIPHY...
Make videos the easy way. Free app includes hundreds of royalty-free video clips and soundtracks.
Videos get six times more traction on Facebook! Learn how to quickly and easily create videos for free with Lumen5. We created a 25 second video...
Fighting disinfo? Coordinate a rapid response with shared talking points.
Disinfo requires a rapid, broad spread response. Get talking points to supporters for them to spread the truth and have their messages reinforce each other. A...
Listen to the experts. Subscribe to the Digital Politics Podcast.
Listen to weekly Digital Politics podcasts to stay abreast of innovations in political technology. Karen Jagoda has hosted the weekly Digital Politics Podcast since 2007. The podcast features...
Impeachment Illustrated – McConnell Edition
"He's guilty... but I'll acquit him". These Political Cartoons help understand Mitch.DeepakDemLabs Mitch McConnell acquits Trump (GIF) McConnell Acquits Trump (90 second Video) ACQUITTAL ON 5TH...
How well do you understand redistricting? Take this quiz.
Many states allow public input to make sure district maps are drawn fairly. Check your understanding with this online quiz? "Redistricting affects whether the nation’s diverse...
Reach more people. Caption and translate videos.
Reach the one in five Americans who do not speak English and others who prefer to watch videos on mute. Add captions and translations to your...
Guard against hackers. Reduce your digital footprint.
Reduce the amount of public information that hackers can find about you online to disrupt your work, harass you and steal confidential information. What can you...
Organizing resistance against Republican State Senators’ scheme to suppress Georgia voters
"Georgia Republicans have proposed a fresh round of measures to increase voter suppression and limit participation. Hiding under the guise of making sure “legal” votes count, Republican lawmakers want to eliminate...
Double-talk. Denial. Stupidity. This week’s best political cartoons.
This week's top ten political cartoons lampoon Republican double-talk, denial and stupidity. "Ridicule is man's most potent weapon" - Saul Alinsky “It is almost impossible to...
Fight negative media stereotypes
Media stereotypes perpetuate racism. Let’s tackle diversity and representation one photo at a time. Images influence our perception of people and issues, which over time solidify...
Political Cartoons Say It Best
No description necessary... Feeding The Fringe - Adam Zyglis Les Deplorables - R.J. Matson Butthurt Base - David Fitzsimmons Trump or the nation? - Bruce Plante...
Follow the corporate funding behind sedition and violence
"Millions of people had to be whipped into a frenzy over bogus charges of voter fraud and a critical mass of them had to be directed...
Fighting dark forces online? Focus on the tech vendors they need to spread hate.
Parler is being forced to change tech platforms after being ejected from Amazon AWS, Google Play Store and Apple App Store. How can tech firms be...
How YouTube makes money selling ads next to videos of the U.S. Capitol being attacked
A violent mob attacks the U.S. Capitol building and threatens elected officials. Who profits from video streaming the attack? Is it ethical to make money off...
Fed up of politicians inciting mob violence and sedition? Hold the companies funding their campaigns accountable.
“Armed violent protestors who support the baseless claim by outgoing president Trump that he somehow won an election that he overwhelmingly lost have stormed the U.S....
Trumpland? Meet the Republicans and their corporate donors trying to overturn election results.
"Eleven Republican senators and senators-elect said that they would vote to reject President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s victory ... to defy the unambiguous results of the...
Redistricting: What to know now
Redistricting has been hijacked. Partisanship has increased. Political districts are supposed to be revised to to reflect population changes but instead they're being manipulated. Politicians in...
Relational organizing in action
"Relational organizing focuses on the most important tools at our disposal: our relationships and our ability to talk with one another about things that matter." -...
Voting early or using a drop box to vote in Georgia? Find your closest location with just two clicks.
You're about to vote early. Where's the closest location in your county? When is it open? How do you get there? Vote Georgia makes it easy...
See Something, Say Something. Georgia.
Voter suppression has evolved. The systems used to track and respond to it need to keep pace. How can voters be empowered to report incidents of...
GOTV Concerts organizes virtual concerts featuring Georgia musicians to get out the vote
Music can move people to action, but with COVID raging, online performances have replaced large concerts. Virtual events are tailored to local audiences. Turnout increases as...
How YouTube spreads COVID Disinformation
290,000 Americans have already died from COVID-19, yet people protest wearing masks and are skeptical of vaccinations. How does disinformation manipulate people into risky behavior? Who...
How BLUE FUTURE uses textbots to mobilize young voters in Georgia
Young voters are a key Georgia voting group with many voting for the first time! They prefer texting over calling. This demands frugal innovation so organizing...
How to design smart route plans for canvassing, campaigns and non-profits.
How do you stretch limited time, money and workers to reach the most people? The problem comes in different forms: canvassing, delivering campaign supplies or giving...
How relational organizing helps Georgia voters learn about acceptable forms of voter ID
Voter ID laws prevent or intimidate millions of eligible Americans from casting their ballot. Obtaining an ID that fulfills voting requirements is costly and confusing. It...
Fundraising through ZOOM events made easy
ZOOM makes it easy to connect, but how do you get supporters to take the next step and donate? How can they do this while still...
Combat voter suppression. Data by the people, for the people to react quickly.
Spot and combat voter suppression. Get the facts quickly to the public, journalists, influencers, lawyers and voting rights groups. Information that has been screened, provided with...
Lincoln Project: See Something, Say Something!
With just under three weeks left until the November 3rd election and early voting well underway in many states, The Lincoln Project is today beginning to...
Searching for voter suppression incidents as they happen? Use these Twitter expert tips.
Analyzing tweets it is like drinking from a fire hydrant. New apps make it easier to analyze tweets to spot instances of voter suppression as they...
Personal Data: Political Persuasion. How Consumer Data Is Sold To Campaigns To Better Target Voters.
Collecting and selling personal data to businesses is a big industry. Political campaigns are increasingly using the same data. Campaigns rely heavily on voter files for targeting. Many are...
Don’t talk to strangers
Don't talk to strangers. Especially if they're sending you phishing emails. Hackers trick you into opening phishing emails by pretending to be from a trusted source. This often starts with them...
Where is it hardest to vote? Check these maps for answers.
Every American has an equal right to vote. Some are just more equal than others to paraphrase George Orwell. What's in common between communities where it...
Lawyers volunteer to do good
We The Action matches volunteer lawyers with nonprofit groups that need their skills. Lawyers have a unique ability to defend our nation’s values, protect our democracy,...
How Republicans persecute women
Recent headlines highlight Republican policies persecuting women Denying women control over their own bodies. The Republican packed Supreme Court will hear a case that threatens Roe v. Wade....
Who is streaming Russian propaganda into American military bases ask vets?
https://mobile.twitter.com/GenMhayden/status/1502729295680184320
SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING about voting problems
Why is it easier and faster to report a traffic jam while driving than to report harassment while trying to vote? Groups making it harder for...
GOP-packed Supreme Court attacks native citizens’ rights on tribal lands
As part of its recent precedent-breaking spree, the U.S. Supreme Court turned federal Indian law on its head this week on Wednesday, June 29. In the...
Republican use Goebbels’ Principles of Propaganda
Propaganda must label events and people with distinctive phrases or slogans.They must be utilized again and again, but only in appropriate situations. falsehoods were repeated often...
Gen-Z fights for change with creative online tactics
"Abortion rights activists are too fat and ugly to get pregnant", said Matt Gaetz (R-FL). Gen-Z activist have used his comments to raise thousands of dollars...
Cash Bail jails the poor but frees the rich.
Illinois Supreme Court puts end of cash bail on hold until further notice SAFE-T Act ends cash bail The Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today Act, or...
Guide to digital politics: Podcast
"How to Use the Internet to Change the World - and Win Elections" is a book by Colin Delany, a veteran political consultant. Colin has worked...
Maps are a campaign planner’s best friend
Image Credit: Unsplash
