Campaign finance reform opponents are complaining about a new proposed rule to require disclosure of corporate political spending. But having the courage of your convictions is as American as Wall Street itself — and one way or another soon could be the law of the land.
States are ensuring adequate disclosure by expanding their definitions of "electioneering communications" beyond the federal definition to cover how the media play an important role in state elections.
As conservatives have shown in Citizens United, a sustained multipronged effort can bring about substantial change. It would be the most delicious of ironies if the true legacy of Citizens United was not a permanent distortion in politics due to big money, but as an inspiration for a successful counteroffensive.
Groups like ATP, seeking to deregulate elections entirely, would turn the clock back more than 100 years to a time when elections — and government — were for sale to the highest bidder. The court got it wrong in Citizens United. Let’s hope they get it right this time.
If the Court refuses to recalibrate, we can expect citizens to continue to rally against the Supreme Court’s distorted democracy. If this occurs, Citizens United will someday cease to be the law of the land. The real question is not when, but how.
