Tuesday, August 28, 2012

A plea to Warren Buffett and his ilk

There's nothing new here, but it kills me to read comments like this* from Obamaite billionaires:
Warren Buffett, America’s second-richest man, is one of Obama’s most high-profile supporters, but he has declared that he will not support Super PACs, saying, “I don’t want to see democracy go in that direction.”

Mr. Buffett, Sir: if Mitt Romney wins this election, democracy will go over a cliff 'in that direction.' There will be no campaign reform in your lifetime -- or likely mine (b. 1959). A Supreme Court with Romney appointees will never dial back Citzens United or Speechnow.org or put any break on voter suppression. Super PACs and 501(c)(4)s will own this country.

You are leaving the country's chief bulwark against corporate oligarchy naked before the barrage. 

Of course, Obama's own disinclination to coddle donors sets the tone and may do him in. But you'd think a few public-spirited and unsqueamish individuals would stand in the breach. 

* In Jane Mayer, "Schmooze or Lose," The New Yorker, Aug. 27

No comments:

Post a Comment