ByDawn Holian Iype Posted on Fri Nov 16, 2007 at 08:40:51 AM EST
Common Cause is planning to submit a question about public financing of campaigns to the CNN/YouTube debate coming up on November 25. But we need your help to choose the best question! Please watch the video, then cast your vote for your favorite question.
Thanks! We'll announce the winner on Monday, November 19.
Tell Anderson Cooper to use our question in the CNN debate
ByBob Edgar Posted on Tue Jul 17, 2007 at 10:27:26 AM EST
Everyone keeps asking the Presidential candidates: what's your plan for health care, the war in Iraq, global warming?
Year after year these critical issues aren't being addressed because wealthy special interests have more say than the average voter.
So a few days ago, I recorded my question for the YouTube/CNN debate on July 23rd: Which - if any - of the candidates support full public financing of elections?
There are too many problems that we should be fixing already - the environment, the health care system, our energy policy - but powerful special interests stand in the way with millions of dollars in campaign cash.
It's time to put the power back in the hands of the voters. It's time to free lawmakers from the influence of big money and deep-pocketed donors.
Presidential candidates, I want to know: Are you willing to stop the money chase?
ByKirstin Ellison Posted on Thu Nov 02, 2006 at 12:24:49 PM EST
Following Josh's excellent posts about the Lou Dobbs segment on the Voters First campaign, I wanted to make sure everyone who missed it last night could catch up via YouTube. There are two segments, and the one featuring Common Cause and the Voters First campaign starts at about 3:30.
ByJosh Zaharoff Posted on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 03:39:56 PM EST
Today, Common Cause's Mary Boyle taped an interview with CNN's nightly program "Lou Dobbs Tonight," discussing Clean Elections and the Voters First Pledge. It's scheduled to air tonight. The show airs nightly at 6 p.m. EST.
All along, we've said that those in the business community--and elsewhere--who believe in fiscal responsibility ought to be on our side in fighting for full public financing of elections. Lou Dobbs, an Emmy-award winner and anchor of CNN's "Lou Dobbs tonight," is a prime example. His recent book, "The War on the Middle Class," makes the case loud and clear. Here's an excerpt:
Over the years I've examined dozens of ideas and proposals to weaken the grip of big money and special interests in our electoral and legislative processes. I've come to the conclusion that the only way we'll ever see their power substantially diminished, and the common good and national interest fully represented in Washington, is through the complete public financing of all elections.
Lobbying, campaigns, and elections are all about money. And in this case, we have to meet power with power. Only one group of people has more money than corporate America and special interests: taxpayers. I love the idea of our elected officials being beholden to public money and the public interest rather than to corporate America and special interests.
No, I didn't just copy that from our page on public financing--but I could have. That's Lou Dobbs, prominent business journalist and former host of "Moneyline," saying what we've said all along: full public financing is critical to fixing our political system.
Welcome to the chorus, Lou.
UPDATE: The piece ran last night and included great clips of Mary and a ringing endorsement from Dobbs. Read the transcript, after the jump.
Common Blog
