The American Spectator : Zinn Master

Text Size

Zinn Master

By Matthew Vadum on 2.1.10 @ 6:07AM

President Obama's State of the Union address proved once again that the Community-Organizer-In-Chief hates corporations almost as much as the late historian Howard Zinn did.

(Page 2 of 2)

In fact Obama, who frequently and fondly recounts his time as a constitutional law professor at the University of Chicago, lied about the impact of the decision and even Linda Greenhouse of the New York Times called him on it.

Law professor Bradley A. Smith, a former chairman of the Federal Election Commission, who, like Obama, graduated from Harvard Law School, charitably described the president's statement as "blithering ignorance of the law or demagoguery of the worst kind."

Despite the ruling in Citizens United, foreign nationals including foreign corporations continue to be prohibited from making "a contribution or donation of money or other thing of value, or to make an express or implied promise to make a contribution or donation, in connection with a Federal, State or local election" under 2 U.S.C. Section 441e, which Smith noted was not at issue in the case.

The same law also prevents foreign corporations from making any contribution or donation to any committee of any political party and from making any "expenditure, independent expenditure, or disbursement for an electioneering communication," Smith wrote.

Because the right is dramatically outgunned in the world of campaign finance, the left would prefer that billionaire leftists like George Soros, Peter B. Lewis, and the subprime mortgage hucksters Herb and Marion Sandler, who have already made their money in the corporate world, be allowed to use their mountains of cash to control the political debate.

Unsurprisingly, the liberal Secretary of State Project, which Soros helped to create to allow Democrats to steal (even more) elections, decried the Citizens United decision in a mass email to supporters as the "worst decision since Bush v. Gore."

The shadowy group has endorsed Rep. Alan Grayson's (D-Fla.) six-bill "Save Our Democracy" platform. You might know Grayson as the colorful congressman who wanted political adversary Angie Langley jailed for criticizing him.

The six-bill platform would slap a 500% excise tax on corporate contributions to political committees and on corporate expenditures on political advocacy campaigns. It would also prevent companies making political contributions and expenditures from trading their stock on national exchanges.

MoveOn, another Soros investment property, told its followers the ruling was "the most scandalous decision since Bush v. Gore." The group promised to "tackle the single biggest and best solution to the corporate corruption problem" by pushing a "constitutional amendment to undo the damage of the horrible Supreme Court decision."

Service Employees International Union (SEIU) president Andrew Stern, President Obama's closest ally in the labor movement, said the decision, which also allows labor unions to spend freely on elections, will lead to the "unlimited corporatization of our economy."

"Now we have the right to spend unlimited money apparently in ways we want; unfortunately we don't have unlimited money," Stern said.

At least Stern was honest about his motives.

Page: < 12

About the Author

Matthew Vadum is an award-winning investigative journalist at a conservative watchdog group in Washington, D.C. Vadum is also author of Subversion Inc: How Obama's ACORN Red Shirts are Still Terrorizing and Ripping Off American Taxpayers.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (23) | Leave a comment

Alan Brooks| 2.1.10 @ 8:02AM

I Disagree-- negadittoes.
Obama is far higher in dignity than a marxist-- or crypto-marxist-- such as Zinn. I think many of those who work for Obama are naive neo-marxists, but not Obama himself. He is winner; marxists are losers.

Grzmlyk| 2.1.10 @ 9:30AM

And so the left's myths continue.

The adoption of a dignified mien does not dignity make.

Obama is indeed a naïf - I believe his apparent "dignity" stems from his patina of supreme serenity and self-confidence.

But this serenity and self-confidence are the result of a witches brew of megalomaniacal messianism, willful ignorance and utter immaturity.

In the end, despite the left's constant sightings of gravitas - even in the crease of his pant leg - he is not a serious person.

He is a phony and a loser like all the rest.

Maybe if he juts his chin out just a little more.

Margie| 2.1.10 @ 12:23PM

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Consider the beholder. How can a known liar have dignity? Obama actually displays mucho indignity toward us, his "subjects!"

Robert Pinkerton| 2.1.10 @ 11:24AM

While the person of the candidate (or incumbent) is important and necessary thoroughly to examine (Fellatorily deferential hagiography does not count as examination.), equally important are the persons whom the candidate would bring with him (or her) to assist him (or her) with duties of office. An Administration is not just one person; rather it is a team with the office-holder or candidate as its center.

Alan Brooks| 2.1.10 @ 8:13AM

Zinn is scarcely worth mentioning; he was even more of a naif than Chomsky.
I read part of 'Peoples' History', as much as could be stomached it was like Grimm's Fairytales without the dragons-- save for the dragons in Zinn's mind.

Ken (Old Texican)| 2.1.10 @ 8:20AM

Hi Alan.
You are answering yourself again. heh.

Its time for your medication.

We capitalist pigs invented, built, and bought, your computer. You are welcome.

Alan Brooks| 2.1.10 @ 11:50AM

Old Mexican,
you want the govt. to help members of your family-- some of whom don't need the funds?
For such hypocrisy alone, you deserve Obama.
And you will get him, for seven more years.

MOS was 71331| 2.1.10 @ 2:45PM

I've emailed Fivestar Tools to tell them that these "ads" aren't helping them.

Ned| 2.1.10 @ 8:41AM

The left's angst at this ruling is just another testament to the power of free speech. They hate it because if left unchecked, it will be their undoing.
The left were well on the way to quelling opposition speech when to their dismay Rush employed the weapon of talk radio and beat them back. Then Al Gore's invention of the internet was foolishly allowed to fall into the hands of the enemy and now they are on their heels struggling for every inch that can be gained back. Watch out, low blows are to be expected.

Ken (Old Texican)| 2.1.10 @ 9:33AM

Ned,
Precisely correct. Thank you.

I just read a couple of columns over at Big Government, (Breitbart).

First, God bless Rush Limbaugh.
Think of the millions of Americans he has empowered over the years by reflecting our thoughts ...and often articulating them and encouraging us to think the thoughts through.

He may have been one of the key forces that birthed FOX...showed them that they had a solid niche available.

Even though Soros and Obama cashed in first on internet communications, (netroots), the internet in COMBINATION with the tea-party movement looks as though we just might sweep all the America haters away.

The internet has allowed that "center right" national consensus we have all heard about develop, and I'm not sure any of us can imagine the true power we can bring to bear over time....uh, and in hours as well...witness Massachusetts.

Ned| 2.1.10 @ 9:56AM

Ken (Old Texican),
Your Welcome and thank you. I started listening to Rush in the late eighties, I couldn't believe someone was on the Radio expressing my views professionally and articulately and getting away with it. I first watched Fox News while on vacation, didn't have it on my cable yet. The host said Wayne Lapierre from the NRA was coming on directly, I almost turned off the set expecting the usual hectoring and condescending attitude from the interviewer. Fortunately I left it on and was amazed, and I mean amazed, that he was allowed to speak his piece and express his thoughts fairly.
Read something the other day I thought was pretty funny. I can't remember who said it, but it concerned Fox News finding a niche in the American public and someone said, "Yeah, fifty percent of the people in America."

Stuart Koehl| 2.1.10 @ 12:04PM

Zinn and Salinger in the same weekend? The old order passeth. The march through the institutions reaches its ugly end.

Doctor_X| 2.1.10 @ 12:23PM

How stupid do Obama and the Democrat’s think we are? (Okay I know he thinks the average person is a moron) No amount of ads would ever persuade me to vote for a Marxist like him. In fact in the last election I voted for the worst Republican ever to seek the presidency over Obama.

This country is so polarized that no amount of ads by any group, company or organization would be likely to sway the majority of voters. I like many voters have a few “no compromise” positions, such as abortion and gun control. If the party doesn’t stand on the same side of those two issues as I do no amount of ads will ever change my mind.

Let companies waste their money on ads….it won’t change anything!

Margie| 2.1.10 @ 12:37PM

I think Obama has proven he is a liar. Not only that but even worse, he has proven that he actually enjoys being a liar. He's the leader of the Party that can only get elected by lying, and seems to excell by continuing to lie. Along with the Strong Left Arm of the Lame Stream Media they've got it made, don't they?
Ha! Or do they? Wakey wakey, eggs n' Bakey Lefties~ in case you haven't noticed, we're winning.
Yes, the poor dumb sheep brainwashed by the Godless public schools and Communist adoring Colleges will continue praising Obama his ilk, (even some of these are waking up), but most Americans just don't like liars. Especially as their President.
Thanks to the wisdom of the Founders, and our representative form of government, he can't continue his dictatorship for long. Though he will do as much evil as he possibly can in the meantime.. but We the People are fired up, and we are winning!

Ken (Old Texican)| 2.1.10 @ 1:47PM

Well spoken, Margie.

We are winning, and the liers/criminals are going "to the mattresses" very soon.

Take care...and let us know if they come after you.

Margie| 2.1.10 @ 2:44PM

Thank YOU, Ken!
You are the best of the best.

Howard| 2.1.10 @ 3:00PM

Howard Zinn not only hated corporations; he hated America!. He was a ultra leftist who never found anything right with America. He had no problems with Cuba or the USSR however.

ATLmedia| 2.1.10 @ 3:44PM

Just to narrow the focus a bit-corporations are not beholden to any country & in fact work towards an iterest that may or may not be better
for the public. Too, a company like GM sells more cars abroad than in the US. Thus GM (& nearly all 'foreign' companies) will be able to control who gets to the top in US politics, now that the Supremes have opened Pandora$ box.
Good for corporations-Not so good for our /any Democracy.

Ken (Old Texican)| 2.1.10 @ 7:00PM

Hello ATLmedia.

SCREW YOU.....LIAR! How much did you get paid by the communists today?

You are a liar and scumbag coward. We have found you.heh heh heh.
Duck a lot!

eRtwngr| 2.1.10 @ 5:59PM

Read "On the Passing of Howard Zinn" http://bit.ly/csfDsn Good riddance

ATLmedia| 2.1.10 @ 11:12PM

Texan, please tell Margie to cover her eyes before she reads your enlightened ;-O ...blogs.
&
>>>Call us commies "Teabags" we'll get the code & still keep it clean.