By DAVID ESPO (AP) – 1 hour ago

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans blocked legislation imposing new restrictions on political activity by special interest groups Tuesday, likely dealing a fatal blow to a drive by the White House and congressional Democrats to rewrite campaign rules in the run-up to the midterm elections.

The 57-41 vote was three short of the total needed to advance the measure, which calls for greater disclosure on campaign advertising funded independently by corporations, unions and other organizations, but included an exemption for the National Rifle Association and a small number of other groups.

Less than 100 days before the elections, the debate was highly political — and the outcome widely anticipated.

Anticipating defeat, Democrats swiftly unleashed a coordinated attack employing one of their emerging campaign themes. "After a year of defending big banks, big insurance, big oil and other special interests, Republicans might want to drown out the voices of Americans who don’t have the financial resources of big corporations but want to have their say in this year’s elections," the party’s chairman, Tim Kaine, said in a statement.

Republicans, anticipating big gains in the fall, folded the day’s Senate events into their own election-year argument — that Democrats have been unsuccessful in easing double-digit unemployment.

"Today was a rebuke to congressional Democrats who need to put aside their electoral self-interest and start addressing our struggling economy, which continues to be the primary concern among American voters," GOP Chairman Michael Steele said.

Democrats drafted the bill in response to a Supreme Court ruling last winter that said corporations and unions were free to spend their own money on advertising, mass mailings and other forms of political activity. A companion measure cleared the House last month on a near party-line vote over vociferous Republican protests.

Under both bills, nearly all organizations airing political ads independently of candidates or the political parties would be required to disclose their top donors and the amounts they paid. The group’s CEO or other top official would be required to appear on screen taking responsibility for the commercial.

Additionally, any business, union or other entity holding a government contract worth more than $10 million would be banned from a variety of political activity, as would firms in possession of federal bailout funds and corporations in which foreigners own more than a majority of voting shares.

Corporations, labor unions and others engaging in certain types of independent political activity would be required to report donations, dues or other contributions from all donors who have given $600 or more.

Whatever the partisanship involved, the legislation was a case study in the power of special interests.

The NRA exemption originally was added in the House after Democrats concluded it was essential if moderate and conservative members of the rank and file were to vote for the legislation. The loophole was then broadened as the leadership sought to quell criticism that it was bowing to a group that had been instrumental in blocking gun control bills long sought by liberals.

In the end, the NRA was officially neutral, angering Republicans who didn’t want Democrats to have any political help in advancing the legislation.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and AFL-CIO both opposed the bill, a rare agreement of two arch-foes. Organized labor had been neutral when the bill passed the House, but switched its position after changes were made to tighten reporting requirements for transfers of dues money from local unions and their national headquarters.

The American Civil Liberties Union also was against the bill, arguing it was a violation of First Amendment rights.

The constitutional debate was overshadowed by the approach of elections, though.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., the bill’s chief sponsor, said it was intended to crack down on shadowy campaign groups that spend heavily on attack ads. Referring to Republicans, he said, "There are visions, visions in people’s heads of Karl Rove spending $50 million funded by people we don’t know to attack candidates for reasons we’re not sure of and never putting their name to it."

Republicans were unpersuaded.

"This bill is a partisan effort, pure and simple, drafted behind closed doors by current and former Democrat campaign committee leaders," said Sen. Mitch McConnell, the GOP Senate leader. "And it’s aimed at one thing and one thing only: this bill is about protecting incumbent Democrats from criticism ahead of November."

Schumer was chairman of the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, which is responsible for maximizing the party’s chances in Senate races, before stepping asi

They finally got their way after DECADES with the Citizens United case.

Now their corporate overlords can dump unlimited amounts of funding into campaigning so long is not directly given to a candidate (and they have PACs for that)…. so now that big business can throw their weight around….

….Why would the party of "big business" want campaign finance reform at this point?

It took decades to get that many conservatives on the SCOTUS to issue such an extraordinary ACTIVIST decision…. they don’t want to give away the advantage in the very first year…. no matter how bad that makes them look.

Socky: Read the story. The NRA exemption was to coax some conservatives (often heavily funded by NRA) to vote for this law without ham-stringing their campaign finances. Even with that GIANT bone before them….. Conservatives chose to side with big-money interests rather than CITIZENS. That’s all.

Campaigns have become so expensive that only the wealthy elite can now participate.

We need to level the playing field — what better way then to start there?

Comments?

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What to replace it with?
Newspaper
Radio
and campaigning

TV advertising eats up the lions share of campaigning.

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Careful what you wish for, what is a good thing now could turn out to be a bad thing later on. Nothing stays the same, everything changes.

My issue is non partisan — I think this insanely long election season and the fact that a national candidate must line his coffers for the next election the day they take office ends up being corrupt in the end — thus it does not become "We the People" but rather, "They the Big Business, screw the people."

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One of the best things I did for myself (besides choosing to be debt free) is I trashed my TV.

I found something truly amazing, is I have a brain and can think for myself.

We are so accustomed to the idiot box that it is now a habit. Look at it this way, all you are doing to watching other peoples lives while you sit there like a bump on a log letting your life pass you by.

Get out and make your own life by turning off the tube.

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I’m tired of seeing the Nobama coins too. And I’m tired of seeing his books and magazines advertised. Hitler had all that, and we are only setting ourselves up for disappointment.

There is a real ethical dilemma when comes to taking larger amounts from a few bigger donors as opposed to taking many smaller donations from individuals. If a politician is running for public office, for instance, the fewer large donors may very well think that he or she owes them something. They may end up calling in a marker at some point. Should the politician refuse to cooperate, he or she may find that the donor has not only withdrawn their support, but is also siding with a rival candidate now. It is really hard to serve all your constituents when you owe big favors to a few.

The solution is quite simple: grassroots fundraising. Putting emphasis on the Internet with your political campaign advertising can help you create a solid base of individual supporters. The amount a single individual can donate may not be huge (they are typically less than $100). However, the goal here is to get enough of them.

With grassroots fundraising, you are also killing two birds with one stone. This is because your donors are also potential voters. In addition, if you manage to get someone’s support in this manner, they are also an asset to you when it comes to spreading the word. There is no better political campaign advertising than word of mouth.

We can help you put together an effective political campaign advertising effort using cutting edge Internet marketing techniques such as social media marketing, viral marketing, search engine optimization and search engine marketing.

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*yes, this is my first video upload and I do not have much experience. I think they may suppose I am getting benefits from it because I read that I have to be a partner to have advertising and I´m not one. Or is that Youtube can randomly introduce ads in your videos?

NOTE: The video I posted is the International Astronomical Year trailer, and you can´t imagine how angry I get when I see a political campaign advertising over beautiful images of stars and nebulae.

YouTube likes to remind people from time to time
that they are a "free public service". There are no
fees to join, subscribe, watch or upload. They did
not ask you for money, nor is anything obliged of
you. Having said that, their "terms of service" say
that they can place advertisements beside any of
your videos, so why are you expressing surprise?

Just be glad that the ads for your IAY video aren’t
for "promiscuous dating services" or "Viagra".

Here is yet another perfect example of Big Business Gov protecting their system…

You guys keep saying how independent you are but the vast majority of "your" candidates are Repubs or repubs turned Indy… where are your Progressive endorsements ?

Progressives seem to be the only element in the federal Government with the citizenry as their main priority.. and yet there isn’t one single anti big Gov Tea Party Endorsed Progressive ?
Why ?>
all true progressives are "Financially responsible"… Responsible to the People of this country not the corporate empire that is using you.

In the meanwhile… show me a single republican that is Financially responsible

There is one Tea Party that does not endorse Republicans . TPUSA4GOD check it out in the
yahoo groups. They want to replace all elected politicians in office now in 2010. This is a big year
and our Nation can be brought back to "We the People"..
If you know God and have trusted Jesus Christ you can join.

Just a little theory of mine. What are your thoughts?

That’s my theory, but I’ll let you share it:

One of the greatest atrocities in the U.S. is that our “elected” officials can be swayed by campaign financing from lobbyists of large companies with a vested interest (cigarette, automakers, banks, pharmaceutical, defense contractors, you name it). If they give a large enough amount of money to a senator’s campaign, you KNOW that senator will be “inclined” to vote in favor of any bill that will favor that company or industry.

If you agree that “pay-to-play” is not fair, write your federal Congressmen, and the President, and ask them to sponsor a bill to restrict campaign contributions from any single person or company (maybe $250?) . To enact this, one alternative might be for the government to give anyone who wants to run a set amount of money (say $5 million for a congressional seat and $20 million for President). Then they would all have the same amount of money to spend on advertising, and not be beholden to anyone for votes.

Also, term limits (maybe 12 years) on Congressmen would prevent them from becoming so powerful and potentially corrupt.

Or, does anyone have a better idea?
Thanks.

Advertising is important not only for company growth. It is also important for company image. Some of the company’s product cannot be purchased by every one or it may not needed by every one. Still companies are giving ads in TV,radio etc. Because it will give some extraordinary image to the company or about the company from public/society.
Obviously it leads to company growth(sometime indirectly)

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Please clarify your request by giving an example.