The Max Baucus Response to Citizens United: A Constitutional Amendment of Fake Reform

by: Bob Brigham

Wed Jul 25, 2012 at 09:58:37 AM MST

I hate to kick a guy when he's down, but not if he is asking for it.  It is really absurd that Max Baucus has now jumped on the anti-Citizens United bandwagon.

A few days ago, a Montana democrat forwarded to me an e-mail from Max Baucus, railing against "big money in elections," and describing the urgency with which America must "stand up against it."   Then I was played a robocall from Baucus, saying mostly the same thing and urging voters to unite behind him in his quest to "help fight the influence of big money in Montana" or something silly like that.

It's unfathomable that Max Baucus would chose to join the fray on this issue, for he is just about the last person on earth that should be decrying the influence of corporate money in American elections.  Baucus is one of the most prolific raisers of corporate money in the United States Senate, if not United States Senate history.  He has raised, literally, millions of dollars from the many powerful industries that must kneel before him when they want something from the Senate Finance Committee, of which he is chair-Banks, Drug Companies, the Media Industry, and just about every multi-billion-dollar interest that wants special treatment under the law.  And, Baucus' office staff have frequently walked back and forth through the revolving door, writing legislation that affects large industries, leaving to become lobbyists or corporate honchos for those same industries, and then returning later to write some more legislation.

All of that is true, it is absurd for one of the most corrupt members in the history of the senate to say he's trying to get corporate money out of politics.

Until you look at what he's actually trying to do. Since he's wants to amend the Constitution, is he trying to fix it by clarifying that money does not equal speech or that corporations are not people? Of course not. He's just saying that congress and states could - if they wanted - set caps on their elections.

Even if it passed, would this fix anything? No. Would it stop somebody from being as corrupt as Max Baucus? Of course not. Is it a transparent attempt to co-opt the real reform movement with fake reform? Yup. Should you be offended he thinks you're so dumb you'll fall for it? Indeed.