With the probability of Democratic majority in the house and a possible majority in the Senate, major corporations are circling to gain the advantage with likely freshmen Dems. Had we not been intent on winning, we might have commented on this expected behavior when it began happening. The circling of the lobbyists was outlined today in a a New York Times article:
Democrats Get Late Donations From Business, Jeff Zeleny and Aron Pilhofer, Published: October 28, 2006
Though Democratic control of either chamber of Congress is far from certain, the prospect of a power shift is leading interest groups to begin rethinking well-established relationships, with business lobbyists going as far as finding potential Democratic allies in the freshman class -- even if they are still trying to defeat them on the campaign trail -- and preparing to extend an olive branch the morning after the election. -- New York Times
The big question for me is, when the big corporate money starts rolling in, how do the grassroots make sure that the citizens of the United States remain the very special interest of our Democratic congressmen and women?
I just want all of us to remember that, whether they are Republican or Democrat, we're talking about politicians who have a need for major amounts of money to both get power and keep it. We're talking about people, who like all other human beings, are capable of enormous self deception, and we're talking about people who, for the most part, will not find a good reason to reflect on the cost of taking corporate gifts.
While business groups contained their Democratic contributions to only a handful of candidates throughout the year, a shifting political climate and an expanding field of competitive Congressional races has drawn increased donations from corporate political action committees.
For the first nine months of the year, for example, Pfizer's political action committee had given 67 percent of contributions to Republican candidates. But October ushered in a sudden change of fortune, according to disclosure reports, and Democrats received 59 percent of the Pfizer contributions. --New York Times
Yes, that's big pharma giving big money to Democrats.
Of course Democratic politicians who receive the benefit of this largesse will claim that it will have no bearing on their votes. There will be heroes with the integity to put American Citizens FIRST, but most people and most especially politicians are not heroes. Most politicians will justify all kinds of outrageous votes in all kinds of insulting ways having convinced themselves that a vote for Big Corp. is a vote for America. It will be up to us to hold their toes, nay, their entire reproductive regions, to the fire when they stray.
Already the corporate lobbiests are in action.
Lobbyists, some of whom had fallen out of the habit of attending Democratic events, are even talking about making their way to the Sonnenalp Resort in Vail, Colo., where Representative Nancy Pelosi of California is holding a Speaker's Club ski getaway on Jan. 3. It is an annual affair, but the gathering's title could be especially apt for Ms. Pelosi, the House minority leader, who will be on hand to accept $15,000 checks, and could, if everything breaks her way, become the first woman to be House speaker.
"Attendance will be high," said Steve Elmendorf, a former Democratic Congressional aide who has a long list of business lobbying clients. "All Democratic events will see a big increase next year, no question." --New York Times
Once this election is over, we desperately need to have a serious conversation about how the grassroots can establish and maintain a powerful voice in congress. Voting them out is closing the door after the horse is gone and the damage is done i.e. Iraq. Actually we should have had this conversation a long time ago resulting in systems that would automatically go into play upon any congressional wins.