I’m sad to report that ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) is celebrating their 40th birthday. Every year ALEC survives is a sad year for America, because ALEC is the place Koch suckers go to scheme and draft cookie cutter, plugin legislation to deprive African, Latino, Asian, Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, female, working, senior, studying, poor, middle class, other and especially voting Americans of their Constitutional rights. The news from their birthday party is most foul.
The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) annual meeting in Chicago earlier this month was marked by massive protests outside, but inside the walls of the Palmer House Hotel, the business of this notoriously secretive organization went forward as usual. The few quotes that have trickled out from inside the ALEC meeting are revealing…
…Who Needs Voters When We Have Money and the John Birch Society?
At a workshop titled "Calling a Convention of the States: The Constitutional Check on the Abuses of Federal Power," Mark Meckler, founder of the Tea Party Patriots and now head of a group called Citizens for Self Governance — a top sponsor of the ALEC meeting — announced the launch of a new project to encourage state legislatures to call an Article V Convention of the States to stop what they call "the runaway train of the federal government." One state representative from Arizona reportedly stood up and asked:
- "How do we utilize the John Birch Society for this effort?"
Wisconsin Rep. Chris Taylor, a Democrat who infiltrated the ALEC meeting, recounted a conversation with a private sector ALEC member who also was advocating a constitutional amendment to rein-in the federal government. He told her:
- “You really don’t need people to do this. You just need control over the legislature and you need money, and we have both.”
And, at Wednesday’s plenary lunch, the Wall Street Journal’s Stephen Moore (an ALEC "scholar") declared:
- "What we really need is more rich people."
… [emphasis original]
Inserted from <PR Watch>
Now this is just a small snip from a much more inclusive article. To see what’s going on behind the scenes where most of the legislation being passes in states where Republicans duped voters into giving them control, click through and read the rest of it.
13 Responses to “Crappy Birthday ALEC”
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Thanks TC – do you know, I am mildly dyslexic, and I truly read "The few quotes that have trickled out from inside the ALEC meeting are revolting…" not as the piece said "The few quotes that have trickled out from inside the ALEC meeting are revealing…" – but then, they would be – and they were!
Could I ask – isn't "a group called Citizens for Self Governance " likely to be arraigned by someone in the Justice Dept or whatever for sedition? Surely 'Self Governance' is going to split up the United States into individual states – which just HAS to be against the Constitution – doesn't it?
Kudos to Chris Taylor – who obviously has a stronger stomach than I – and who found this –
" "How do we utilize the John Birch Society for this effort?"
Wisconsin Rep. Chris Taylor, a Democrat who infiltrated the ALEC meeting, recounted a conversation with a private sector ALEC member who also was advocating a constitutional amendment to rein-in the federal government. He told her:
“You really don’t need people to do this. You just need control over the legislature and you need money, and we have both.
You just read what the article should have said. 🙂
Here it is lehal to hold and state any opinion. Sedition comes with open rebellion, in a case like this.
That was great opposiyion research by Taylor,
I add my sentiments of a Very Crappy Birthday to yours, TC.
We can all take heart in knowing that the ones who have the most money do not always win.
Thanls Patty!
May that be so.
For far too long ALEC has been a shadow government serving only the interests of corporations, the wealthy and right-wing special interest groups.
ALEC does NOT foster a democratic government – either by design, definition or as envisioned by the Founding Fathers. So I say: Screw 'em!
Why not> They keep screwung us!
…C. Stevens Seale, of SAP America, reminded legislators in the crowd to be grateful:
Or in other words, "The private-sector members spent a lot of money to buy you and your voting loyalty during this event, so jump when they say jump!."
Crappy Birthday ALEC. May there be an elephant in the room to shit on your parade!
…and may that parade stink from it.
Crappy birthday ALEC! The sad part is that there are other groups who are also bank rolling our representatives and senators in Congress. How are we ever going to stop this?
Partly by getting Citizens United overturned, and having Chris Van Hollen's suit be successful. If it is, then people can really see who is bank rolling a lot of stuff. The other way, vote the bastard Republicanus/Teabaggers out into oblivion! Don't give up Edie! You are needed to help straighten out Kentucky!
Edie, ALEC is the main clearing house where those opther groupas go for material.
Nameless
Exacly the way I feel… 🙂
Nameless does have a way with words. 🙂