Blue America Welcomes Back Jack Conway (D-KY)
Today Blue America is helping Kentucky Attorney General and Senate candidate Jack Conway kick Rand Paul's ass from Ashland to Hickman, Covington to Harlan. Today? Yes, today is Jack's money-bomb and we want to make sure he beats the $246,000 the uncertified Texas eye doctor so... here's the place. Yesterday he told us about his plans to help Congressman Mike Capuano get his Shareholder Protection Act through the Senate next year. Capuano's bill, H.R. 4790, requires a shareholder vote on a corporation’s proposed political budget, giving shareholders the opportunity to weigh in on the use of these funds. January’s Supreme Court decision on Citizens United v. FEC established that corporations cannot be prohibited from spending general treasury funds on political campaigns because it would violate their free speech rights. Capuano's legislation gives shareholders the ability to exercise their free speech rights by voting to approve or reject these expenditures. The Supreme Court decision effectively increases the influence of money in politics and diminishes the voice of the voter. Conway, like Capuano, thinks we should be working to limit outside influence on elections, not giving corporations a louder voice. The legislation is a simple and direct way to ensure that corporate political expenditures reflect the will of the shareholders, since the money in question belongs to the shareholders.
Jack told us he's been sickened by the way the Citizens United decision "opened the floodgates for corporations and special interests to spend millions of dollars attacking candidates in pursuit of their own agendas."
However, this bill requires a shareholder vote on a corporation’s proposed political budget and would give shareholders a say in how the funds are spent. It also makes the corporation report how it spent its political dollars, after the fact, so the real owners of the company-- the shareholders-- know where their money went.
Last week, a corporate-funded group led by George W. Bush’s chief strategist Karl Rove launched a second attack ad against me in as many weeks. Rove's special interest attack group, American Crossroads, has pledged to spend 49 million corporate dollars attacking Democrats this fall and boosting people like Rand Paul.
I need your help fighting back against Rove and Rand Paul. Paul said he opposes provisions of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and federal student financial aid, such as college loans. I disagree. These laws and initiatives reflect core American values like equal rights and opportunity. We should be standing up for these values, not tearing them down.
Jack's going to be joining us at 11am (PT) below in the comments forum for a free-ranging question and answer session. We'll do our best to hold the Ron Paul shills at bay but please join in-- and please consider donating to Jack's effort at our Blue America Senate page.
Jack, welcome back to Blue America. (And welcome Huey Long or whomever L'il rand has sent to ask annoying questions.) We're excited to help you beat Rand Paul of course-- and even more important we're excited to be assisting a candidate who has come out strongly in favor of our friend Elizabeth Warren to head the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Can you explain how your work as Kentucky Attorney General has helped make you take this kind of a risky political stand?
and would scare the Wall Streeters,
The purpose of Crooks and Liars is to keep small-minded individuals thinking in terms of the left vs. right garbage they've been trained to respond to.
We just upgraded the website and Blue America now has a wonderful blog to operate with...It's so glad to have you back with us on C&L.
I cannot thank the Blue America community enough for all of the support given to our campaign. John, Howie, and Digby have been great supporters as well as so many other contributors through posting great material, making phone calls, and contributing on our behalf.
to disrupt Progressive websites.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/9/7/89...
Before Kentucky was a state was it once known as Transylvania?
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Very glad to be here.
First of all, I don't think that my support for Elizabeth Warren is
risky at all. To me, it's more common sense. Kentuckians deserve a
strong nominee to fight for consumer protections in Washington.
Elizabeth Warren has gained invaluable expertise protecting taxpayers
as chair of the Congressional Oversight Panel. She's been an outspoken
leader in standing up to Wall Street and protecting consumers.
As Attorney General, it's my job to protect people, especially
consumers. In fact, my office saved Kentucky families over $100
million from proposed utility rate increases and we’ve taken on big
oil companies for gas price gouging. That's a record I'm proud of, and
one I will continue in Washington.
But my opponent Rand Paul opposed financial regulations. He believes
Wall Street will hold itself accountable - as if abuses by Wall Street
banks hadn't gotten us into this economic mess in the first place.
Simply put, Rand Paul stands with big corporations rather than
Kentucky’s working families.
I believe we need a strong Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and
that Elizabeth Warren will continue to protect consumers.
Anyone remember a meltdown?
Thanks for coming by today, Jack. We're excited, as always, to have you and are looking forward to a spirited discussion.
If you can take a minute to just give us all an overview of the race from your perspective it would be helpful. We're seeing polling all over the place that doesn't seem to make sense even in this weird year.
This election is going to be about who is going to put the interests of Kentucky's working families first. I have a record of accomplishments as Attorney General. We've taken on the Big Oil companies and the pharmaceutical companies and saved Kentucky taxpayers over $200 million.
In addition, I've made it a priority to fight prescription drug abuse in Eastern Kentucky. Rand Paul has said he does not view drugs as a "pressing issue." I think voters in Eastern Kentucky will appreciate someone who is fighting for them, and we have certainly seen this in recent polling. While we have a strong message, we can't do this alone so I'm asking all of you to join me today at www.ConwayFightFund.com.
We were all pretty stunned to see Paul's comments. He's a hardcore ideologue without even a smidgen of common sense. Even the most liberal drug legalizers don't think the prescription drug epidemic isn't a problem that requires a coordinated effort to combat.
Glad to hear that endorsing Elizabeth Warren isn't politically risky; it shouldn't be! We're glad you did it and wish more candidates would. I read that you're proposing an end to tax breaks for American companies that ship jobs overseas. That must infuriate Republicans since they have fought so hard to pass trade legislation that encourages that. Can you explain how your proposal would work, what it would accomplish and if you're prepared to debate the point with Rand Paul? (In fact, have you been able to get him to agree to debate at all or is he still hiding behind his daddy's and McConnell's skirts?)
Republicans talk a lot about create jobs, but their polices would
create more jobs in the Cayman Islands than on Kentucky Main Streets.
In fact, right now there is a building in the Cayman Islands that is
the headquarters for more than 18,000 businesses - allowing them to
skirt paying the taxes that hardworking middle class families have to
pay. That's wrong. Unlike Rand Paul who wants to continue to give tax
breaks to companies to ship Kentucky jobs overseas, I'll work to end
those tax breaks.
Instead, I have proposed a Hometown tax credit, which gives small and
medium sized businesses a credit for each new hire they make. That way
we are working to create jobs here in Kentucky, not in Mexico and
China.
Am I prepared to debate Rand on this idea? Absolutely. Let him say
loud and clear that he supports sending Kentucky jobs overseas. Rand
just doesn't get Kentucky. We have lost 100,000 manufacturing jobs
over the last decade alone. He thinks that's good for Kentucky
families. He's wrong, and I'll always fight to keep and create jobs
here in Kentucky, not overseas.
What can be done to stop all the outsourcing?
I understand that ironically enough gas prices are forcing manufacturers to bring such work closer to home to save on shipping.
I go on the Dallas Morning News site, and no one listens to me when I say it does matter how cheap or how many bright shiny toys are on the shelves when no one can afford to buy them, because they're out of work or fear they may soon be.
That's the lagging demand causing business debt to increase, and can lead to a business closing due to lack of sales, putting what remains of their manpower out on the streets too.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Just saw the news that Rand Paul is playing down and dirty in the blogosphere (no surprise there!). You must have him on the run. I'd swear I've seen "Huey" over here, too.
... how many of the other naysayers carrying that guy's line are also Paulines?
They do seem to swarm my comment section whenever I write about Jack with the same "I would never vote for Rand but ..." thing.
Got someone here commenting about what a bluedog he was. That didn't square with what I knew, so I sent it on as a heads-up. Looks like the gut was right on this one.
Rand Paul can't stand up next to Jack Conway, policy-wise or rhetorically. I saw them side by side about a month ago, and Jack had the place on its feet. Rand? Not so much.
To Big Business?
Rand Paul believes in ending federal programs that will help Kentucky farmers and he believes in ending federal assistance for student aid and student lunch programs.
http://dailycaller.com/2010/09/07/gop-takeove...
Hi Jack,
So glad to see you here with the Blue America gang!
We met in Vegas at Netroots Nation (I'm still hoping you'll come on my radio show at www.radioornot.com! Just waiting to hear back from your people.. You have a wide open invitation)
Regarding Elizabeth Warren, President Obama only has a few days left before Congress returns. There is a push to have him make a recess appointment. I think it's a great idea. Your thoughts?
It's been slow here a lot lately,
Although we were hit pretty hard on a Obama thread yesterday
Makes me wonder about all those "liberals" giving him wet willies and purple nurples...
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
and it's summer. It'll bump up as we close in on the midterms.
With randpaulbots?
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
He cowardly ran away last time after being exposed by Maddow. I think KY voters deserve it.
I have already challenged Rand Paul to debate me on Meet the Press. I'm looking forward to it.
Is your campaign working with Kentucky's House incumbents and candidates? Is Rand's? Are any of the GOP incumbents afraid of being tarred with the carzy stick by associating with him or have they are sipped the koolade?
We are working with Democratic candidates across Kentucky and our coordinated campaign is opening 8 field offices.
Kentucky is tobacco growing state, right?
(Although I'm sure it's diversified like other states, for example Texas is no longer just about oil).
Is there something tobacco can be used for besides smoking?
Maybe someone is needed like another George Washington Carver.
I've heard once it's used for cattle medicine.
When I was a kid I got a bad wasp sting in a neighbor's yard, and she shredded up a cigarette, and put the tobacco directly on the sting, and it seemed like it took just seconds for the sting to go away.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
...interests? I've seen a lot of rumblings about how they're pouring money into Rand Paul's campaign to keep the global warming denialism going and escape regulations on basic issues like safety. Knowing how much Massey's Blankenship has poured into West Virginia politics, I'm curious as to whether you are seeing similar initiatives in Kentucky.
http://www.actblue.com/page/mayprimaries
Every dollar counts, big time.
... if you can. This race is going to be tough all the way and Jack needs our support to beat back thecorporations, the Teabaggers and the Pauline Army.
Donate here for Jack Conway
Hello Jack.
Many on the Left feel that the Obama admin has been much too centrist and downright timid in it's dealings with this bug eyed nut-job version of the GOP,and have allowed them to get the upper hand.What are your feelings about this if any?
"To me, truth is not some vague, foggy notion. Truth is real. And,
at the same time, unreal. Fiction and fact and everything in between,
plus some things I can't remember, all rolled into one big "thing."
This is truth, to me. "
-Jack Handy
I give you Huey Long!
"I could give a flying crap about the political process.... We're an entertainment company."
- Glenn Beck - Forbes interview; April 26, 2010
we'll leave it up, DamOTclese.
I guess Rand Paul had a free moment.
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
Jack, I remember last January reading that you had some problems with the president's troop surge in Afghanistan. When you're in the Senate how are you going to work to resolve this mess we're in over there?
Pakistan harbors the most dangerous mix of terrorists and nuclear weapons in the world. I don't feel the President has adequately explained how he will get Pakistan involved in the effort to combat Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan.
We're dealing with a regional issue that requires the cooperation of regional partners to ensure success. I have the highest respect for our Kentucky military men and women who serve valiantly, and I believe they deserve a clear policy that demonstrates how we will root out terrorists from their hiding places, eliminate their threat, and brings our troops home quickly.
It's a big issue.
Thanks for the question. I am a strong supporter of Net Neutrality.
Define "strong" please.
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
More arm wrestling contests to watch online.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Given that the strategy of the conservatives and the GOP has been so pathetically transparent, going as far back as "pull the plug on Grandma" during the past summer...when is the White House and Democrats in general...going to accept the fact that bipartisanship is pointless, that when you have the numbers to pass the legislation that your BASE wants, you slam it through and pass it, or is the DLC strategy so entrenched in the Democratic Party that the Party leadership as a whole would rather blow the brains out of the Party in general, rather than change strategy?
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
That would be a good start.
And Robert Gibbs
And perhaps Timothy Geitner.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Thanks, John. Does our guest then support, advocate, or suggest that the President should fire Rahm Emanuel?
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
let's get him elected first. :-)
Are you saying that our guest is going to refuse to address sensitive issues that are important to the electorate?
I didn't know Sharon Angle was our guest today. ;o)
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
The general is a valuable friend.
Especially on this busy day. It's always great to have you.
Donate here for Jack Conway
I have to get going, but thank you all so much for inviting me to join you today. I really look forward to working together to defeat Rand Paul and hope to join you all again soon.
His time is precious at this point. It's great to see all the Roots coming together.
Anyway, here goes.
Would you be willing to sponsor legislation that defines a yes vote as yes and a no vote that means no. The reason I ask this is because a lot of proposals have been confusing. Sometimes a yes vote means no and a no vote means yes. I think this is wrong. It should be straight forward. So it doesn't confuse the voter.
I realize this is a silly question. But it drives me nuts to see proposals aimed to confuse.
I hope I'm not too late. Thanks.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
sigh.
Maybe I'll get the next candidate. oh well.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
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