The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign (WDC)invites you to host a Defend Democracy 'friendraiser' the weekend of January 21, 2012. January 21, 2012 marks two years since the U.S. political system was transformed by the Supreme Court's Citizen United decision. The Citizen United ruling removed any obstacle between corporate wealth and public elections by holding that corporate spending could not be limited. It was an unfathomably bad decision that has allowed corporations and special interest groups to spend as much money as they want on elections and dramatically expanded the political role and power of corporations. 

What does Citizen United have to do with the current crisis in Wisconsin politics?

The 2010 elections were the first that were held after the Citizens United decision gave corporations the same First Amendment rights as individuals. $37.4 million was spent electing a new governor in 2010. The 2010 spending was 16% higher than in 2006, 57% higher than in 2002 and quadrupled what was spent in the 1998 governor’s race. Incredibly, even more money was spent on the 9 state senate recall elections this past summer. Over $44 million was spent on the recall elections and ¾ of that money came from a vast array of interest groups that mounted their own campaigns to influence the elections.

Why have a Defend Democracy party about the Citizen United decision?

A strong democracy requires information and the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign provides that information. We want as many people as possible to know that we are a powerful electoral watchdog bringing to light the connections between donations and government policy. We need to spread the word that Wisconsinites can follow the money for themselves with our campaign contribution database. We need to spread the work that WDC has an Ending Wealthfare plan, a small donor public matching program that would dilute the power of big donors and increase participation of small donors. If this plan had been in place during the recall elections, the $34 million spent by special interest groups would have been impacted.

The 2010 elections was just a taste of what is in store for us in the elections to come. The recall elections are a good illustration of "hijacked elections," in which outside groups spend more than the candidates themselves. We can not give up in the face of Citizen United. We need an informed and active citizenry as we head into the 2012 elections.  We need to talk to our friends and neighbors. Spread the word on facebook and twitter. We need to keep alive the idea that government should work for the greater good.

Please help us spread the word about our important work by hosting a Defend Democracy 'friendraiser'. Nothing less than our democracy is at stake.

To learn more about hosting a 'friendraiser', how to register to be a host and the support WDC will provide for hosts, please contact Jen Rubin at 608-255-4260 or rubin@wisdc.org.

To learn more about Citizen United click here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5kHACjrdEY