A legitimate “birther” movement for corporations

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

This story has been passed on to me by several people who attended the Democrats of Greater Tucson luncheon today, and it bears repeating.

An individual asked a question about the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC. She asked how is it possible that foreigners can now influence U.S. elections through the legal fiction of personhood for corporations? Her example was Citibank, in which Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal (right) through his Kingdom Holding Company, owned 4 percent of Citibank before the crash. A Saudi Prince Is Humbled by Citigroup’s Decline – NYTimes.com (Citbank received TARP bailout money after the crash).

Tucson City Council Member Emeritus Steve Leal piped up "Citibank doesn't have a birth certificate, not even from Hawaii," a snarky retort to the "birther" Teabaggers.

Steve's point is well taken. This can be a legitimate "birther" movement for corporations. Why should multi-national global corporations which have no birth certificate and no proof of U.S. citizenship be permitted to influence U.S. elections? They are not "persons" entitled to the privileges and immunities of citizenship guaranteed under the 14th Amendment, e.g., the right to vote, but somehow the legal fiction of personhood for corporations permits multi-national global corporations to corrupt our political system by spending unlimited funds from corporate treasuries to influence elections in the U.S.? This demonstrates the illogical legal reasoning of the conservative activist majority of the court.

Federal law prohibits foreign nationals from making any contributions in federal, state and local elections, yet now foreign nationals can do so by hiding behind the legal fiction of corporate personhood.

For all the concern the Republican Party hypes every election cycle about non-citizens voting in U.S. elections (a bogus claim), you would think foreign national money in U.S. elections would have them excited. Remember how excited you all were over the Buddhist Temple scandal? 1996 United States campaign finance controversy This is way bigger.

So to all you "birther" Teabaggers making asses of yourselves questioning Barack Obama's birth certificate and U.S. citizenship Hawaii officials confirm Obama’s original birth certificate still exists | The Honolulu Advertiser, the correct question you should be asking is "hey, [corporate name here] show us your birth certificate and proof of U.S. citizenship." This may be an issue that persons from all political persuasions can agree upon.

Except, of course, for the corporatists who do the bidding of the multi-national global corporations. Question their loyalty if you question anyone's loyalty.