2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumMemo to BLM/Immigration Activists: Private Prisons Inc. $upport$ Hillary for POTUS
Last edited Sat Jul 25, 2015, 05:55 PM - Edit history (1)
Guess Who Else Is Fundraising for Clinton: Private Prison Lobbyists'It is bad for all of us when these multibillion dollar companies use their considerable
financial influence to try to pressure lawmakers'
by Sarah Lazare, staff writer * July 24, 2015 * Common Dreams
In addition to Wall Street and the fossil fuel industry, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is turning to lobbyists for the two biggest private prison companies in the country, Corrections Corporation of America and the GEO Group, to raise money for her 2016 presidential candidacy.
Lee Fang of The Intercept made the discovery after examining Clinton's list of lobbyists who are bundlers for her presidential bid, released last week. Bundlers are people who raise money for campaigns by organizing and collecting contributions from other donors.
Among those funneling money into Clinton's campaign are:
*Richard Sullivan of the firm Capitol Counsel, documented lobbyist for GEO Group.
* Five employees of lobbying and law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, which received $240,000 from CCA last year.
* "Akin Gump lobbyist and Clinton bundler Brian Popper disclosed that he previously helped CCA defeat efforts to compel private prisons to respond to Freedom of Information Act requests," noted Fang.
Fang's reporting comes on the heels of revelations that Clinton's campaign has also benefited from the largesse of the fossil fuel industry and Wall Street.
Critics say the fresh evidence of Clinton's ties to lobbyists for the private prison industry raises a host of new concerns.
"The future of both criminal justice reform and immigration are critical for private prison firms," notes Fang. "The Geo Group, in a disclosure statement for its investors, notes that its business could be 'adversely affected by changes in existing criminal or immigration laws, crime rates in jurisdictions in which we operate, the relaxation of criminal or immigration enforcement efforts, leniency in conviction, sentencing or deportation practices, and the decriminalization of certain activities that are currently proscribed by criminal laws or the loosening of immigration laws.'"
CCA and GEO have spent millions of dollars to press the U.S. government to impose harsher immigration laws that, in turn, spike corporate profits by driving up incarceration levels at their detention centers. Both companies stand accused of egregious human rights abuses at their facilities, from denial of mental and physical health care to inadequate nutrition.
"Private prisons have a long and well-documented history of giving to candidates of all levels and both parties and hiring lobbyists across the spectrum, so it doesn't surprise me that prisons are trying to get in good with presidential candidates," Cristina Parker of Grassroots Leadership, a Texas-based organization that opposes prison profiteering, told Common Dreams.
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/07/24/guess-who-else-fundraising-clinton-private-prison-lobbyists
Cheese Sandwich
(9,086 posts)Or give it to charity.
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)I didn't know about this until today, and it horrifies me.
I expect this from Dick Cheney, but had NO idea Hillary was supported
by CCA and GEO.
Even if she gives the money to charity, the very fact that they see her
as "their candidate" in the 2016 Democratic Primary is very revealing.
Cheese Sandwich
(9,086 posts)To not address it is just racially tone deaf.
We all know the for-profit prison industry is a powerful driver of mass incarceration and terroristic policing.
These corporations are the embodiment of systemic racism in America.
Accepting this money is disgusting.
But accepting it without any statement or explanation is insulting to the max.
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)like in the debate, or wherever; especially when she tries to sound
'liberal' on race relations, immigration and/or "reform" of the criminal
justice system.
Cheese Sandwich
(9,086 posts)asking about this.
If not then it would start to become clear there are some Clinton partisans in the mix.
#blackLives activists are sincere. I support it and don't want to see the movement manipulated by anybody for narrow partisan political advantage.
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)and I support them 100%. I don't blame them for shouting-down
O'Malley, or Sanders either for that matter. Although I still think
their original intended target was O'Malley, due to his questionable
record as Mayor of Baltimore, where police are some of the worst,
and he didn't do a whole lot about it, in some people's view at
least.
But this also relates importantly to immigration reform, and the
obvious need for reform in the entire criminal justice system, as
these corporations are diametrically opposed to ANY such reforms,
and support harsher sentences, etc. and their facilities are so
horrible they've been sued over it multiple times.
appalachiablue
(41,204 posts)more prisons, 100,000 police, established harsher sentences and created 60 new death penalty offenses. Since May and July this year Clinton has apologized for his criminal justice policies saying at an NAACP conference July 15, "I made criminal Justice 'worse', we went too far, there are too many people in prison".
The US has the largest prison population in the world, approximately 2.2 million, more than authoritarian, communist China with a vastly larger population. The majority of US incarcerated prisoners are male, black, Latino and minorities.
BILL CLINTON: I MADE CRIMINAL JUSTICE 'WORSE', The Daily Beast, July 15, 2015.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2015/07/15/clinton-i-made-criminal-justice-worse.html
BILL CLINTON: I SUPPORT HILLARY'S EFFORTS TO CHANGE MY CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICIES, Huff Post, May 6, 2015.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/06/bill-clinton-criminal-justice_n_7224050.html
Read More:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/128027936
kath
(10,565 posts)Society.
Private prisons never should have been allowed to exist in this country in the first place, and they should be stomped out ASAP.
Cheese Sandwich
(9,086 posts)appalachiablue
(41,204 posts)in the Age of Colorblindness" (2010) reveals the enormous growth of the US private for profit prison industry population in the last 20+ years in the US. Alexander is a Civil Rights attorney, advocate and legal scholar.
The New Jim Crow Website and Video Trailer Book Talk by the Author
http://newjimcrow.com/about/book-trailer
monmouth4
(9,712 posts)Sheepshank
(12,504 posts)I see the articles attached missed the amount being raised. The other thread indicated $44,000.
I think I'll just c & p my previous responses
Since privatization is the generally the final solution and call from the Republicans......
I'd take this as a sign this group doesn't think that a Republican can win the Whitehouse. It's a sign that they think they can buy $44,000 worth of favors, from a person who can make $200,000 from a 45 minute speaking engagement.
It's a confirmation that Bernie supporters are as hypocritical as they can get when in comes to a candidate having control over what ever organization decides to fund raise on their behalf. Bernie is always innocent, Hillary always nepharious.
The most inane OP today...congrats.
People are not persuaded by what we say but rather by what they understand
It's also spin to presume a candidate has control of outside fundraising
.......
If this were the case, you'd be throwing a tantrum over Bernie's PAC and its financing irregularities for which they were fined.
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/04/28/how-for-profit-prisons-have-become-the-biggest-lobby-no-one-is-talking-about/"Over his career, Rubio has received nearly $40,000 in campaign donations from GEO, making him the Senates top career recipient of contributions from the company. (Rubios office did not respond to requests for comment.)"
Sheepshank
(12,504 posts)They premis is as inane as it gets.
This is nothing more than attempting to make something out of nothing.
Did you know that Bernie accepted campaign money from finance and energy? Go ahead look it up on Open Secrets. what is troubling is that these industries typically give heavily to RW candidates. Why do you suppose they are giving to Bernie all of a sudden? I'm reading a ton into this...aren't you?
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)Sheepshank
(12,504 posts)This whole thread is just crap. Making a mountain out of a molehill
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)It is the height of hypocrisy to pose as a 'liberal' on race & immigration issues,
while taking ONE DIME from the private prison 'industry'. Any candidate worth
their salt on these issues, wouldn't touch that money with 20-foot pole.
These two corporations (GEO and CCA) stand for INCREASED incarceration for
profit, LONGER sentences etc. at a time when the exact opposite policy directions
are what is sorely needed.
Sheepshank
(12,504 posts)Are you not worry that he will change his mind on climate change? How about he relaxes certain oversight on financial institution should he become POTUS?
Hillary makes $200k for a 45 min speaking engagement...their pittance buys exactly nothing.
There are groups with nasty horrid memes thAt donated to numerous candidates...including Bernie
I'm actually done with this thread and the continued attempt of making something out of nothing.
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)to Sanders "taking money from finance and energy industries" .. That
may be the case, but I just googled "Bernie takes money from finance
and energy industries" and didn't get much, except that Wall St. isn't
happy with his candidacy.
I don't doubt you have something you're basing that on, but have yet
to see it in your objections to my OP, or on google. So how much,
and from whom did Sanders take money from that you find objectionable?
RobertEarl
(13,685 posts)Bernie is taking small contributions from capitalists?!!!
That means he's not really a communist!!
All this time we have been fooled!!
I mean only the most pure of us have nothing to do with energy or finance companies.... and they're all dead!!
Thank you sheeps for keeping this up front. Bernie is no commie!!!
Sheepshank
(12,504 posts)It's exactly what I was aiming for.
The op is as ridiculous as you found my post to be. The most inane issue posted as some conspiratol clap trap.
Thanks for brinig it home.
RobertEarl
(13,685 posts)I was pointing out how ridiculous it is to call, as you did, your idea that someone is a hypocrite for taking a few dollars from American Industries.
Sorry that went right over your head. Now you know, eh?
Cheese Sandwich
(9,086 posts)You think it's like no big deal or something?
Private prison companies are systemic racism.
CEOs and lobbyists for these companies are faces of modern racism.
Don't you think Hillary has some questions to answer if she is taking money from this industry? Like why they want to pay her now and what her policy is toward private prisons?
JI7
(89,289 posts)RobertEarl
(13,685 posts)Is not lecturing.
I do recall now, that Clinton got a lot done in his term of office. He really knows how to work with republicans and get stuff done... like allowing private prisons, ending welfare, and Glass/Steagall.
Vote for more? IDFTS.
Cheese Sandwich
(9,086 posts)Hillary's for-profit prison donors are corporate pigs.
They are the embodiment of systemic racism.
Anybody who defends them is scum.
Hillary needs to answer why she has this association and consider how she benefits from it.
Especially after the first Clinton did so much to throw so many black and brown people in jail and throw away the key.
Bill Clinton concedes role in mass incarceration:
http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/06/politics/bill-clinton-crime-prisons-hillary-clinton/
JI7
(89,289 posts)Does that mean he should not speak out on issues related to it
Cheese Sandwich
(9,086 posts)Which is what you did on post #18.
All Americans should stand united against the prison industry.
Everyone should be raising this issue without others trying to silence them.
When politicians take money from the racist pigs of the private prison corps., questions and challenges are warranted.
How many people have died? How many lives ground up to feed the prison-industrial machine?
This is blood money.
If Hillary wants this blood money I guess she has blood on her hands again.
At the least she owes us an explanation.
JI7
(89,289 posts)Cheese Sandwich
(9,086 posts)OP said: "Memo to BLM/Immigration Activists: Private Prisons Inc. $upport$ Hillary for POTUS"
Guess what: That can, should, and does include people of any race who are active in these causes.
I'm sick of Hillary and her supporters lecturing everyone about racism when their campaign happily takes blood money from the pigs of the racist prison industry, without any word of explanation.
JI7
(89,289 posts)Cheese Sandwich
(9,086 posts)JI7
(89,289 posts)You are upset minorities are supporting Clinton
Response to JI7 (Reply #34)
Cheese Sandwich This message was self-deleted by its author.
Cheese Sandwich
(9,086 posts)You're the one defending the prison industry and their political donations. Not me.
JI7
(89,289 posts)The problem is a lot bigger than those donations.
Cheese Sandwich
(9,086 posts)If private prisons were donating to another candidate I'm sure we would here about it.
You say "The problem is a lot bigger than those donations" but I don't even know what that's supposed to mean. Like it's cool to get donations from the prison industry? It's not cool.
PatrickforO
(14,604 posts)JI7
(89,289 posts)PatrickforO
(14,604 posts)1. Abolish the war on drugs
2. Abolish private prisons
3. Retrain police to 'serve and protect' rather than ' stomp until they submit'
4. Put a body cam on every cop
Yes, I know that won't affect the Ku Kluxers. They will keep right on hating, just like the EverReady bunny.
But black kids would be a WHOLE lot better off.
appalachiablue
(41,204 posts)HFRN
(1,469 posts)appalachiablue
(41,204 posts)WillyT
(72,631 posts)dreamnightwind
(4,775 posts)Linking donations to candidates to policy wanted by the donors is some of the most important pre-election work we can do.
We elect these people, then shake our heads in wonder when they're in office and don't do what we want them to. The best way to vet this before elections is exactly this kind of article, and the OP you put together from it.
Lee Fang is a top-notch journalist, I've read a number of his earlier articles.
Hillary will market herself as friendly to POC but take money and push policy wanted by the forces that are causing and exasperating many of the problems POC deal with.
Policy matters. And funding all too often drives policy.
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)Even though -- as some Hillary peeps point out -- it's not a whole lot of money, I was
surprised to find that CCA only gave Rubio $40,000, less than Hillary.
More recently, someone OP-ed a question "should Hillary give that money back?", so
it has opened some eyes here apparently.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this.
moobu2
(4,822 posts)knows Hillary will be the Democratic nominee so why wouldn't they donate to her campaign? It would be kind of dumb to donate to someone they thought was going to lose.
oasis
(49,490 posts)That doesn't meet with their approval.
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)Hillary has gotten (so far) at least $44,000
Rubio, has gotten only $40,000.
and that doesn't bother you?
Maedhros
(10,007 posts)Bernie has not sought, and will not accept, corporate contributions.
Hillary could very easily follow suit if she cared at all about the abuses of the for-profit private prison system. But she doesn't.
PatrickforO
(14,604 posts)Response to 99th_Monkey (Original post)
Post removed
Cheese Sandwich
(9,086 posts)What's the agenda of defending this? Trying to protect private prisons? More likely trying to protect Hillary.
Instead of making excuses maybe it would be better to just admit this is disgusting, stop defending it, and ask Hillary Clinton to denounce these companies and their blood money donations.
LuvLoogie
(7,078 posts)Neither are they wholly owned subsidiaries nor divisions of either GEO or CCA.
Cheese Sandwich
(9,086 posts)LuvLoogie
(7,078 posts)Is bullshit, correct? And the "supporting" links don't actually bear out the OP, correct?
LuvLoogie
(7,078 posts)while Corrections Corp of America retained Akin Gumo for $160,000.
Wouldn't it be more accurate to call Akin Gump part of the Casino/Gambling Industry?
Can we finally move on to slamming Hillary for enabling gambling addiction while she "claims" to support strong families?
http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/firmsum.php?id=D000000162
Cheese Sandwich
(9,086 posts)That's what it says here anyways, assuming this is true.
https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/07/23/private-prison-lobbyists-raising-cash-hillary-clinton/
Anyways why on earth are people here trying to make excuses for politicians taking blood money from the racist prison industry?
LuvLoogie
(7,078 posts)Extrapolating that into Hillary Clinton shilling for/accepting donations from the Commercial Prisons Industry is, well, disingenuous at best.
Akin Gump lawyers don't receive 1099s from CCA. Akin Gump bills for services. As they've done with over 150 clients from many different industries.
Cheese Sandwich
(9,086 posts)They should be a pariah. They should be isolated, boycotted, divested from.
They are in the same league of evil as the corporate lobbyists who defended South African Apartheid.
Politicians should run out of the room when these pigs walk in.
Response to Cheese Sandwich (Reply #50)
LuvLoogie This message was self-deleted by its author.
HFRN
(1,469 posts)not 'like slavery' but 'actually slavery'
and not 150 years ago, but now
right now
Cheese Sandwich
(9,086 posts)Hey we needed the money.
HFRN
(1,469 posts)that is going on right now
LuvLoogie
(7,078 posts)is supporting slavery. Got it.
HFRN
(1,469 posts)yes, that Charles Koch. What does it say to be to the right of a Koch brother on this issue?
Charles G. Koch is chairman of the Board and CEO, Koch Industries, Inc.
Mark V. Holden is General Counsel and Senior Vice President, Koch Industries, Inc.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/01/overcriminalization-of-america-113991.html#ixzz3gyE8ErNj
The Overcriminalization of America
How to reduce poverty and improve race relations by rethinking our justice system.
By CHARLES G. KOCH and MARK V. HOLDEN
January 07, 2015
As Americans, we like to believe the rule of law in our country is respected and fairly applied, and that only those who commit crimes of fraud or violence are punished and imprisoned. But the reality is often different. It is surprisingly easy for otherwise law-abiding citizens to run afoul of the overwhelming number of federal and state criminal laws. This proliferation is sometimes referred to as overcriminalization, which affects us all but most profoundly harms our disadvantaged citizens.
Overcriminalization has led to the mass incarceration of those ensnared by our criminal justice system, even though such imprisonment does not always enhance public safety. Indeed, more than half of federal inmates are nonviolent drug offenders. Enforcing so many victimless crimes inevitably leads to conflict between our citizens and law enforcement. As we have seen all too often, it can place our police officers in harms way, leading to tragic consequences for all involved.
How did we get in this situation? It began with well-intentioned lawmakers who went overboard trying to solve perceived or actual problems. Congress creates, on average, more than 50 new criminal laws each year. Over time, this has translated into more than 4,500 federal criminal laws spread across 27,000 pages of the United States federal code. (This number does not include the thousands of criminal penalties in federal regulations.) As a result, the United States is the worlds largest jailerfirst in the world for total number imprisoned and first among industrialized nations in the rate of incarceration. The United States represents about 5 percent of the worlds population but houses about 25 percent of the worlds prisoners.
We have paid a heavy price for mass incarceration and could benefit by reversing this trend. It has been estimated that at least 53 percent of those entering prison were living at or below the U.S. poverty line when their sentence began. Incarceration leads to a 40 percent decrease in annual earnings, reduced job tenure and higher unemployment. A Pew Charitable Trust study revealed that two-thirds of former inmates with earnings in the bottom fifth upon release in 1986 remained at or below that level 20 years later. A Villanova University study concluded that had mass incarceration not occurred, poverty would have decreased by more than 20 percent, or about 2.8 percentage points and several million fewer people would have been in poverty in recent years.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/01/overcriminalization-of-america-113991.html#ixzz3gyDm9uJk
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/01/overcriminalization-of-america-113991.html#.VbRoFvkYH5w
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)LuvLoogie
(7,078 posts)Pew Charitable Trust retained Capitol Counsel at $120,000 while GEO retained Capitol Counsel at $60,000.
https://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/firmsum.php?id=D000032306
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)to candidates in both parties who have a real chance of wining.
raouldukelives
(5,178 posts)I disagree personally but I understand the mindset. Those that make a living from denying democracy start to fear the idea it may rear its ugly head again.
Cheese Sandwich
(9,086 posts)It tells a story. Sometimes picture 1000 words.
Zorra
(27,670 posts)In certain areas of the country, do they get paid more for executing members of minority groups?
Or is it more profitable to leave inmates on death row for as long as possible?
Decisions, decisisions.
What's a good ol' boy to do?
It's dirty money, blood money, filthy business, so very wrong in every way.
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)Will you make the same claims. She is in bed with unions? She is bought and paid for by unions? No you wouldn't. Because consistency would blow this whole simpleton argument out of the water. This is really looking desperate. Then again, it is an attack promoted by the right, with them full well knowing low info voters and some on the left with a lack of principals will run with it for them.
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)Private prisons, not so much.
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)It only works one way for you. If you believe they are a benefit to society, and donate to Hillary, she has zero connection to them. If they donate to her, you find them to have no benefit or negative benefit, she is in bed with them. It backs up my point. I really didn't think you would embrace the hypocrisy. I'm a little taken back at your honesty. Interesting enough, in the last month Hillary has spoken about the damage of the incarceration rate and it has been heard by millions more people than you talking about it here. I would think you would like that. Hillary, Sanders, and O'Malley are out there addressing your concerns. Get ready for your line of thought to backfire.
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)As far as I know Bernie doesn't. <-- do you think he does? If so, show me.
You asked:
"If I show you where union members have given to Hillary. Will you make the same claims. She is in bed with unions? She is bought and paid for by unions? No you wouldn't. Because consistency would blow this whole simpleton argument out of the water."
I responded:
"No [I wouldn't 'make the same claims']. Because I think Unions are absolutely vital & beneficial to working people ... Private prisons, not so much."
I'm making a distinction here -- one that you apparently remain oblivious to -- between
1) donations from unions, not to mention environmental groups, groups advocating economic justice, an end to racism & police brutality, et. al., on the one hand,
as opposed to
2) groups like the Kock Bros., Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Lehman Bros. & now the Private Prison Industry.
Donations matter. Who candidates take money from matters, because there's a policy agenda that the money is intended to promote.
But you know all that, which is what makes this conversation increasingly absurd, as ;you continue to try to wriggle out of being honest that you don't give a rat's ass who Hillary takes money from, because apparently there are no scruples at work here, nothing to indicate an ethical imperative to be careful who you take campaign donations from.
You invoked the term "hypocrisy", as well you should, but your intended target (Bernie) is WAY off the mark.
You've thrown a real boomerang on that one.