April 10, 2012

Former Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele: “I’m Fine With” Movement To Overturn Or Amend Citizens United

Here’s a refreshing voice in support of overturning Citizens United, the disastrous Supreme Court decision that enables unlimited corporate and union spending in elections. Republic Report clipped a recent presentation on campaign finance laws, and found Michael Steele, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, voicing approval for an effort to reform the system.

Steele said he is “fine with” the “movement” he predicts will rise up to overturn some aspect of the Citizens United decision:

STEELE: I think there’s going to be a movement somehow to fix or correct this market that we currently have for campaign finance with respect to Citizens United. And I’m fine with that. […] I think our checks and balances allows our legislator, our Congress, to go back and say, alright, if that’s the limit you set, and it may be a very broad limit, let’s try to narrow the behavior within those limits. That’s okay. I have no problem with that.

Watch it:

In 2006, Steele ran for U.S. Senate on a campaign platform of cleaning up money and politics, including a gift ban from lobbyists and stronger revolving door restrictions. And as chairman of the Republican Party from 2009 to 2010, Steele gained a reputation for speaking his mind, even when his opinions contrasted with party orthodoxy. Hopefully, Steele will be a voice for the anti-Citizens United movement that has already taken shape around the country.