FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, Sept. 14, 2012
CONTACT: Jennifer Flynn | (917) 517-5202 | jenniferaliceflynn@gmail.com
PROTESTORS TO DISRUPT ROMNEY AND RYAN CAMPAIGN STOPS: DEMAND MONEY OUT OF POLITICS
(Washington, DC and New York) Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney held a high priced fundraiser in New York City. As the big donors were entering the breakfast, Take the Money Out of Politics protestors threw hundreds of dollars stamped with messages like, “Not to be used for bribing politicians, Amend the Constitution.” in the air.
Pandemonium erupted as wealthy donors jumped for dollar bills as they flew through the lobby. “Just as these donors are jumping for dollars, both political candidates jump to accommodate the needs of the wealthy that fund their elections. Just like there is chaos in the lobby of the Hilton Hotel right now, there is increasing chaos in our political system.”, said Megan Mulholland of QUEEROCRACY.
“The 2012 elections are officially being auctioned off to the highest bidder, empowering the 1% to choose our representatives in Washington,” said Bobby Tolbert, board member of VOCAL-NY Action Fund and living with HIV/AIDS, “For me, the buying of our democracy could literally be life threatening since the sole aim of the big donors is to avoid paying their fair share of taxes which fund vital programs like Medicaid and keep the social safety-net in place.”
In Washington, DC, activists unveiled a banner in front of Vice-Presidential Candidate Paul Ryan that read Corporations Are Not People. They Can’t Go To Heaven. Amend The Constitution @takethemoneyout.
The activists chanted “Corporate Values Out, Christian Values In, Citizens United, Ryan Its A Sin” as they were escorted from the event, which was also attended by Ann Romney, Congressman Eric Cantor, and Michele Bachmann.
Both Ryan and Romney have stated that they support the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision. Congressman Ryan authored a budget that would dramatically slash social safety-net programs that pay for housing and medicine low income individuals in the United States and around the world.
“I do vote my values and my values include making sure that everyone in my community has access to affordable housing, has food to eat, has a good job. I understand that taxes provide these services. I expect my government to help me and my neighbors in a time of crisis. Unfortunately, both candidates don’t vote for my values. They vote in the interest of corporations.”, said Sam Sitrin, a member of ACT UP Philadelphia.
Two weeks ago, President Barack Obama committed publicly during an online forum hosted by Reddit that he would support a constitutional amendment to roll back unlimited corporate campaign contributions. Elected officials at last week’s Democratic National Convention echoed this call.
Both candidates have rejected federal funding in order to exceed mandated federal limits.
For more info, follow @TakeTheMoneyOut on Twitter or “Like” Facebook.com/TakeTheMoneyOut
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