Poll: Voters Disgusted with Political Spending, Corruption

NH Rebellion, the grassroots organization of thousands people in the Granite State and beyond trying to get money out of politics, is pointing to a new national poll showing that the American people are getting fed up with politics as usual, especially when it comes to campaign cash.

In a recent poll by Bloomberg Politics of Democrats, Republicans and independents, 78 percent disagree with the Supreme Court ruling on the Citizens United case allowing corporations and unions to spend unlimited amounts on political causes. Taking note of the strikingly similar view across both political parties, Bloomberg News reported: “Unhappiness with the 2010 decision cuts across demographic and partisan and ideological lines. Although the ruling was fashioned by the court’s conservative majority, Republicans oppose Citizens United 80 percent to 18 percent, according to the poll. Democrats oppose 83 percent to 13 percent, and independents, 71 percent to 22 percent. Among self-described liberals, conservatives, and moderates, 80 percent say the decision should be overturned.”

NH Rebellion Executive Director Dan Weeks said the poll showed another indication “of the disgust that Americans hold toward the big money corruption that has taken our political system hostage.

He added, “People across the political spectrum know that their small donations are a drop in the bucket to the big money sloshing around in elections. We have been engaging many of the presidential candidates about the problems and working with them on possible solutions and we hope this poll, paired with many others, prove this is the number one issue that needs to be addressed.

Brian Tilton, an outreach coordinator with the org, said Republican activists, leaders, and presidential candidates needed to heed the poll’s results.

“It’s earth-rattling,” he said. “This poll unequivocally shows people’s anger with the results of the Citizens United ruling is larger than I expected, even among fellow Republicans.”

Tilton also added that his experience in the field shows near-universal agreement among Republicans for full and immediate disclosure of all political contributions, ending pay-to-play and banning or limiting lobbying activity after serving in government.

For more information about NH Rebellion, visit nhrebellion.org