Barbra Streisand bemoans large political donations -- by others

Update on celebrity politicking: One-time singing sensation Barbra Streisand has come out against the recent Supreme Court ruling giving corporations the legal right to make political contributions as she does.

In a widely-overlooked item on Huffington Post this week, Streisand complained that the overwhelming 2008 "historic victory" of Barack Obama "was a mandate for change," as was the awarding of overwhelming congressional majorities to progressive Democrats.

But, according to Streisand, who says she's been a longtime supporter of free speech, progress in Washington has been stymied not by political infighting but by big money.

"Frustration has given way to anger," Streisand says, "as voters have witnessed the inability of our lawmakers to make progress on issues like health care reform, financial regulation, and energy policy. This inaction is due to a tidal wave of big money from the health insurance industry, Big Oil and giant financial institutions who have mobilized to challenge the people's mandate for change."

She adds: "The same financiers, whose greed contributed to the downfall of our economy, contribute significantly to candidates expecting a favorable return on their investment."

She favors new laws limiting large corporate contributions because "campaigns funded by small-donor driven public financing can turn Washington, D.C., away from 'rule by the monied' and towards 'rule by the many.'"

In addition to performing at Obama fundraising events, according to the Center for Responsive Politics' opensecrets.org website, Streisand herself has donated in excess of $600,000, mostly to Democrats or Democratic groups over the years.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photo: Getty Images   Hat Tip: Jeff Poor

Comments

[Rusted]

As the downfall of recent politicians has demonstrated, money and ethics are the real problem. Lobbyists have proven that there are many ways to buy a vote, so until that problem is fixed limiting campaign contributions isn't going to accomplish squat.

[Chris Sullivan]

Obviously, Andrew Malcolm is an idiot. Streisand has never denied an INDIVIDUAL'S right to donate money, even large sums of money... including money she donates herself. What she is correctly pointing out is the far, far greater impact that allowing corporations to donate unlimited sums to a campaign can have.

Honestly, The Los Angeles Times' dislike of Ms. Streisand is so transparently obvious it is truly sad. Fortuantely, Ms. Streisand is light years more intelligent than anyone who writes for this paper.

(Do you think even she can tell this isn't a paper?)

[Ken Konnor]

"One-time singing sensation Barbra Streisand"????????? Clearly and ineffably, the Los Angeles Times is thickened and laden with bias and anger and negativity towards Streisand, who, by the way, just had her latest album debut at #1 beating out the likes of "current sensations" such as Paramore, Madonna, and Mariah Carey. This makes Babs the only recording artist in history to have number one albums in each of five different (and consecutive) decades. If this makes Barbra Streisand a "one-time singing sensation," well then, the L. A. Times is a tabloid rag caked with prejudicial filth.

[vince]

You go Ken! I concur with everything you wrote. Barbra reigns.

[CR]

Barbra Streisand should consider entering the political arena herself. She has great views and much to say. She is a very intelligent woman who is interested in the 'average Joe' getting ahead and being able to live a long and comfortable life in the greatest nation on earth.

Cudos Babs! Love your opinions and I look forward to the next read!!