# Does the first amendment really let corporations buy elections?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-first-amendment-really-let-corporations-buy-elections/507690>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [August 25, 2009, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-first-amendment-really-let-corporations-buy-elections/507690 "2009-08-25T20:39:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 6

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**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-first-amendment-really-let-corporations-buy-elections/507690/101 "2009-09-05T21:31:20Z")

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> [@MOIDALIZE](#):
>
> The Supreme Court will soon be weighing in on this issue.
> 
> [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/04/AR2009090402276.html](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/04/AR2009090402276.html)
> 
> An editorial against corporate free speech rights:
> 
> [http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial\_opinion/oped/articles/2009/09/05/corporate\_free\_speech\_since\_when/](http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2009/09/05/corporate_free_speech_since_when/)

We are screwed. The Robert court is clearly on the side of corporations. They never go against corporate interests.

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**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2009, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-first-amendment-really-let-corporations-buy-elections/507690/102 "2009-09-14T17:44:55Z")

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> [@Giles](#):
>
> Firstly, corporations consist of and are run by real people.

Then let the real people engage in the political activity. Let the CEO use his own money to make non-deductible contributions to 535 election campaigns.

> [@](#):
>
> Secondly, one of the rights that has been held to be implicit in the First Amendment is freedom of association. One way for people to associate is by forming corporations.

Does freedom of association mean that the association has all the rights of the individual? Of course not. There is a case in the supreme court that is addressing this very issue this session.

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