Shouldn't all elected public officials disclose who their corporate sponsors are on their websites and tv/ radio ads etc?

It wouldn’t be a bad idea.

They already report that information to the FEC. It can be publicized by the opposition. It would be nice if they were forced to publicize it themselves, but it would cut into their free speech rights because it would take too much time. So it’s best to leave it to the opposition to publicize who supports them.

I think that this would be a great idea. The only problem is that the people who would be in the best position to create this reform are “elected public officials.”

I don’t think most of them could list all their sponsors in a 30 second ad.

There was a segment on The Colbert Show about how Karl Rove received donations to two organizations: one where donors had to be disclosed, and another where they didn’t.

With a few exceptions, you would end up with roughly the same list for both candidates. Most large corporations will hedge their bets and contribute to both candidates in key elections.

With SuperPACs able to raise unlimited amounts from completely anonymous donors, such laws would do no good. Bribery and corruption already flows mostly through SuperPACs. Gingrich even has Newt’s SuperPAC that collects enormous sums secretly, then generously gives it to Newt’s PAC, which only has to show a single line crediting Newt’s SuperPAC for the millions. The US Supreme Corporatocracy has taken political prostitution to previously undreamed of levels. I am looking for an influx of corrupt wealth from around the world. This is the place to be if you have the money to corrupt the system for your own benefit.

I don’t see any relief short of a Constitutional Amendment taking the money out of politics. We should have a combination of public financing and small donations from individuals, be they individual humans or individual corporations. Till we do that, we will fight with government of the people, by the corporations and for the corporations.