Class Action Sellouts

Eighteen Democrats this week voted with all Republicans to restrict Americans rights to collectively file class action lawsuits. Now, I understand the Republicans voting for this - they make little effort to hide the fact that they are a wholly-owned subsidiary of Corporate America.

But 18 Democrats? This is a complete betrayal of the party of the middle class. Under the guise of "legal reform," this bill is nothing more than a way to protect abusive corporations from cleaning up their acts. As Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) said in voting against this bill, “it limits corporate accountability at a time of rampant corporate scandals” and is is “one of the most unfair, anticonsumer proposals to come before the Senate in years.” If you've ever seen movies like "The Insider," "A Civil Action" or "Erin Brockovich" you know that Reid is right: often-times class actions are the only way to reign in huge companies - especially now, when so much of our politicians are bought and paid for by Big Business.

I was especially disappointed in Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL), who voted for the bill. Most of the Democrats voting for the bill were the typical sellouts like Evan Bayh and Joe Lieberman, who have made long careers out of sucking up to Corporate America. But Obama, who was a civil rights lawyer, is supposed to be different. The excitement surrounding his election was, in part, due to the fact that people expected him to be a leading progressive voice for economic justice. This vote, so early in his Senate career (his ninth vote, to be exact), puts all that hype into question - and that doesn't even mention that his second vote ever was to confirm Condoleezza Rice for Secretary of State. Let's hope he soon realizes the error of his ways.

For more on the vote, see this entry at Daily Kos.