It has become increasingly clear that the US Chamber of Commerce, the biggest purveyor of attack ads on behalf of Republicans, is not only accepting contributions from foreign corporations and governments, but also soliciting such contributions for the stated purpose of influencing US politics, mixing the money in the same 501(c)(6) account that pays for the attack ads, and asking us to trust them that no foreign money is being used for that purpose.

For at least 44 years, it has been illegal for foreign corporations, countries and individuals to make political contributions in the United States for any election, either directly or indirectly. It is even against the law to solicit such contributions. But in this Wild West year of political money, that longstanding ban is being set aside. The United States Chamber of Commerce — one of the biggest advertisers in midterm races around the country — is actively soliciting foreign money, and government enforcers seem to be doing nothing to stop it. According to a report issued Tuesday by the Center for American Progress, a liberal policy group in Washington, the chamber is getting “dues” payments of tens of thousands of dollars from foreign companies in countries such as Bahrain, India and Egypt, and then mingling the money with its fund to advocate for or against candidates in the midterm races. The chamber firmly denies the charge, saying its internal accounting rules prevent any foreign money from being used for political purposes. Money, however, is fungible, and it is impossible for an outsider to know whether the group is following its rules…

Inserted from <NY Times>

While still issuing these pathetic denials, they are holding a grand reception today for the Bank of Bahrain, no doubt seeking funds for more lying attack ads.

Here’s coverage from Keith Olbermann and Leo Gerrard, a labor leader.

And the chambers wants is to believe them because of their integrity? Remember that they had the integrity to run attacks ads against Health Care Reform, claiming that Obama was instituting death panels to kill grandma.

Corporations are NOT people! Money is NOT speech!