Video Show How Easy it is for Big Money to Influence Politics and the Importance of Reversing Decisions like Citizens United

WASHINGTON – A group of diabolical animated villains is secretly gathering to use big money to influence politics in this week’s winning video in the Democracy For All Video Challenge, which encourages people to speak out in support of a constitutional amendment to get big money out of politics. The Democracy For All Video Challenge, spearheaded by Say No To Big Money and People For the American Way, selects a different best video every week from submissions made by people across the country.

The video, “Voters, assemble!” was created by Bryan Warner – a nonprofit communications director from Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina – and uses animation to depict a secret meeting between a group of villains who are plotting to influence politics by using big money. The video illustrates how easy it is for corporations and special interest groups to buy their way into Washington and influence policy in their favor.

This week’s winner was the final weekly winner in the competition. All of the videos submitted during the 14-weeks of the contest will now be judged by a panel that includes Michael Moore, Academy Award-winning filmmaker; Norman Lear, legendary television producer and founder of People For the American Way; and Kathleen Turner, advocate and Academy Award-nominated actress; and Dolores Huerta, civil rights activist and cofounder of United Farm Workers. The grand prize winner, who will receive $25,000, will be announced Dec. 16. In addition, five best in category videos will be awarded $5,000 each.

“For the past several years, I've been involved in work around campaign finance reform and voting rights here in North Carolina,” said Warner. “I think the impact of big money is a serious threat to the integrity of American elections. It's great to see so many people participating with these videos and uniting in an effort to protect our democracy.”

The video can be viewed at http://democracyforall.com/entries/voters-assemble. All of the winning videos to-date are available to view at www.democracyforall.com/winners. People can enter the video challenge by submitting 30-90 second videos between now and Dec. 2. Full details are available at www.DemocracyForAll.com.

“The use of animation in Bryan’s video to depict the impact of big money in politics and the need for a constitutional amendment was innovative and delivered the message loud and clear,” said Jeff Haggin, president of Say No To Big Money which created the video challenge. “We are hoping these videos will prompt Americans to let their representatives know they support the Democracy For All amendment.”

The Democracy For All Video Challenge was created by Say No To Big Money and People For the American Way to tap into the creative potential of people in the United States who support a constitutional amendment that would allow for reasonable limits to be set on money in elections. A panel of judges selects the most impactful videos with $1,000 being awarded to the best video each week. At the conclusion of the video challenge, five best in category videos will be awarded $5,000 each, with $25,000 being awarded to the best overall video. Rather than hire an advertising agency to produce the spots, the sponsor organizations developed the Video Challenge to enable the true voice of Americans to be heard and give people across the country a chance to earn money for their efforts.

The Democracy For All Amendment, currently being considered by Congress with 142 cosponsors in the House and 41 supporters in the Senate, would overturn decisions such as Citizens United, the 2010 Supreme Court case that paved the way for unlimited political spending by corporations and the super wealthy. 

People For the American Way (PFAW) is dedicated to making the promise of America real for every American. That means equality. Freedom of speech. Freedom of religion. The right to seek justice in a court of law. The right to cast a vote that counts. The American Way. Our vision is a vibrantly diverse democratic society in which everyone is treated equally under the law, given the freedom and opportunity to pursue their dreams, and encouraged to participate in our nation’s civic and political life. More information is available at www.PFAW.org.

Say No To Big Money is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation for the public benefit with the mission of supporting the ratification of the Democracy For All Amendment that will regulate campaign contributions. Say No To Big Money is nonpartisan and does not promote or take sides on any political issues nor endorse candidates or elections. More information is available at www.SayNoToBigMoney.com.

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