Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Lessig Decides Not to Run For Congress

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the jedis-are-going-to-feel-this-one dept.

micheas writes "Larry Lessig has decided that running for U.S. Congress himself in a special election would be too risky to his Change Congress movement and has decided not to run. 'With lots of mixed feelings, I have decided a run for Congress would not help the Change Congress movement. I explain the thinking in this 5 minute video (a new record for me!). First question: What happens to the contributions to Lessig08? As explained on the ActBlue page, all will go to (the yet to be established) Change Congress organization.'"

3 of 80 comments (clear)

  1. Re:mastershake by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    So get money under the assumption you're running for congress, then turn around and use it for a yet-to-be established organization. With that kind of behavior he's acting like a congressman already!
    If by that your meaning he is retiring from politics *cough* to become a lobbyist in order to gain a wider influence for his cause, then yes, you probably are correct. He still needs to be able to show lots of voters backing him with donations so he can influence votes in regards to his cause and in the process avoid appearing to be attempting to corrupt the process in his efforts to reduce corruption. A very tall order in D.C..

    No doubt the opposition will be adding color to his public image and efforts. Considering that mainstream Coporate Media is a huge part of the problem, expect those colors to be fluorescent in nature.
  2. Re:Come on by vtscott · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Interestingly though, the donation page currently states:

    If I decide not to run, any remaining funds will be contributed to the Change Congress movement to help promote these principles.
    However, I pulled up the google cache of that same page and there is no mention of what will happen to the funds if he decides not to run. That seems somewhat shady, and I personally think he should have decided whether or not to run before starting to take donations.
  3. Re:Come on by vtscott · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Hmm. The google cache says that it was pulled from the website on 2/20, so if you really did see it a week or more ago that would mean the disclaimer was pulled off and then put back on. I'm not saying it was fraud or anything, but I can see how people who donated might feel misled by the whole thing.