Russell Simmons On Occupy Wall Street: 'It Is My Moral Duty To Do This'

No celebrity supports the "Occupy" movement more fervently than Russell Simmons, founder of DefJam and GlobalGrind.com and author of Super Rich: A Guide To Having It All. Not only has he visited Occupy Wall Street nearly every day since the protests began, but he has started on a cross-country tour of different protest sites to gather grassroots support for his proposed Constitutional amendment that would ban private donations to candidates running for federal public office.

He recently told The Huffington Post that this could be one of the most important things he has ever done, explaining why he is trying to change the Constitution and why people should take him seriously.

You are a very successful businessman. Some might even call you part of the one percent. Why are you bothering with the Occupy movement?

It's part of human kindness and I feel it is my moral duty to do this. You give what you get. I want to do what I can to relieve suffering and improve the quality of other's lives. A yogi’s commitment to life is to relieve suffering, protect all beings and improve the quality of life for all.

A lot of people see you doing this and think, "Oh, another celebrity with a pet cause." How are you positioned to get this done?

I have the unique resources and relationships to make it happen. I can bring together multiple networks of cultural icons, black clergy and unions to improve the country for the better and a promote a greater, more honest and true democracy.

So what's the next step?

I need to continue to fuel the revolution by traveling around the world and engaging the good people that will do the work. I just hired and brought on Dr. Ben Chavis, the former national director of the Million Man March, to help coordinate efforts.

Which politicians are you hoping to partner with?

I'm not releasing or sharing names until there is strong bipartisan support. I have been speaking with top senators and congressmen who all say it is a great idea, but I know better than anyone that saying it's a great idea and getting it done are two very different things. If eight out of 10 Americans know big business and special interests have too much control of our government, I don’t see why we can't get this done. This is not a far-fetched dream.

 

 

Comments

[yen2ken]

02:11 AM on 11/30/2011

What a likeable guy is Russell Simmons ! BUT .. the Constitutional Amendment that is needed to get the money out of Washington DC is MINE. It says: **" tracking and or banning donations to candidates is ILLEGAL, BUT forcing candidates (a) to not SPEND more than some limit (b) to account for every expense (c) to pay huge taxes on money they spend for political purposes (d) to hand over to Feds (only to pay down national debt) ALL funds collected over the spending limit " **... will make it lots harder for WHOLESALE BRIBERY *buy a candidate" to persist as the Washington-Way...and it will also help hold the lid on petty retail bribery where lobbyists give "tit for tat" without using bucks.

[creswell]

01:51 PM on 11/28/2011

Russell is a Marxist advocate and a anti-free speech fascist, he believes in restricting a US citizen from using their own money as speech. He also wants a political welfare check going to candidates straight from the US Treasury. That is incumbent protection if ever there is one. And lastly, how would he like it if his (rap/hip hop) music was the target of another anti-free speech fascist.

[jedisabre]

04:37 AM on 11/28/2011

He wants a "Constitutional amendment that would ban private donations to candidates running for federal public office". Then only the rich could run for office. It costs millions in advertising!

[laoshi]

05:24 AM on 11/28/2011

True, but they would be beholden only to themselves. Now, the politician is obligated to do the bidding of their highest donors measured by dollars.

[creswell]

01:55 PM on 11/28/2011

What part of the 1ST amendment that state's, Congress shall make no law.....abridging the freedom of speech... don't you and Russell get?

[Nancy Daniel]

12:04 AM on 11/28/2011

Campaign finance reform is the smartest play on true change. Good for him. He's wading into the waters of powerful lobbyists and lots of money. But he's young, smart, and has lots of money. I'm rooting for him big time. And congratula­tions to him for defying the stereotype of cognac swilling, gun carrying hip hop artists.
www.thegeekwork.com

[creswell]

01:56 PM on 11/28/2011

Campaign finance reform is anti-free speech fascist reform, period.

[constitutional 1]

10:59 AM on 11/27/2011

Just tax an expenditures for federal elections at 100%. Spend a million dollars on a a commercial pay a million in taxes. Pay your election team 10 million, pay 10 million in taxes. Estimated 6 billion will be spent on 2012 presidential campaign, 6 billion in revenue for the treasury. apply same rule to congress and senate

[Neither Side Wins]

08:08 PM on 11/26/2011

Russell Simmons clothing line in Walmart....

http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/feb2009/db20090211_011284.htm

[creswell]

01:58 PM on 11/28/2011

How about a amendment banning that too Russell, hypocrite.

[Neither Side Wins]

08:07 PM on 11/26/2011

http://www.chicagodefender.com/article-9260-macyrss-new-clothing-line-by-russell-simmons.html

[shankapotomus]

08:34 AM on 11/26/2011

Sorry but that wouldn't make any difference, polititions can still use their own money in which they are almost all rich and know one gets more than they already have like Kerry and Pelosi andt the rest of the rich democrat or republican.

[rediscover101]

11:29 AM on 11/26/2011

There is something more fundamentally wrong with America's democracy than what is here indicated. The first step should be to honor the meaning of the First Amendment. When the U.S. Constitution was being written in the late 1700s the Protestant leaders of the states refused to sign. Why? It would have been a violation of conscience for them to do so. The 1st Amendment was a promise, vow and covenant to the Protestant leaders of the 13 colonies that their religion would not be made a part of government. At the same time they would have free expression everywhere. On this basis did the Protestant leaders sign onto this document known as the U.S. Constitution. www.keytousc.com

[hovito187]

03:02 PM on 11/26/2011

Russell is suggesting that all people who run for public office would have to use public campaign funds only - which would put everyone at equal footing. This would disallow the rich to use their own money or any sort of access to private money. It makes sense.

[shakesome]

05:46 PM on 11/26/2011

It ,makes no sense. It on;y entrenches the power of the two major parties who already do nothing for the citizens. It would preclude the chance of a third party candidate.

[hovito187]

05:57 PM on 11/25/2011

I think we all agree that Washington is broken. Russell is giving a voice to the concerns that millions of people have about the democratic process. Russell has access to resources that a lot of people don't have and we should be thankful that he is utilizing that access to try and bring real change to Washington.

[shakesome]

05:47 PM on 11/26/2011

Russell should focus on his own community which has many great problems including sky high rates of crime, incarceration and teen pregnancies (out of wedlock), which he has helped create via his promotion of culture-killing garbage music.

[mollybeejay]

08:01 PM on 11/26/2011

So, in your estimation, Russel Simmons is single handedly responsible for the state of affairs in NY. While you are busy bashing him, what have you done to make the world a better place,? Or better yet, what have you done to make your own neighborhood a better place?

[creswell]

02:17 PM on 11/28/2011

....good points...

[Bandit29]

10:12 AM on 11/25/2011

I think Mr. Simmons is mistaken in his quest for an amendment. I also think his support of OWS is misguided. He made his millions from the ability to start his company and pursue his dream. No one handed him anything; his wealth is the result of his own hard work. And to attack the system that allowed his success seems hypocritical.

[Candide33]

05:10 PM on 11/25/2011

Well, you are in the 10% who thinks political corruption is wonderful and that our country needs more corruption.

[creswell]

02:21 PM on 11/28/2011

He has his clothing line in Wal-Mart, Macy's and in other stores and he call's himself "part of the 99%", please. And lastly, I support free speech where as Russell is a anti-free speech fascist.

[SonOfUgh]

05:46 PM on 11/25/2011

You claim Mr, Simmons was never handed anything. This is a fallacious interpretation of business success that's prevalent in conservative dialogue and quite especially libertarian dialogue.

Mr. Simmons is the son of a public school administrator and a New York City park administrator. This means he was raised in a home whose INCOME was earned by hard working government employees. He received an education from a public school, funded by government taxes.

Mr Simmons' businesses include media, clothing manufacture, TV broadcasting, and print media (to name a few). Each of these have distribution that occurs over government owned/operated roadways, government regulated airwaves, etc. His businesses and his own person are protected by government paid police and fire departments.

Mr. Simmons has no doubt worked hard as part of his success but to claim he was never handed anything is, in my opinion, not borne out by the facts of reality.

It seems quite logical and NOT hypocritical in the least for Mr. Simmons to fight against what has happened to society that prevents others from receiving the benefits that were necessary to his own success. Corruption is destroying the ability of Americans to build infrastructure, to receive education, and to share common resources. In an environment without those things or, more likely, where those things are only available to the wealthy, someone like Mr. Simmons would never be able to become the success he has become.

I commend Mr. Simmons for a reasoned, ethical stand.

[shakesome]

05:49 PM on 11/26/2011

How much money has he donated directly to the Fed government?

[creswell]

02:43 PM on 11/28/2011

To SonOfUgh,
Since you brought up "Libertarian dialogue", I am letting you know, without you realizing it, that you have made our point, government is too big. It is too intrusive, it is confiscating our income to feed the beast. You brought up the iron fist of government 10 times, except for the police, who are suppose to protect his "life, liberty and [his] pursuit of happiness", in this Republic, everything else should be in private hands. I am wondering when you leftist are going to advocate that we all change our birth records to show that government is our mother and father at the very least or our God for the most part.

[Michael Scala]

06:49 AM on 11/25/2011

Does he ever take that Yankee hat off? Just curious.

[kkdkdkdkdk]

05:35 AM on 11/25/2011

I think we've got to reduce the influence of money on the candidates. America is being corrupted by greed and many of our financial problems are the result of our greed (both 99% and 1%).

[liarfire]

01:30 AM on 11/25/2011

I applaud this man..too many high profile rich people are sitting this out when they could make monumental change , all that hopey changy thing we expected from Obama that we never got or will every get from a politician we will have to do ourselves. he was elected by a very diverse crowd overwhelmingly..where are they now?..if we can wrap our minds round this concept and give up the R vs D facade that they keep shoving in our face to keep us infighting we can get the job done with out the talking heads and pundits and corporate controlled political establishment.

[Carolab]

01:06 AM on 11/25/2011

Truthdig says Simmons is part of a clandestine group trying to co-opt OWS.

[Carolab]

01:07 AM on 11/25/2011

According to the article by Alexander Kelly from 11/22 My source asserts that a number of other now visible figures within the movement have worked or are working closely with Caristo, many of whom are alleged to have met or exchanged messages with celebrity supporters and possible financial and publicity sponsors of OWS, including Def Jam co-founder Russell Simmons; documentary filmmaker Michael Moore; civil rights attorney, former director of the New York branch of the ACLU and political aspirant Norman Siegel; and actor and possible New York City mayoral candidate Alec Baldwin.

[Tax the Rich]

04:20 PM on 11/25/2011

Wow! I really believe you! Honestly!!!

[shakesome]

05:51 PM on 11/26/2011

Many folks are trying to co-opt it including mainstream Dems, the usual union leader corporatists and the socialist/marxist activists who are always on the fringe of any leftist effort. But there ain't much to co-opt as they have no positions on ANYTHING which means that everybody from Nazis to moderates to the Socialist Works Party thinks they're a part of it.

[mollybeejay]

08:05 PM on 11/26/2011

Rush, is that you?

[zooks1]

12:40 AM on 11/25/2011

I support this, it would be a means of influence control i do not think that democrats will go for it. this eliminates all money from unions, it would be nice to severe their ability to buy candidates with hundreds of millions they throw around annually. last Presidential election cycle democrats raised almost a billion. With almost half from unions. republicans will also be against it, but it will be democrats who stand to lose the most in contributions.