Supreme Court Decision on Free Speech Denounced

A Semi-News/Semi-Satire from AzConservative ^ | 23 January 2010 | John Semmens

[John Semmens]

The US Supreme Court’s 5-4 ruling that the government may not restrict what or when individuals and organizations may spend to voice their opinions was roundly denounced by leading Democrats. The decision came in a case in which the producers of a film critical of Hillary Clinton had been barred from showing the film during the period before the 2008 election.

President Obama charged that “the Court’s decision is an invitation to unconstrained criticism of candidates for public office. The measured give-and-take of candidates debating each other over how to govern will now be polluted by heckling from outsiders who have no direct role in our government.”

Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) rued that “it will be open season on those of us trying to run this country. Candidates can rebut opposing candidates, but how do you hit back at a private citizen who isn’t even running for office?”

Schumer dismissed contentions that existing libel and slander laws should be sufficient to deter unwarranted attacks on candidates. “Libel and slander laws only penalize the making of false statements that damage another person,” Schumer said. “True statements can be even more damaging if their disclosure is inopportunely timed—as would’ve been the case with the Hillary Clinton film that was the basis of this case. Those of us who have put ourselves on the line as public servants need more protection than these laws can provide.”

[dayglored]

Geez, John, even I can’t tell where the line comes in this one. You’re gonna have a field day! Terrific!

[sodpoodle]

Cafferty read your column John - the lefties understand that *free speech* means speaking the TRUTH!!! See the proof on this video. LOL!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=A6_xgKWzhRw

sod;)

[Nateman]

Those of us who have put ourselves on the line as public servants need more protection than these laws can provide.”

Those of you who have put yourselves in the way as public enemies need protection from the truth , which is why we have free speech, no thanks to Chuck U. Schemer.

[freedumb2003]

How anyone can tell these “satirical” comments from the real ones is beyond me.

Are you sure this is satire?

[daniel1212]

This could easily provide more impetus to restrict criticism of liberals, if they can find a way to restrict it to them.

[daniel1212]

The Schumer part may be, but Fox says,

The far left has already taken up the cry that this decision somehow undermines democracy, with Senator Chuck Schumer calling it “un-American.”

Also,
Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote for the majority, “it uses censorship to control thought. This is unlawful. The First Amendment confirms the freedom to think for ourselves.’’

The New York Times excoriates what it terms a “disastrous’’ decision that will “thrust politics back to the robber-baron era of the 19th century’’ by freeing corporations to deploy “their vast treasuries to overwhelm elections and intimidate elected officials into doing their bidding.’’

Representative Alan Grayson, a Florida Democrat, denounced Citizens United as “the worst Supreme Court decision since the Dred Scott case.’’ Jeff Jacoy, Boston globe /2010/01/24/

[Las Vegas Ron]

Schumer said. “True statements can be even more damaging if their disclosure is inopportunely timed—

I could certainly believe Chuckie would say that.