McCain-Feingold Part II

Jerry Doyle Show ^ | 2/28/2006 | Kerri Houston

[a02001]

STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES ON LEGISLATIVE RESTRICTIONS FOR GRASSROOTS ACTIVITIES

As Congress moves under public pressure to swiftly enact “lobby” reform, we believe that catastrophic overreach is taking form in Section 105 of 2128, the Lobbying Transparency and Accountability Act of 2005 sponsored by Senator John McCain (R-AZ), with similar language in S. 2180, the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act sponsored by Senators Harry Reid (D-NV) and Barrack Obama (D-IL),

Specific provisions of these bills would diminish the citizen voice and significantly reduce the ability of grassroots organizations to continue to express and promote the peoples’ will.

The legislation defines grassroots lobbying as any attempt to influence the public, or to engage in lobbying contacts in support of a view or position. Under the terms of both bills, grassroots lobbying would even include companies and organizations working in support of grassroots lobbying, such as researchers and consulting services involved in preparing information on issues and views.

Although many on Capital Hill oppose grassroots restrictions such as those presents in these bills, some senators on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which has jurisdiction over this legislation and is chaired by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), continue to assert that free speech restraints on American citizens are a necessary part of lobby reform.

[a02001]

If you liked McCain-Feingold, here is version II that is working its way through the "small intestines" of congress. Basically what I gleaned from the on air interview is that this phase II of McCain-Feingold (if it passes) will further limit the "serfs" ability to say anything that might hold the "nobles" accountable. I dropped my "representatives" a note for all the good it will do. Now where did I put that pitch fork?

[snowman1]

These a$$holes are after the wrong people. The should be going after the type that buy the congress not us little guys. If it passes it will never get past the courts.(I HOPE I HOPE I HOPE)

[supercat]

What are the first five words of the First Amendment? Is there any indication that it was not intended to be absolute as applied to Congress? Thinks like "yelling fire in a crowded theater" wouldn't have fallen under Congress' authority anyway, so Congress wouldn't need an exception for that.

Personally, I would like to see a group put forth an add something to the effect of:

#1: Hey, that gold sure is fine, isn't it?

#2: Yup. That's some [[GONG!]]

#1: What was that?

#2: Ah--that's the McCain-[[GONG!]] censorship warning. Senator McCain of Arizona and Senator [[GONG!]] of Wisconsin want to make it illegal for ordinary citizens to advertise their names on the air within their states, during the runup to an election.

#1: Huh?

#2: You see, they're afraid that if people knew what they were up to, they wouldn't vote for them. And they're afraid that ordinary citizens might buy airtime to let people know.

#1: But what about "Congress shall make no law..."

#2: Not nearly as important as "Senators should always get reelected." At least not in the minds of McCain and [[GONG!]].

#1: That sure stinks.

#2: Yeah, it does. But that gold sure is fine, isn't it?