Brady Campaign Hails Passage of Campaign Finance Reform (PUKE)

Brady Campaign ^ | 2-14-02

[Dan from Michigan]

Brady Campaign Hails Passage of Campaign Finance Reform

Defeat for the NRA Is a Victory for the American People

Today, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, united with the Million Mom March, hailed the U.S. House of Representatives' passage of H.R. 2356, the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, or Shays-Meehan Bill. The bill, which was sponsored by Representatives Chris Shays (R-CT) and Marty Meehan (D-MA), restricts campaign contributions known as "soft money" given to national political parties, and prohibits special interest groups from attacking candidates in so-called "issue ads" within 60 days of a general election. In 2000, the Brady Campaign took the unprecedented step of endorsing campaign finance reform.

"Campaign finance reform is long overdue," said Michael D. Barnes, President of the Brady Campaign and a former Congressman from Maryland. "The passage of Shays-Meehan is a victory for democracy and for the millions of Americans who feel that their elected officials listen to big money more than to their constituents. Perhaps now, the gun lobby's stranglehold on Congress will be broken."

A chart that appeared in the Washington Post on February 13 listed the top "soft money" donors in the last federal election cycle. Of the top 10 special interest groups, the National Rifle Association (NRA) spent the most, outspending the next leading group by more than four times. Furthermore, the gun industry trade association, the National Shooting Sports Foundation ranked third. Together, the two gun groups' donations equaled more than those of the other eight contributors combined. Not surprisingly, the NRA has been a vocal opponent of Shays-Meehan.

"The numbers say it all," Mr. Barnes continued. "Even though the measure will impact our election activities as well, it will cut into the NRA's even more, reducing the gun lobby's ability to obstruct the progress of sensible gun laws. Shays-Meehan will level the playing field so that our lawmakers are no longer beholden to special interest groups like the NRA. No wonder it has been fighting this measure tooth and nail."

Mr. Barnes blasted the gun lobby's attempt to gain special protection for its electioneering by pushing an amendment that would exempt gun-related activity from the bill. The amendment failed but is yet another example of the lengths to which the gun lobby will go to circumvent the will of the people. The NRA is currently pushing federal legislation (H.R. 2037) to provide special legal protection for the gun industry at the expense of gun violence victims, and it is seeking state and local measures to exempt shooting ranges from noise ordinances and legal action by nearby residents and homeowners' associations.

"This outrageous attempt to exempt gun groups from Shays-Meehan is proof that the NRA's opposition to campaign finance reform isn't about free speech -- it's about the preservation of influence-peddling," said Mr. Barnes. "The majority of Americans support campaign finance reform as well as sensible gun laws, and the defeat of this amendment shows that we will prevail. The NRA fears campaign finance reform because it will restore integrity and transparency to the political process and limit the disproportionate influence that it has enjoyed for years."

[Dan from Michigan]

McSTAIN, Chrissy Shays, Meehan, Feingold - you all SUCK.

[Dan from Michigan]

bttt

[technochick99]

Ugh.

[45Auto]

campaign finance reform - sensible gun laws - to hell with the Constitution, that's what these enemies of freedom are really saying. Is there any doubt about who the fascists are in America?

[lafroste]

Stupid question department: If this travisty actually becomes law, won't it constrain the Brady Bunch just as much as the NRA? Or is there a clause in there to allow "common sense" organizations to campaign anyway?

[45Auto]

we are way past "sensible" and well into "infringement" when it comes to firearm regulation. The BATF Book of Regulations runs to 360 pages and still growing. These people make me sick; they are the worst sort of pathological liars. They can't really believe any of the stuff they spew, can they?

[jcparks]

There's no such thing as a stupid question

Now for the "stupid" answer...The "Brady bunch" won't have to have a special exclusion to voice their opinions, the main-stream media already does it for them.

OK?

[Billthedrill]

Not stupid, an excellent question. As I understand the bill, it will prohibit the NRA and the Brady Bunch from advertising during the last 60 days...except...there is a provision for the media to "accredit" certain such organizations in the interest of maintaining the flow of communcations, etc, etc...and the Brady Bunch is hoping to dance around the exemption this way. If they do, and the NRA is blocked, there will truly be hell to pay come the first election (not next November, BTW) it takes effect, because they can't silence private citizens, and a whole lot of us will be screaming.

If I am incorrect about this I will happily stand correction by a more knowledgeable FReeper (as always).

[Senator_Blutarski]

If this travisty actually becomes law, won't it constrain the Brady Bunch just as much as the NRA?

Good question. I think the answer is "no". The liberal media is not constrained by this legislation in their determination of what counts as "news and commentary". Once they have the lobbists and special interest groups out of the way, the media can promote their candidates and their issues without interference.

This is the media's dream come true. Now they can control the topics and discussions prior to an election.

Sarah Brady loves this because the media is on her side.

[ibbryn]

prohibits special interest groups from attacking candidates in so-called "issue ads" within 60 days of a general election.

does this bill prohibit special interest groups from supporting candidates in so-called "issue ads" within 60 days of a general election? I'm not being a smart-ass, I'm really asking.

[coloradan]

Yes and no. The gun grabbers get free advertising in the form of "news articles" that they don't have to pay for, but that nevertheless influence public opinion just as any ad would. For example, articles about efforts to "close the gun show 'loophohle,'" which presume a priori that there is such a loophole, and that it needs closing. The former is blatantly false, the second, debatable. All the NRA can do with a hostile press is pay to take out ads that challenge the lies and present the other side of the debate, but, now this will be banned within 60 days of elections.

"We get free press whenever we want it." - Some member of HCI.

[NovemberCharlie]

does this bill prohibit special interest groups from supporting candidates in so-called "issue ads" within 60 days of a general election? I'm not being a smart-ass, I'm really asking.

Yep. It prevents special interest groups from RUNNING issue ads within 60 days of a general election.

[AmericanVictory]

Totalitarians On the March. It's TOM and the TOM moms.

[Billthedrill]

So the enemies of the 2nd amendment have finally set their sights on the other 9. It was only a matter of time...

No particular comment - this simply needs a few hundred repetitions until it sinks in. Dan and Tom and Peter and Larry will be partying tonight...

[lideric]

It may turn out that this stupid law will shoot the liberals, in the foot. People will rely more on internet e-mail, and talk radio for campaign information - - which tilts in the RIGHT direction.

[Virginia-American]

: If this travisty actually becomes law, won't it constrain the Brady Bunch just as much as the NRA?

They don't have nearly as many members or dollars as NRA etc. It hurts them less 'cause they're doing less.

[hchutch]

This is EXACTLY what they wanted with Shays-Meehan. They don't want a debate or a discussion. They want to silence their opposition.

So much the better. We now know that there is NO right that the Brady Campaign respects.

[Fireone]

I think Rush nailed it today, "if the American people knew what really happened last night, there would be rioting in the streets!"

[Senator_Blutarski]

BTD, you are so right. In about 20 years people will figure out how wrong this CFR bill is. By then the damage will be done. The liberal press will carry water for the Democrats during the 60 days before each election. Since the Democrats and the press have the same agenda, they Democrats have nothing to lose, unlike the stupid Republicans who voted for this travesty.

Our hopes must lie with either Bush or the Supreme Court.

Daschle sees this issue as his vindication. If Bush signs CFR he will be screwing the Republicans and helping the Democrats. If he vetos the bill, the Democrats will scream "big money interest groups own the Bush White House".

I guess we'll see how good a politician and leader GW Bush is real soon.