And again from the blogasphere
Feds need McCain-Feingold in their ass
Posted by Al Barger on December 12, 2003 12:24 AM
http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/12/12/002430.php In a typically excellent column, Jonah Goldberg criticizes blogland for the minimal response that has been made to the Supreme Court's ridiculous decision in the McConnell case upholding the McCain-Feingold Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act.
He's right. This kind of REAL freedom of speech issue [not some brought on crap about federal funding for piss-christs] should have us all up in arms, and it just doesn't. [Special recognition, however, to Blogcritic Tom Bux for a two-fisted shout for freedom.]
Let me do my little bit to help rectify this lack of blogger responsiveness to this important ruling against our most basic freedom: the feds need the McCain-Feingold law in their ass. I mean, they need it up there sideways, three or four copies of it- in braille for extra pleasure.
All three branches of the federal government now have colluded to tell us that we can't speak out against politicians running for office. NARAL and the NRA and even goddam NAMBLA should have every right to take out tv ads or billboards saying what they think about a presidential candidate or congressmen. You know, petitioning for a redress of grievances in the most direct manner- making their case to their fellow citizens for why we need to replace the miserable sobs in charge.
By my lights, McCain-Feingold rates as a FAR worse encroachment of our civil liberties than anything in the Patriot Act- and with far less justification. There may be legitimate concerns about "enemy combatants" being held in Gitmo that bear judicial scrutiny. However, that concerns maybe a few hundred people who are being held- and they are at least supposedly enemies trying to kill Americans.
On the other hand, McCain-Feingold slams the lid on the free expression of just the most important kind of speech by tens of millions of Americans. Supposedly, they want us to get involved and speak out on the issues of the day.
Every election cycle, all the politicians work themselves up into a lather over the lack of democratic participation. Yeah, well, actions speak louder than words. This law tells you what they REALLY think about mere citizens sticking their noses into the business of government.