NRA Plans Own Media Empire to Avoid Censorship of Campaign 'Reform'

NewsMax.com ^ | 1/23/04 | Wes Vernon

[Valin]

ARLINGTON, Va. – The head of the National Rifle Association has thrown down the gauntlet to the enemies of free speech who wrote the McCain-Feingold campaign finance "reform" law: We will not shut up. Repeatedly bringing attendees at an annual gathering of conservatives to their feet, NRA’s legendary CEO, Wayne LaPierre, said his members would soon launch a 24-hour news service where "we will say anything we want to say about any politician, right up to Election Day."

This is aimed at getting around the Wellstone provision of McCain-Feingold, which bans outside groups from advertising for or against any candidate 30 days before the primary and 60 days before a general election. The new law, LaPierre told his audience at the Conservative Political Action Conference, is "a bald-faced insult to the constitutional freedoms of common Americans."

Further, declared LaPierre, "I'm here to guarantee you on their behalf that it will not stand."

In addition to its 24-hour news service — "definitely" in plenty of time for the November elections, the NRA CEO assured NewsMax.com in a separate interview – the gun rights group continues to pursue purchase of radio and TV stations of its own. It says that if Viacom, Disney and GE can say whatever they want anytime they want just because they own broadcast stations, then NRA can have the same privilege if it also owns TV and radio outlets.

Other options being considered, he said, include a "hot-air balloon or anchoring a ship in international waters to keep our First Amendment freedom."

Because the framers of the Constitution — "God bless them" – anticipated something like this, his members, as "a last resort," LaPierre told NewsMax, could invoke the Constitution's Article Five, which authorizes the people to convene a constitutional convention "and seize freedom again."

'No Law'

The "Beltway breed of bellyaching robber baron politicians" who fashioned this "smelly deal," charged LaPierre, ignored something known to every third-grader: The First Amendment, which reads "Congress shall make no law abridging freedom of speech."

Just 10 words, but yet it took the Supreme Court "only" 300 pages to "rationalize its way around" that centuries-old provision that has stood the test of time.

"The freedom-haters in Congress and a slim majority of the Supreme Court twisted the First Amendment from protecting the people to protecting the process."

As the gun rights icon sees it, "It's now a crime to criticize Congress when it needs it most. We’re back to the Alien and Sedition Act of 1798."

First, NRA vows to form an "unprecedented" coalition of grassroots Americans and groups "who may have nothing in common except the right and duty of free speech on behalf of their memberships."

At that point, he predicts, the drive will be on to test the limits of the anti-free-speech law, introducing repeal of the Wellstone "gag" provision.

"And if that doesn't work, we will begin pursuing the two-thirds of states [34] it takes to petition for a constitutional convention."

LaPierre is certain that "when we got to number 33, like they did in 1912, Congress will buckle" and repeal the odious law.

"This class of political elites will do what they've always done when the people threaten their power."

Beyond that, he promised his cheering audience, which repeatedly interrupted him with wild cheers, "We know how to blister the Beltway if we must, leaving freedom-hating politicians and media elites with spinning heads and locked jaws."

While denying you your right of free speech, he said, the media conglomorates have free rein. You shut up while they talk to their hearts' content. General Electric, which owns NBC; Disney, which owns ABC; and Viacom, which owns CBS, are "into everything" from mining to oil to jet engines to nuclear plants to multiple media outlets.

"They contribute millions to politicians and lobbyists," but "you [the ordinary citizen] are frozen out, and the U.S. Supreme Court gave them limitless liquid nitrogen to keep you in sub-zero citizenship."

LaPierre sees the day when, one way or another, grassroots Americans will rise up and say to the politicians, "How dare you!" The American people, he is convinced, will not tolerate an elite establishment that "did nothing less than declare the Founding Fathers and Framers fools."

[Valin]

LaPierre sees the day when, one way or another, grassroots Americans will rise up and say to the politicians, "How dare you!"

Well?

[Valin]

Ping

[muir_redwoods]

The last protection of the 1st amendment is the 2nd.

[goldstategop]

I intend to disobey and this law myself. Its flatly unconstitutional. Let the feds come for and lock me up. I will allow no law that takes away my God given rights to to prevail as an American to my last breath and as our ancestors proudly proclaimed to the usurpations and tyranny of the British, "Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death!"

[MarkL]

I intend to disobey and this law myself. Its flatly unconstitutional. Let the feds come for and lock me up. I will allow no law that takes away my God given rights to to prevail as an American to my last breath and as our ancestors proudly proclaimed to the usurpations and tyranny of the British, "Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death!"

While I empathise with you, the law is NOT unconstitutional. Unfortunately, as any child who might have once heard of the First Amendment, and understands what is says and means, the law violates the wording and intent of the First Amendment. But "unconstitutional" is a legal term, and it's up to the SCOTUS to determine what is and isn't unconstitutional. Since they decided that the First Amendment really doesn't mean what it says, that the words "congress shall make no law" doesn't really mean "any law," they allowed this corruption to stand as law.

I wish you luck. I've already looked into trying to violate the law, trying to put together a few thousand dollars in order to try to buy some ad time, but the fact is that no radio or tv station will sell me that time in violation of the law. They could lose their FCC license, and it's just not worth it to them.

Mark

[goldstategop]

It IS unconstitutional. So was segregation but heck the Supreme Court made a bone headed ruling then too. It took 50 years to reverse it. And we will no matter how long it takes, do all in our power to reclaim our First Amendment free speech and petition rights. As I said, I have no intention of obeying an illegal law, even if its given the SCOTUS' blessing. They can arrest me and they know where I stand - and friends - so do y'all. They can give me death or they can give me my liberty. I will NOT yield.

[joesnuffy]

Too bad the courts seem so corrupt....and are politically liberal and anti individual freedom in their 'opinions' of what the 'intent' was......

In this case their tyranny may be worse than the British version...at least they didnt give lip service to any 'rights' we the people had in their day...
imo

[Viking2002]

The "Beltway breed of bellyaching robber baron politicians" who fashioned this "smelly deal," charged LaPierre, ignored something known to every third-grader: The First Amendment, which reads "Congress shall make no law abridging freedom of speech."

Just 10 words, but yet it took the Supreme Court "only" 300 pages to "rationalize its way around" that centuries-old provision that has stood the test of time.

As I've said before, these little tin dictators will find a way to declare the Constitution unconstitutional.

[Valin]

I've already looked into trying to violate the law, trying to put together a few thousand dollars in order to try to buy some ad time,

HOORAY For John!

Hugh & Series, Critical & Pulled by JimRob
Special to FreeRepublic | 17 December 2003 | John Armor (Congressman Billybob)

This is nothing like the usual whine by someone whose post was pulled. JimRob pulled my previous thread for a good reason. "If direct fund-raising were permitted on FR, it would soon be wall-to-wall fund-raising."

So, let's start again correctly. This is about civil disobedience to support the First Amendment and challenge the TERRIBLE CFR decision of the Supreme Court to uphold a terrible law passed by Congress and signed by President Bush.

All who are interested in an in-your-face challenge to the 30- and 60-day ad ban in the Campaign Finance "Reform" Act, please join in. The pattern is this: I'm looking for at least 1,000 people to help the effort. I will run the ad, and risk fines or jail time to make it work -- AND get national support.

But there should be NO mentions of money in this thread, and not in Freepmail either. This is JimRob's electronic home, and we should all abide his concerns.

Put your comments here. Click on the link above, and send me your e-mail addresses. I will get back to you by regular e-mail with the practical details.

This CAN be done. This SHOULD be done. But it MUST be done in accord with JimRob's guidelines.


Fair enough?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1042394/posts



Update
I've already tested the idea of my in-your-face challenge ads, first in the print media and then deliberately illegal on TV, with certain editors I have a long relationship with. I could trust these two gentlemen, one in the print media and the other in the broadcast media, with a "heads up" on what I am planning. Both said they wanted to know, in advance, when I am about to do this.

The bottom line is clear. If I am willing to put my neck on the line, with the possibilities of a fine and jail time, THAT effort will put CFR back on the front page in all media. And that is part of the point. There's not much value of going in-your-face against the enemies of the First Amendment unless the press takes up the story and spreads the word. It is now clear they will do exactly that.

Update 2
QUICK PROGRESS REPORT, ANSWERING A SUPPORTER'S QUESTION:
We have about 15% of the needed 1,000 sign-ups.

Spread the word, direct folks to the front page link on my website.

Google-bomb the phrase "anti-CFR" directing readers to that page and link. (We're already #2 and #4 on Google.)

Target date is now August, since the NC primary looks to be put back to September. (Remember, the ad isn't illegal until the 29th day before the election.)


Cordially,

John / Billybob


Note if you are interested in more on this please contact myself or Congressman Billybob

Campaign Finance Reform thread-day 44
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1064379/posts

[Valin]

No flame intended
So what are you going to do?
Talk is cheap my friends.

And right now still more or less constitutional.

[King Black Robe]

While denying you your right of free speech, he said, the media conglomorates have free rein. You shut up while they talk to their hearts' content. General Electric, which owns NBC; Disney, which owns ABC; and Viacom, which owns CBS, are "into everything" from mining to oil to jet engines to nuclear plants to multiple media outlets. "They contribute millions to politicians and lobbyists," but "you [the ordinary citizen] are frozen out, and the U.S. Supreme Court gave them limitless liquid nitrogen to keep you in sub-zero citizenship." LaPierre sees the day when, one way or another, grassroots Americans will rise up and say to the politicians, "How dare you!" The American people, he is convinced, will not tolerate an elite establishment that "did nothing less than declare the Founding Fathers and Framers fools."

Amen!!!! If the government wasn't taking all my money right now, I'd write the guy a check this very minute. I'll still write the check, but I've got to calculate my tax liability first. Grrrr.

[Hank Rearden]

If it wasn't for that g'damned Bush signing the assault on the First Amendment, we wouldn't be in this position! That gasbag politician has squandered too much of our money and too many of our freedoms in his bid to retain power.

Some "conservative" he turned out to be. Selling "limited government", then growing it like stink. What a liar.

[pabianice]

If Liberals whine that the NRA is going around the intent of SCOTUS, fine. It will take up to ten years and millions of dollars to bring it up to SCOTUS again. Two can play this game.

[Viking2002]

I'm open to suggestions, myself.

[Valin]

This is what happens when politicians get "cute".
Everyone in congress KNEW this was unconstitutional, the President KNEW it was too(Remember when and how he signed it). Everyone said, well the supreme court will fix it for us(and allow us to look like we're in favor of "reform).
Well guess what! They didn't!

(Based on nothing but a feeling)
I think that part of the reason the USSC signed off on this was to send a message to the other two branches of government, we're not going to allow you to have your cake and eat it too. stop sending us crap like this.

[Zeroisanumber]

LaPierre has been known to blow some pretty hot air before, and the NRA budget is far too small to finance a 24-hour news service with any real reach.

I would say that the best option for getting around CFR provisions would be to keep with the AM radio and internet format we've been using, and then financing commercial time on major networks to advertise and attract new listeners/readers.

[Valin]

See reply #10
/shameless plug

Remember this IS an election year. The boys and girls from DC are going to be coming around wanting your support and vote, GRILL EM on this! I guarantee you go to a town hall meeting with some friends and they all start talking about this the message will be sent. The MOST IMPORTANT thing to a politician is getting reelected.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Bang

[Atlas Sneezed]

While I empathise with you, the law is NOT unconstitutional. Unfortunately, as any child who might have once heard of the First Amendment, and understands what is says and means, the law violates the wording and intent of the First Amendment. But "unconstitutional" is a legal term, and it's up to the SCOTUS to determine what is and isn't unconstitutional. Since they decided that the First Amendment really doesn't mean what it says, that the words "congress shall make no law" doesn't really mean "any law," they allowed this corruption to stand as law.

---

As is often said, they're not final because they're infallible, they're "infallible" because they're final.

[Euro-American Scum]

In addition to its 24-hour news service — "definitely" in plenty of time for the November elections, the NRA CEO assured NewsMax.com in a separate interview – the gun rights group continues to pursue purchase of radio and TV stations of its own.

Look for the Fairness Doctrine to make a comeback in a big way if this happens. And look for GWB to sign such a bill into law expecting the Supreme Court to strike it down.

This is what happens when the president is more compassionate than conservative.