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Libertarian Party Press Release on Farenheit 911
Libertarian Party Announcements | June 28, 2004 | Libertarian Party

Posted on 06/29/2004 6:01:46 AM PDT by Undertow

NEWS FROM THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY

2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Suite 100

Washington DC 20037

World Wide Web: http://www.LP.org

For release: June 28, 2004

For additional information:

George Getz, Communications Director

Phone: (202) 333-0008

Attack on 'Fahrenheit 911' documentary shows 'Constitution is on fire,' Libertarian says

WASHINGTON, DC -- The attack on Michael Moore's new documentary, "Fahrenheit 9/11," shows that free speech has come under an unprecedented assault in America, thanks to the campaign finance law passed by Congress last year, says Libertarian presidential candidate Michael Badnarik.

"The Constitution is on fire -- a fire that was set when Democrats and Republicans passed their so-called campaign finance reform law," says Badnarik, who was nominated by the party on May 30. "The attempt to gag Michael Moore demonstrates that McCain-Feingold was just an excuse to outlaw political criticism."

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is considering whether advertising for Moore's controversial new documentary, which is sharply critical of President Bush, can be banned as "electioneering communications." Under McCain-Feingold, corporate-paid radio or TV ads that identify a federal candidate are illegal to broadcast within 30 days of a primary or 60 days of a general election.

Since Moore has publicly stated that his goal is to help defeat Bush, Democrats and Republicans are waging partisan warfare over "Fahrenheit 9/11."

But Badnarik -- who teaches classes on the Constitution -- says a much larger issue is at stake: Every American's freedom of speech.

"The truth is that Democrats and Republicans committed a bipartisan crime against the First Amendment when they passed the McCain-Feingold law," according to Badnarik. "This law allows politicians to determine what their critics can say, when they can say it and how much they can spend in the process -- which is exactly what's not supposed to happen in a free country."

Noting that the First Amendment clearly states that 'Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom speech,' Badnarik asked: "What part of the words 'no law' doesn't the government understand? The First Amendment doesn't contain exceptions for advertisements that might offend the president or cost him his job -- and it certainly doesn't authorize federal movie police.

"Empowering a government agency to ban movie ads might be expected in the former Soviet Union, Cuba, China, or Iraq -- but not in the United States. Every American should stand up for Michael Moore's right to advertise 'Fahrenheit 9/11,' regardless of how they feel about George Bush."


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To: Dead Corpse
Doesn't sound very libertarian at all. Not trying to get in a jibe here, but in my estimation.... your judgement of what things qualify as "libertarian" is suspect.

Since you offer no specifics, I cannot easily respond. What 'doesn't sound very libertarian'? What 'things'?

61 posted on 06/29/2004 7:15:33 AM PDT by cinFLA
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To: AppyPappy
Hypocrites. They should stick to doing dope.

Dead end.

But politics seems about as bad. "First, we admitted that we were powerless over partisanship, and that our lives had become unmanageable."

62 posted on 06/29/2004 7:16:05 AM PDT by Lazamataz ("Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown" -- harpseal)
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"This litigation is about preventing criticism of the government . I cannot say for certain that many, or some, or even any, of the Members of Congress who voted for this legislation did so not to produce "fairer" campaigns, but to mute criticism of their records and facilitate reelection...The first instinct of power is the retention of power, and, under a Constitution that requires periodic elections, that is best achieved by the suppression of election time speech...it is a sad day for free speech"
- Justice Anthony Scalia's dissenting opinion in McConnell v. Federal Election Commission, which upheld Campaign Finance Reform

"I may disagree with what you say, but I shall defend, to the death, your right to say it."
- Voltaire

"He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself."
- Thomas Paine

< Prepares for "conservatives" to tell me Scalia, Voltaire and Paine were pot smoking liberals who hate Bush >

63 posted on 06/29/2004 7:17:57 AM PDT by freeeee ("Owning" property in the US just means you have one less landlord.)
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To: Badeye
Just how is debating this an attack on "free speech"? Nobody is saying Moore can't make this movie. Nobody has pulled it from theaters.

Another one of those who is in favor of CFR, just as long as it's the liberals who are affected by it.

I thought you were more informed than that Badeye.

"The Constitution is on fire -- a fire that was set when Democrats and Republicans passed their so-called campaign finance reform law," says Badnarik, who was nominated by the party on May 30. "The attempt to gag Michael Moore demonstrates that McCain-Feingold was just an excuse to outlaw political criticism."

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is considering whether advertising for Moore's controversial new documentary, which is sharply critical of President Bush, can be banned as "electioneering communications." Under McCain-Feingold, corporate-paid radio or TV ads that identify a federal candidate are illegal to broadcast within 30 days of a primary or 60 days of a general election.

64 posted on 06/29/2004 7:19:31 AM PDT by ActionNewsBill ("In times of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act")
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To: Dead Corpse
Doesn't sound very libertarian at all. Not trying to get in a jibe here, but in my estimation.... your judgement of what things qualify as "libertarian" is suspect.

It is not my judgement. What I consider 'libertarian' is fact, taken from the LP web site by direct quotes or from statements by the Editor and the owner of the paper.

65 posted on 06/29/2004 7:19:55 AM PDT by cinFLA
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To: ActionNewsBill
Another one of those who is in favor of CFR, just as long as it's the liberals who are affected by it.

One does not have to be in favor of a law to insist that both sides obey the law. But then anarchism may be closer to your ideal.

66 posted on 06/29/2004 7:21:22 AM PDT by cinFLA
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To: ActionNewsBill

"Another one of those who is in favor of CFR, just as long as it's the liberals who are affected by it.

I thought you were more informed than that Badeye."

You couldn't be more wrong.


67 posted on 06/29/2004 7:23:05 AM PDT by Badeye ("The day you stop learning, is the day you begin dying")
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To: cinFLA
One should at least have Constitutional standing before PASSING a law.

Libertarians believe in self governance. Period. They also believe in allowing people to suffer the consequences of their actions and in punishing those who cause harm to others through direct action.

For the rest, start reading at "We the People,..."

68 posted on 06/29/2004 7:24:58 AM PDT by Dead Corpse (For an Evil Super Genius, you aren't too bright are you?)
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To: Dead Corpse

"Another LP basher with limited reading comprehension skills."

Sorry, I don't feel the need to "bash" the Libertarian Party.....too easy, like baseball bats and baby seals.....

I think Moores movie does cross the line into a political "infomercial" and would like to see this played out in court.

Lets get a ruling from the bench, that is how the system is supposed to work, wouldn't you agree?


69 posted on 06/29/2004 7:25:12 AM PDT by Badeye ("The day you stop learning, is the day you begin dying")
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To: Badeye
"I thought you were more informed than that Badeye." You couldn't be more wrong.

Well, at least you are a big enough person to admit when you are clueless. ;-)

70 posted on 06/29/2004 7:26:11 AM PDT by Dead Corpse (For an Evil Super Genius, you aren't too bright are you?)
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To: Dead Corpse
"If the left uses this to shut down Hannity, Rush, and Ingram..."

Big difference is Moore is outright lying - would he get away with something similar in 1943 with our boys dying in foriegn countries?
Back to the idea of shouting "FIRE" in a crowded theater is NOT free speech - it is a lie intended to bring physical harm to others.
In Moore's case his intent is to harm American service men just to bring Bush down - that's treasonous and should be stopped.
We are at war whether the left wants to acknowledge it or not.
Anything goes is NOT an American tradition.

71 posted on 06/29/2004 7:26:45 AM PDT by Psalm 73 ("Gentlemen, you can't fight in here - this is the War Room".)
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To: Badeye
I'll see if I can find some info on the conservative group that brought the lawsuite. I'm fairly sure it was only protesting the commercials, and then even only after the 30th.

If the system was working as it should, McCain-Feingolds CFR based censorship act would never have gotten passed as our legislators would have upheld thier oaths instead of passing it.

72 posted on 06/29/2004 7:28:42 AM PDT by Dead Corpse (For an Evil Super Genius, you aren't too bright are you?)
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To: Psalm 73
Big difference is Moore is outright lying

And if you wanted, you could file a lawsuite alledging slander. The CFR act would not be needed at all and would be an entirely supportable clause... even for the LP hardliners.

And it is perfectly defensable to shout "fire" in a crowded theater, if the theater is actually on fire.

What is going on here is an a priori attempt to silence political based dissent. This CAN, and more than likely will, be used against conservatives and libertarians alike.

Do you see the difference?

73 posted on 06/29/2004 7:31:54 AM PDT by Dead Corpse (For an Evil Super Genius, you aren't too bright are you?)
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To: AppyPappy
I guess the Libertarians would demand silence from protesters of the film.

You guess wrong.

Now tell me how you think fat ass Moore should be shut up by law?

Hypocrites. They should stick to doing dope.

That really should be SOOOOO beneath you, but clearly it isn't. Long time posters need to hold themselves to a higher standard. Why not leave all the childish stuf to the children?

74 posted on 06/29/2004 7:34:02 AM PDT by Protagoras (government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem." ...Ronald Reagan, 1981)
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To: Conspiracy Guy
Of course, silly. They have a right to say what they want, but clearly, we cannot protest or disagree with what they have said. /sarcasm

Remember, the liberal mantra is: do as I do and say as I say. Independent thinking is not allowed.

75 posted on 06/29/2004 7:35:19 AM PDT by rintense (Screw justice. I want revenge.)
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To: Dead Corpse

"Well, at least you are a big enough person to admit when you are clueless. ;-)"

Now you are just plain old fashioned "wrong".

The Libertarians, and the "party" if you can call it that, are "clueless". They've had the opportunity for over a decade now to change the political landscape....and at every opportune moment, they issue a press release like this one.

The only conclusion you can draw from the history of absurdities that spew from the Libertarian "leadership" is that they are in fact TERRIFIED they might actually win.

Its oh so much easier to remain in the stands, rather than actually walk onto the field of battle....

Being a Libertarian is easy.....since you never win an election, you can never be held responsible...and "responsibility" is something the Libbies run from whenever the heat gets to hot....or there is a glimmer they might actually be making inroads politically.

Check it out for yourself...and consider just how long the Libertarian Party has been in existence. Then ask yourself how it is a Ross Perot can come out of nowhere and garner 20% of the vote.....while the Libertarians think its a "good election" when they get 1% each time around or less.

While the libertarians congratulate each other on remaining "true" to the cause.....history continues to be made without any meaningful impact coming from them.

Show me somebody happy with perpetual third place finishes, or worse, and I'll show you a loser.


76 posted on 06/29/2004 7:35:33 AM PDT by Badeye ("The day you stop learning, is the day you begin dying")
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To: Dead Corpse
One should at least have Constitutional standing before PASSING a law.

So you believe that only those laws that you believe are constitutional should be obeyed?

77 posted on 06/29/2004 7:35:36 AM PDT by cinFLA
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To: Dead Corpse
If the system was working as it should, McCain-Feingolds CFR based censorship act would never have gotten passed as our legislators would have upheld their oaths instead of passing it.

LOL, good one. The President signed it, what does his oath say? What a good Republican he was on that day.

78 posted on 06/29/2004 7:36:31 AM PDT by Protagoras (government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem." ...Ronald Reagan, 1981)
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To: Protagoras
Now tell me how you think fat ass Moore should be shut up by law?

Because he is violating the law. The time to think about these laws if BEFORE they are passed. Either change the law or learn to live with it

That really should be SOOOOO beneath you, but clearly it isn't

I see you have never been on a "WOD" thread. You should try it.

79 posted on 06/29/2004 7:36:34 AM PDT by AppyPappy (If You're Not A Part Of The Solution, There's Good Money To Be Made In Prolonging The Problem.)
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To: Cultural Jihad

Gee...I can't believe I missed that.


80 posted on 06/29/2004 7:37:33 AM PDT by anniegetyourgun (These people have way too much time on their hands...)
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