Posted on 08/25/2004 5:43:32 AM PDT by OESY
President Bush didn't tell the full story on Monday when he denounced TV ads by such "527s" as the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. But not because he didn't agree to the Kerry campaign's demand that he repudiate the specific Swift Boat ads. Our gripe is that Mr. Bush assailed the very campaign-finance system that he helped create.
"I don't think we ought to have 527s," Mr. Bush said, referring to the independent political fund-raising groups that have become such an important part of this election season. "And I hope my opponent joins me in saying, condemning those activities of the 527s. It's the -- I think they're bad for the system."
Not so fast, Mr. President. One reason 527s are so prominent now is because Mr. Bush made the mistake of signing the McCain-Feingold campaign finance "reform" that barred big donations to political parties. So 527s have become the new alternative vehicle that Americans passionate about politics are using to exercise their First Amendment rights to free speech. The difference is that now the campaigns can't control how that money is spent.
If Mr. Bush wanted the two major parties to better control their campaign messages, he could have vetoed McCain-Feingold. Some of us urged him to do so, but his political advisers whispered not to worry, the Supreme Court will take care of it. Well, Sandra Day O'Connor failed too, but in any event since when are Presidents supposed to pass the buck to judges?
...[T]his was among the worst moments of Mr. Bush's term. Having helped to midwife the current campaign-finance system, it ill behooves him to blame others for the way this world works.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Bump...
Bush would have done better to have stood before Norman Rockwell's painting of the Four Freedom, specifically the one commemorating Freedom of Speech, and denounced any attempt by Congress to abridge the First Amendment.
But let us not forget that it was McCain who was duped by Democrats and lured by the TV camera to curb this most basic freedom in a democracy, and it was the majority of Democrats that made it happen.
The reform mess is their responsibility and that of the liberal news outlets like the New York Times that ran over 400 editorials in support of reform without informing their readers of the consequences.
The Wall Street Journal might have been a tad more balanced in its condemnation.
At least the Swifties are allowed to keep running ads until the election (since they are an independent 527, not a business or union one).
Agreed. The law was supposed to insulate the political class from criticism but backfired by empowering ordinary people to back independent groups the politicians couldn't control. Thank you, President Bush and John McCain for leveling the political playing field. Now its just more than fat cats like George Soros who have a say in who will become our next President.
Political speech was the most important kind of speech protected by the 1st Ammendment. Pornography was never intended to be protected. We now have no right to political speech but can download all the porn we want. This is what has been wrought by the leftists and the pseudo-conservatives who did not fight for the Constitution.
How can you blame any Republican for being DUPED by the Democrats? Why blame the children (democrats, or McCain, or even Feingold)?? It passed with a Republican majority, and the signature of a Republican president. It is Bushes tarbaby, and he is directly responsible for it being law today.
A supreme Court consisting of those who can read plain English would have invalidated that law!
There is another article about George Soros today. He claims to have spent $18 million to get CFR passed. George Soros got what he wanted in this bill. If the truth were known, he probably wrote the bill.
The two party cabal cares little for the Constitution of the United States of America
other than the last vestige of an old America that has to go..before they arrive at their final solution for us...
Repubs and Dems have sold out America....the Dems are driving the country off the cliff at 100mph the Repubbies at 45mph
The destination is the same...
imo
Have to agree with this.
Trying to shut down political free speech is the worst thing our government could do.
Congress should just shut up and let US speak.
W should have never signed this bill.
The Supremes should try reading the constitution once in a while.
A 3fer of a major mistake by "our" government.
He wouldnt' have been vilified. No one was even paying attention to it.
I don't doubt it one little bit.
Talk about dodging responsibility and passing the buck!
If he had vetoed it he would have had to deal with a pissed off and unstable McCain, and given the precarious blend of states and voters Dubya needs for re-election is (i.e., Arizona, veterans) , he was between a rock and a hard place.
I think CFR, too, was the worst decision the President has made in his first four years. I hope the ball gets rolling to just repeal the entire bill--while keeping the increase in hard money limits--as soon as he is re-elected this November.
Oh yeah right, compared to the softballs tossed his way for the last year.....
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