Black Caucus Retreats On 527s

Washington Times ^ | 6/02/2005 | Brian DeBose

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Some members of the Congressional Black Caucus are teaming up with conservative Republicans to push for the first major changes in the 2002 campaign-finance reform bill, most admitting that they made a mistake in voting for the bill three years ago.

"If I had the chance to vote again, I wouldn't vote the way I voted," said Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, New York Democrat, who along with most of the CBC supported the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act after they were promised by Democratic leaders that the bill would not harm their constituents or funding bases in order to garner their support.

[traviskicks]

Interesting. I recall reading an article saying that many traditional black dem organizations were upset because the national democratic comittee used to give them a lot of money to do these sorts of things and this past election they didn't.

While this is good (that these dem groups were defunded and that more and more blacks are shifting in ideology), I'll have to side with the BC in this one. It is unfortunate that, again, these Republicans are calling for 'reforming' Campaign Finance reform instead of abolishing it. I have no clue how judges could allow this sort of things to stand under the constitution.

There is way to much power in the Federal government. The best campaign finance reform law would just reduce this power. Why would one donate if you couldn't get anything (like stolen taxpayer money) back?

[chainsaw]

Congressional Black Caucus

Is this racism among our legislators???

[Noachian]

...most admitting that they made a mistake in voting for the bill three years ago.

Why is this a bad thing?

It's a fact that 90% of Blacks vote Democratic, and we're suppose to feel sorry for that 90% because now they can't get funding to work against Republicans?

The CBC screwed up, and that screw up benefited the Pubbies. Let's not help out our political enemies.

Point these guys to McCain, and tell them: "It was all his idea".

[bill1952]

If they don't already know that, then they are truly clueless.

As I see it, allowing mega millions of bucks to be spent by what are in effect, PACs can't be good.

When a foreign character like Soros can comfortably funnel millions to defeat or elect a president, then we had best get ready for the time when massive foreign money alone elects the POTUS.

[toddlintown]

Where's the Congressional White Caucus?

[Charles Wickman]

"Where's the Congressional White Caucus?"

Fortunately, most of the congress is led by the CWC.

;)

[Nat Turner]

ask Sen Byrd and Gov Dean...

[AuH2ORepublican]

If I'm not mistaken, the Democrats really had to lean hard on black congressmen so that they would vote for CFR. In fact, one of the original sponsors of the conservative alternative to McCain/Feingold/Shays/Meehan was black Congressman Albert Wynn of Maryland (it was referred to as the Ney/Wynn Alternative). If I recall correctly, many black Democrats complained that it was harder for them to raise money from individuals and thus they didn't want to get rid of soft money that allowed groups to campaign for black Democrats.

[Almondjoy]

See I'm not sure where people think unlimited money is democracy.

It's clearly not.

If you want unlimitied money then you will have a Gov't run by the few.. not by the many.

You call it freedom of speech.

I call it freedom of ownership.

It would be far more FREE and DEMOCRATIC if all people were allowed to contribute a small but equal amount of money.

Therefore the freedom of speech would reside in who if I decide to give my money to anyone my money goes to.

Allowing money to flow to private organizations in order to make their own statements about candiates completely unrestricted is the truest form of Democracy we can have.