Gagged by McCain-Feingold

Family Research Council ^ | 6 January 2006 | Tony Perkins

[Aussie Dasher]

In 2004, Wisconsin Right to Life (WRTL) took out newspaper ads. They urged Badger State citizens to contact their U.S. Senators, Herb Kohl (D) and Russ Feingold (D). WRTL wanted citizens to appeal to the senators not to filibuster qualified Bush judicial nominees.

Stop, cried the Federal Election Commission! You mentioned Feingold and he's a candidate for re-election. You can't do that; the McCain-Feingold law bars most nonprofits from mentioning a federal candidate from August 15 through election day.

Now, WRTL is going to court to fight for their right to speak on policy issues in a political year. Isn't this what the First Amendment was for?

Ironically, WRTL will be supported by NARAL and the left-wing Alliance for Justice. These pro-abortion groups are filing "friend of the court" briefs agreeing with WRTL's position. Obviously, Wisconsin pro-lifers don't agree with these groups about abortion, but RTL President Barb Lyons said: "It's a free speech issue that affects all citizens."

WRTL attorney Jim Bopp agrees, saying, "This is not a partisan issue." This is just another example of the unintended consequences of some laws. At least, I hope they're unintended.

[Aussie Dasher]

They say nothing is new in politics, but I reckon this might be!

[gondramB]

"A Free-Speech Case Creates Unusual Allies

By Judy Sarasohn

Thursday, January 5, 2006; Page A13

Coalitions often gather up strange bedfellows when lobbying Congress on this tax or that public policy. But perhaps there are no stranger bedfellows than the antiabortion Wisconsin Right to Life group and the liberal Alliance for Justice, which are teaming up to try to persuade the Supreme Court to rule against a provision of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/04/AR2006010401954.html

[spinestein]

Does anyone have a link to details about this court case?

I followed the story to several dead ends, and with my horribly slow dial-up it's taking forever to track down.

Thanks.

[Adiemus]

It would be like Fitzmas all over again if McPain-Feinstone was struck down. And with Roberts and Alito on the Supreme Court bench, it is fathomable.