Posted on 03/06/2007 9:52:27 AM PST by meg88
The article doesn't address the central issues of McCain-Feingold or his Goup of 14 antics. It is these, as much as anything that have angered what's called 'his' base.
As bad as Kerry's.
McCain is the lone Republican candidate that I cannot vote for under any circumstances. If it's him and Hillary, I stay home on election day.
"The article doesn't address the central issues of McCain-Feingold or his Goup of 14 antics. It is these, as much as anything that have angered what's called 'his' base."
By his own admission, "his base" has been the LameStreamMedia for some time, not the grass roots of the GOP. He has not angered "his base"; he's angered the grass roots of the GOP, and not just recently, but for quite a long time.
His "independence" is nothing more than the fact that he has no principles that might hold him to the advocacy of positions and policies that stem from a common core set of beliefs and values other the the belief in the value of doing what he thinks is popular or that which will get him attention as a "maverick".
In one of his most unconservative beliefs, he admits to thinking that freedom of speech should not be paramount over and above him and his liberal friends obtaining a legal definition of "corrupt money influence", to be kept out of election campaigns. On that lack of constitutional principles, the edifice of defining that "corruption", once (now) accepted, becomes limited only to the reach of the incumbent politicians desire to close-off more venues of political expression; which is exactly what the current Dim majority in Congress is seeking to do.
McPain is no conservative, he's an authoritarian.
Tou are 110% correct. He is a back stabber and I would even say a boarderline traitor. Oh, and by the way, didn't he bust a bunch of airplanes while in the service? Him, and JFK both committed major destruction on US Covt. Property and were never brought up on charges.
Geeeeeze, I roll one little M-141 and scrape te paint while under fire and they make me fix the damn thing or face Article 15.
Agreed, that's why I wrote "...what's called 'his' base".
McPain is no conservative, he's an authoritarian.
Absolutely!
What's so bad about McCain-Feingold? I'm not saying I necessarily like it. I just don't understand the anger over it. It aimed to limit the influence of money in politics. Isn't that a good thing?
Not necessarily. What's wrong with the influence of money in politics? After all, if a candidate is good he should, and will, get the most of the campaign contributions. I see nothing wrong with that. Why restrict it?
Yet much of the problem stems from the fact that the bill also put limits on advertising within the last (I believe) 30 days of an election cycle. Now this IS bad. It's also unconstitutional (although yet to be proven such in court).
Lastly, the bill has proven virtually ineffectual in curbing campaign spending. Look at the money being raised today. It's considerably beyond what has been raised in previous presidential elections. So, why even have McCain-Feingold?
Note: I'm not someone who's discussed the issue for awhile so my recollection of fine points is hazy. Just to let you know. I'm sure there are others here who can put a much better objectionable viewpoint together for you.
Senator McCain - drop out of the race, and have your good friend Fred Thompson run in your place.
Thanks.
Money in politics is dangerous, in my book, because it causes certain positions to be strengthened based on the financial power of those who back them rather than the number of backers. This isn't always the case, and sometimes the two go hand in hand. But I'm convinced that the majority of this country is anti-immigration, anti-free trade, and socially conservative. Congress doesn't reflect that; and I think money is responsible.
BTW, I was wrong in my initial response. Instead of 30 days before an election it's 60 days as the above thread points out.
I hope this helps...
It ends freedom of speech. Need any more ideas why it is so bad a law?
Case in point, John McCain himself. There can be no doubt the man has had substantial financial support in the past and, I'm sure going into 2008. Yet his 2008 campaign is foundering, and I suspect that cash support is beginning to dry up. Why? Because, regardless of how much money he's garnered, the man is not what he claims to be and the GOP base understands that. There are some things, as the old saying goes, that money can't buy.
Recall McCain's statement on the Imus Show in the wake of McCain-Feingold's passage: "Give a choice between Freedom of Speech and Good Government, I'll take Good Government every time."
And who would get to decide exactly what Good Government is? The incumbents, of course.
As you described him, McCain is a modern-day liberal. That is, an authoritarian...
No. In political terms, "money" IS "speech".
Why should I be constrained from supporting my preferred candidate with money or advertising? Or from attacking a candidate whose principles (if any) are contrary to mine?
In Constitutional terms, "Freedom of Speech" isn't casually described as "the freedom to say anything you want, whenever you want". Instead, it is very specifically defined as "freedom of political speech".
Anything that infringes upon that freedom attacks the very foundations of our republic. And McCain-Feingold does exactly that.
The best campaign reform is not to limit the amount of money nor to whom it might go. Instead, it would be to require full disclosure -- how much and from who.
And the torture bill, and his desire for sweeping legislation on carbon credits, and any number of other things. Completely aside from any issue of ideology McCain has consistently demonstrated astoundingly poor policy judgment in the first instance, and an even more astounding inability to recognize his own policy errors in retrospect and in the light of overwhelming evidence.
Yeah, he was a war hero and a P.O.W. Great. But he is COMPLETELY unqualified to set policy or to manage anything, least of all the executive departments of an entire nation.
If that is true, then how do you propose to remove the Congressmen who are disposed otherwise? Limiting the amount of money a challenger can raise to mount a challenge isn't the way to do it.
Bear in mind that McCain-Feingold was originally styled as "The Incumbency Protection and Media Empowerment Act of 2002" -- because that is exactly its effect.
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