Posted on 01/21/2010 1:57:31 PM PST by Steelfish
US Supreme Court Overturns Campaign Spending Limit
The ruling could transform the way political campaigns are fought. The US Supreme Court has rejected long-standing limits on how much companies can spend on political campaigns.
The ruling is likely to change the way presidential and congressional campaigns are funded, including this year's crucial mid-term elections.
The court's 5-4 vote ends a 20-year ban on businesses using money from their own funds to pay for campaign ads. But US President Barack Obama condemned the decision, pledging to work with Congress for a "forceful response".
He said the court had "given a green light to a new stampede of special interest money in our politics".
"It s a major victory for big oil, Wall Street banks, health insurance companies and the other powerful interests that marshal their power every day in Washington to drown out the voices of everyday Americans," he said in a statement.
Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy said the prohibition of direct contributions from companies and unions to political candidates was a form of censorship.
"We find no basis for the proposition that, in the context of political speech, the government may impose restrictions on certain disfavoured speakers," he wrote.
His view was mirrored by that of Chief Justice John Roberts who said that upholding the limits on corporate campaign spending would have restrained "the vibrant public discourse that is the foundation of our democracy".
But Justice John Paul Stevens disagreed strongly, saying that the court's ruling threatened "to undermine the integrity of elected institutions around the nation".
He was joined in his opposition to the ruling by the court's three other liberals, including Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who was appointed by President Barack Obama.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
No, Obama, it’s a victory for free speech.
Corporations have a right to defend themselves against a tyrannical government.
THAT’S RIGHT, I SAID IT! (Sorry, I’m channeling Mark Levin today)
this is a good fight .. two branches of government fighting .. is good to see.
unions have been paying for their lefty officials for years that is why my wife left the union as she didn’t want her money going to liberals
so now obozo is going to do something about this , a forceful response
please please do try and send in your thugs from SEIU and the ACORN and lets see you try to arrest the court
he’s now thinking that he screwed up by going after these companies as these big companies will give millions to get rid of the rat party and the unions
John Paul Stevens was nominated by Gerald Ford, a strong advocate of abortion rights.
You can bet that Stevens will be resigning soon and he will make sure that Obama picks his successor.
WHEN THEY STAMP THIER FEET AND CRY, WE KNOW WE’RE ON TO SOMETHING!
I hope that none of the five conservatives on the Supreme Court have an “accident” after this. I would trust Rahm Emmanuel and Axlerod one minute.
EXACTLY
These companies are going to put loads of money now to get rid of those who look to take over and destroy their business.
LOL!! You are so right — I never thought about that. Obama and the Democrats are screwed with this ruling. I was thinking unions but they have been giving all along so nothing new there.
Obama is not having a good week. Payback time in November for Obama and the Dems!
If I were a big bank then I think that I would be thinking about buying me a president of the USA right about now.
Capitalism is great. Sadly though- it has to be protected against fraud and corruption. Otherwise it will implode.
maybe that is what bozo meant when he said he will have to be forceful
I really would not put anything they do as a surprise to me
Mister President We must not allow a special interest money gap!
The SEIU must come up with more Campaign Cash!
Apparently there was every way in the world to get around McFi.
This is more smoke and mirrors.
It’s a beautiful thing!
I’ll be satisfied when Justice Roberts presides over this clown’s impeachment trial.
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