Some of us would say, they already do...
Posted on 03/22/2002 6:35:58 AM PST by RedWing9
Edited on 09/03/2002 4:50:09 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
The U.S. Senate has sent a campaign-finance reform bill to President Bush. The president has promised to sign it, even though he acknowledges that it is "flawed."
Flawed? You bet it is. So flawed that if the president followed his instincts, he would veto this legislation. This is incumbent-protection legislation that steps all over free-speech rights. That's how flawed it is.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
Let us pray.
CRF is a "flimflam" that I believe the courts will reverse.
Doubling the personal limits from $1,000 to $2,000, is ridiculous. Considering inflation over the last thirty years, that amount should be about $3,500, at bare minimum.
The worse part of this campaign reform bill, is the unconstitutional nature of what's being called, the "issue ad ban". It will never get past the USSC.
So is Bush, for signing it.
EXACTAMUNDO! Newspapers love this bill. It doesn't restrict spending on newspaper ads, so the money that would have gone to radio or TV will go to newspapers. How convenient!
Has this editorial page run any opinions about this "reform" before? Did they support John McCain in the Republican primary? Just wondering...
Some of us would say, they already do...
I can't answer that question succinctly. I must admit that I do not have a photographic memory of every editorial that this newspaper has run (I have a subscription). But here is one previous editorial I found using google.com search.
DM...Newspapers love this bill. It doesn't restrict spending on newspaper ads, so the money that would have gone to radio or TV will go to newspapers.
That does make me go hmmmmmmm... I was making another assumption... Bad RW9, bad RW9...
Hopefully those challenging the law will package their case so that the Supreme Court has the opportunity, and is encouraged, to go the whole nine yards on this.
Bear in mind that many of those pushing CFR don't really care if the current bill fails in the sense of "unintended" consequences that only make things "worse". In fact many may even want it to fail in this sense, justifying another round of reform. Eventually (when they think they can get away with it) we will be told, "well, we tried merely reforming the current system, but that didn't work; clearly the only solution is full public funding of federal elections." When that happens it will be game over. America citizens will be expected to sit down and SHUT UP. Listen to the media like good little drones, and off to the ballot box, keeping your own opinions and criticisms to themselves. You have CNNABCNBCCBSWASHCOMPOSTNYSLIMES to "represent" your views, don't cha know?
Actually, this will be the "Bush Campaign Finance Reform/First Amendment Attack Law" as soon as he signs it. This is a big trap for Bush.The sponsors are going to look like complete fools after the Court's opinion is written.So is Bush, for signing it.
If the ban on advertising by third parties 60 days before the general election isn't tossed out by SCOTUS, then the NAACP, AARP, and every liberal "issue group" that wants to run "issue ads" against Bush will blame Bush for the ban.
If the ban on third party ads is tossed out by SCOTUS, then all "issue groups" will not only oppose Bush on their pet issue(s), but will also be advertising that Bush signed a law to try to outlaw their advertising and silence his opponents.
Bush needs to veto this. He will lose some of his core support over if he signs it, and his opponents will still oppose him and hold him accountable for trying to silence them.
US Term Limits
... US Term Limits 10 G St., NE — Suite 410 Washington, DC 20002 Toll Free
(800) 733-6440, Voice (202) 379-3000 Fax (202) 379-3010. .
Description: National activist organization which asks candidates for the US Congress to sign a pledge limiting...
Category: Society > Politics > Campaigns and Elections > Election Reform > Term Limits
www.termlimits.org/ - 21k - 21 Mar 2002 - Cached - Similar pages
and the recent foolishness in DC has rekindled my zeal again.
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