McCain-Feingold, RIP (Thank God)

Wall Street Journal ^ | 12/04/02 | Un-identified editor

[Pliney the younger]

In force for less than a month, campaign finance is already dead.

It must be a democratic land speed record. In force for less than a month, the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform is already being declared a failure--by the same people who labored for years to pass it.

So while money will still be raised and surely spent, all the reformers have accomplished is to make it harder for the media to track it and keep voters informed about its sources. Like the Prohibitionists, they are merely pushing the money into the shadows.

But we hardly need to wait for the Justices to tell us that McCain-Feingold is folly. The bill's own supporters are already disowning it, and before the ink of President Bush's signature is even dry.

[Quicksilver]

The president has a responsibility to veto unconstitutional legislation. No Excuses!

Incorrect. All bills are potentially unconstitutional.

[OldFriend]

Given the most recent election scenarios with Carnahan, Toricelli and Wellstone there would seem to be no way on earth that the thirty day/sixty day rule could be constitutional or even manageable.

No doubt the media is the biggest loser and the American public is the biggest winner if this bill dies an early death.

[Media Insurgent]

Of course Kerry wasn't referring to his own money. Whenever a liberal wants to restrict someone else's freedom, it is goes without saying that they believe they are the exception. Kerry deserves special treatment, becuause after all- he's smarter, cares more, and has better hair than the rest of us.

[Lancey Howard]

"Special-interest lobbies often demand specific commitments in return for their cash, which can make compromise in government more difficult to achieve."

That is a good thing, in my opinion. "All of this was entirely predictable; in fact it's an eerie repetition of what happened after the post-Watergate campaign reform of 1974. A main author of that reform, Fred Wertheimer, is still whispering into John McCain's ear today that if only we can pass one more . . . The poor Senator is now his personal Sancho Panza."

ROTFLMBO!!!

"But we hardly need to wait for the Justices to tell us that McCain-Feingold is folly. The bill's own supporters are already disowning it, and before the ink of President Bush's misguided signature is even dry."

It's a shame this piece ended this way. What on earth is "misguided" about Bush's signature? He knew McCain-Feingold was a pathetic joke all along. He's been laughing about CFR since the beginning when he informed Congress that he would sign whatever bill they sent to his desk, ie., that he would not pull their fat rear-ends out of the fire for them. I really think that everybody involved, with the possible exception of McCain, knew that whole "campaign reform" exercise was a waste of time.

[Aric2000]

It may have been brilliant to send it to the court, but every person that voted for it, and when Bush signed it, they all broke their oaths of office.

If they feel it is unconstitutional, it is their duty to either A: not vote for it, and B: not sign it.

THe courts should not recieve such Blatantly unconstitutional laws, because they should be kicked out in the legislative level, and if not there, then the executive level. Unconstitutional Laws should not exist beyond Congress.

[Cosmo]

Campaign Finance Reform is simply a tribute to the cynicism which drove the Clintonian ideology of the past 8 years -- that "law abidance" is interchangeable with "integrity".

[nicmarlo]

John McCain, the Republican who had betrayed his party by telling his constituents before he was elected that he was a Reagan Republican (over a hundred times) and then voting with the Democrats on every issue.

John McCain, a fraud to the first degree, a traiter to the Republican party his constituents, to the tenth. With the President barely having assumed office, McCain, a rapid dog, salivated over CFR, his "priority" and, seemingly, his only selfish concern (a Bill ironically proving itself a failure).

McCain's true mission, however, was transparently clear: to discredit the one who defeated him and silence those who would dare oppose his (and the Rats') diseased beliefs, opinions, and views.

McCain is a failure, in every sense of the word.

[Ignatz]

Passing the bill so that it can shot down in the courts is a piss poor excuse for dubya signing it. What if it isn't declared unconstitutional? The president has a responsibility to veto unconstitutional legislation. No Excuses!

I couldn't agree with you more! The President should have went on national TV and decried the bill as unconstitutional, reminded people of his oath of office, and refused to sign it. He should have then read the list of senators and congress-critters that voted in favor of it, polital party notwithstanding.

[Ignatz]

Aric2000, Please see my post #28.

[nicmarlo]

p.s.: "rapid" = "rabid" (duh.)

[Cold Heat]

THe courts should not recieve such Blatantly unconstitutional laws, because they should be kicked out in the legislative level, and if not there, then the executive level. Unconstitutional Laws should not exist beyond Congress.

Yes, in a perfect world!(we would not need the courts)

This particular Bill was nearly six years in the making. There were several before this, that died in committee or on the desk.

My point was that it all would simply be repeated.

Bush did not agree at all with this bill. Not at all!

He manipulated the issue and sent it to the courts for the awaiting trashcan.

[rwfromkansas]

bump

[Protagoras]

and before the ink of President Bush's signature is even dry.

Important to remember that the President signed this abomination.

[45Auto]

Kerry is just another commie. The day the bastards actually reform campaign finance will be the day the world ends. The problem is not that there is money in politics. The problem is that there are politicians in politics.

[Joy Angela]

When the leftist press learned that President Clinton and the Democrats political campaigns were being subsidized by America’s mortal enemy the Communist Chinese they had no desire to interfere. It was just fine by the leftists.

Just a taste from this fine post!! (See #1 from Pliney the younger) I especially like the line about when the American People give money that this is considered dangerous!

[Pliney the younger]

Dear Joy,

Thank you for taking the time to post your kind sentiments, concerning my post about the Mc Cain-Finegold finance bill.

Most Sincerely,

Pliny

[Zack Nguyen]

The thirty/sixty day rule would keep groups like Right to Life or Christian Coalition (or leftists groups) from putting out any non-partisan info on candidate's positions. It is truly awful.

[OldFriend]

These are the very groups that McCain blames for his 'lost' presidency. And they talk about Gore being unable to move on.......McCain is far more dangerous because he works with the dems to hurt our country.