Show some backbone, FEC-Campaign Finance Reform Thread

The McCain-Feingold campaign-finance law has handed the Federal Election Commission a second chance to be part of the solution when it comes to unregulated soft money, rather than part of the problem. The regulatory agency should seize the opportunity to get it right this time.

When it writes rules that will govern tax-exempt political committees already busy raising soft money to influence federal elections, the FEC needs to keep in mind that closing that spigot was the prime objective of the new law. Its rules must not sanction any new soft money loopholes.

When it declared McCain-Feingold constitutional in December, the Supreme Court blamed the past flood of soft money on FEC rules that it said invited widespread circumvention of the law. The court sagely noted that "money, like water, will always find an outlet," which is certainly true of big money chasing big political influence. But the FEC, whose job is to enforce the law, must resist any inclination to draw a blueprint for an aqueduct. (snip)

But the opinion was narrow. It left for later rule-making prickly questions, such as how hard and soft money can be allocated for efforts that influence both federal and local campaigns, or when used for partisan voter mobilization efforts.

A tightly drawn ban on the use of soft money by 527 groups will initially hurt Democrats more than Republicans. The GOP has, in recent elections, raised considerably more hard money than its opponents, so it's Democrats who have led the charge to create 527 groups.

The court sagely noted that "money, like water, will always find an outlet," which is certainly true of big money chasing big political influence. But the FEC, whose job is to enforce the law, must resist any inclination to draw a blueprint for an aqueduct.

So let's ponder this for a moment.... The court itself(I paraphrase) you can't keep money out of politics. So the editor(world class thinker all I'm sure) say that the FEC should do just that.

Question, should I be having this shooting pain in my head right now?

Hugh & Series, Critical & Pulled by JimRob
Special to FreeRepublic | 17 December 2003 | John Armor (Congressman Billybob)

This is nothing like the usual whine by someone whose post was pulled. JimRob pulled my previous thread for a good reason. "If direct fund-raising were permitted on FR, it would soon be wall-to-wall fund-raising."

So, let's start again correctly. This is about civil disobedience to support the First Amendment and challenge the TERRIBLE CFR decision of the Supreme Court to uphold a terrible law passed by Congress and signed by President Bush.

All who are interested in an in-your-face challenge to the 30- and 60-day ad ban in the Campaign Finance "Reform" Act, please join in. The pattern is this: I'm looking for at least 1,000 people to help the effort. I will run the ad, and risk fines or jail time to make it work -- AND get national support.

But there should be NO mentions of money in this thread, and not in Freepmail either. This is JimRob's electronic home, and we should all abide his concerns.

Put your comments here. Click on the link above, and send me your e-mail addresses. I will get back to you by regular e-mail with the practical details.

This CAN be done. This SHOULD be done. But it MUST be done in accord with JimRob's guidelines.

Fair enough?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1042394/posts

Update
I've already tested the idea of my in-your-face challenge ads, first in the print media and then deliberately illegal on TV, with certain editors I have a long relationship with. I could trust these two gentlemen, one in the print media and the other in the broadcast media, with a "heads up" on what I am planning. Both said they wanted to know, in advance, when I am about to do this.

The bottom line is clear. If I am willing to put my neck on the line, with the possibilities of a fine and jail time, THAT effort will put CFR back on the front page in all media. And that is part of the point. There's not much value of going in-your-face against the enemies of the First Amendment unless the press takes up the story and spreads the word. It is now clear they will do exactly that.

Update 2
QUICK PROGRESS REPORT, ANSWERING A SUPPORTER'S QUESTION:
We have about 15% of the needed 1,000 sign-ups.

Spread the word, direct folks to the front page link on my website.

Google-bomb the phrase "anti-CFR" directing readers to that page and link. (We're already #2 and #4 on Google.)

Target date is now August, since the NC primary looks to be put back to September. (Remember, the ad isn't illegal until the 29th day before the election.)

Cordially,

John / Billybob

Note if you are interested in more on this please contact Valin or Congressman Billybob

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.