ACTION ALERT! TELL BUSH "NO" ON CFR!!!!!

FR Network Leadership Council ^ | 3/20/2002 | Diotima

[diotima]

TELL
PRESIDENT BUSH TO
VETO
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM
 
 
 

WHY CAMPAIGN FINANCE "REFORM" IS BAD FOR AMERICA!

 1. IT STIFLES FREE SPEECH! The First Amendment of the Constitution states...

      "CONGRESS shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the
      right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of
      grievances."

 The restrictions this bill places on political advertising 60 days before an election and 30 days before a
 primary directly impact the freedom of speech guaranteed by the First Amendment. The Representatives,
 Senators and President that we elect all swear an oath to preserve and protect the Constitution - NOT to
 ignore and undermine the Constitution.

 2. IT EMPOWERS THE MEDIA! While groups are restricted in putting on ads before an election, the
 broadcast media will increase its power to “educate” voters. TV and radio reporters have a long history of
 putting their own bias into candidate profiles and interviews, and the media conglomerates are highly
 selective about what they cover. An opponent's events are just politics, but anything the incumbent does is
 considered news.

 3. IT EMPOWERS INCUMBENTS! By making less information available about candidates in the critical time period before elections, incumbents are removing another source of criticism about their records. Shortly before elections is the precise time when most voters are seeking out such information. That's why knowledgeable people refer to this bill as: The Incumbent Security Act. The impact of this bill would mean that incumbents are more likely to stay in office than ever before.

 4. IT KEEPS VOTERS IN THE DARK! As a voter, you deserve the opportunity to make up your own
 mind about the candidates with information from any source you choose.

 5. IT DISCOURAGES VOTER PARTICIPATION! Campaign reform proponents say voter apathy and cynicism demands that the influence of "special interests" in politics be reduced. Voters are not cynical
 because of how much money is spent on election campaigns. They are cynical because they believe their
 elected officials rarely do what is best for the country, but more often do what is best to stay in office. AND BINGO! Campaign Finance Reform will help keep incumbents in office!
 
 

      RELEVANT QUOTATIONS ABOUT FREEDOM OF SPEECH

      In the free society ordained by our constitution, it is not the government, but the people--individually as citizens and candidates and collectively as associations and political committees--who must retain control over the quantity and range of debate on public issues in a political campaign. - U.S. Supreme Court, Buckley v. Valeo

      The liberty of speaking and writing guards our other liberties. - Thomas Jefferson

---

 
The First Amendment Action Network- a joint project between
The American Conservative Union and FreeRepublic Network

View Message from David Keene: The chairman of the ACU discusses the next stage in the struggle over Campaign Finance Reform, and what you can do to take action to stop it.

QuickTime Format
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Join First Amendment Action Network HERE

CALL PRESIDENT BUSH TODAY! TELL HIM TO VETO CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM AND PROTECT YOUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS!

WHITE HOUSE SWITCHBOARD: 202-456-1414
WHITE HOUSE FAX: 202-456-2461
 EMAIL: president@whitehouse.gov

 Compiled by The Free Republic Network - www.freerepublic.net
 Special thanks to dittomom and the Leadership Council for the talking points!

[dittomom]

Yes, www.vote.com sends the results to PResident Bush!

Current results are...

Should Bush SIGN Campaign Finance Reform...

YES - 142 (24%)

No - 449 (76%)

[oldglory]

Thanks for the Florida network alert!!!

Mission complete!

a la James Car-VILE---IT'S THE CONSTITUTION,STUPID---!!

[TLBSHOW]

BUMP TO WESTERN UNION

[dittomom]

Ah, the old trial balloon trick, eh?

[RamsNo1]

Will not lose anything? His name would forever go on the bill that became law that was deemed unconstitutional. I would say that is pretty serious.

[Aquamarine]

If Bush signs this, then he might as well tatoo RINO on his forehead. I don't think he is one now but if he signs this he's just another fuzzy conservative!

[dittomom]

FOXNEWS just showed a clip of McCain's little press op...UGH!

[Argus]

Did I say don't do anything? I suggested direct action in challenging bad laws is more constructive than petitioning some higher authority who's not going to listen anyway. My position is Get the guns, shot and powder out of the armory and shoot at the redcoats. What you're suggesting is, Let's all write to King George and get him to veto that awful Stamp Act.

[TLBSHOW]

Thanks for the post, I hope you are right.

[summe]

Now I am a conservative mind and see flaw in the freedom of speech articles of the CFR bill, BUT, there is much more to this bill than these few articles that have been the focus of this discussion. Is not the CFR designed to confront the main topic of money, campaign finance, as a major player in the democratic process of this country?

[Satadru]

Obviously, you have more faith that any of our actions will dissuade the President than I do. He is governing by the polls, something he said that he wouldn't do. I guess at the end of the day, every elected politician lies.

[dittomom]

Check out this...

Campaign bill to kids: Take a hike

I did not know the bill bans people under 17 from giving to candidates.

[MinuteGal]

My Fighting Irish went up, up, up after the despicable vote. Emailed the White House and now sending the link to everyone on my personal emailing list across the country.

Fellow Florida Freepers, let's get moving right now! Your influence in the White House is but a click away!

Leni

[dittomom]

You watching Brit Hume's roundtable? They're talking about CFR.

[cynwoody]

"I think he will let it go through knowing that it never will stand up in court. He then will look good to reformers while not loosing anything."

I think he will sign it too, but think how good he would look if he vetoed it and then they overide the veto and it becomes law and then the Supremes throw it out. That would be a big 'I told you so'.

If he were to veto it, along with a nice speech about the Constitution and his oath of office, I think support for an override would actually drop. The President's action would focus opinion against the small minds in Congress, and in their shame they would be loathe to pursue an override.

[Congressman Billybob]

You are right that there are at least a half dozen parts of this bill which are unconstitutional. But I expect Fleischer to focus on just a few of Bush's six conditions, and just the one provision in the law itself. That ad ban is so obviously bad that up to half of the lamestream media may admit that it is unconstitutional.

In dealing with the White House press corps, it is vital to KISS, "Keep it simple, stupid."

That's what I anticipate, tomorrow.

Billybob

[RamsNo1]

There is already a message on Senator McConnell's website noting that his website can't be updated sixty days before an election or primary. Here comes the censorship. Patrick Henry is turning over in his grave to know that the Virginian, John Warner voted for this piece of crap legislation. What surprised me was that John Breaux voted against it.

[jwalsh07]

We're calling, faxing and emailing and if I had the time I'd go down there and stand outside with a poster.

[diotima]

Don't under estimate me. LOL.

I think he will sign it. I just want to make sure he knows that his consituents aren't happy and I, for one, will remember this. I hope he remembers this when he campaigns for 2004.

[diotima]

That is awful, just awful.