The First Amendment Action Network- a joint project between
The American Conservative Union and FreeRepublic Network
Posted on 03/20/2002 1:06:31 PM PST by diotima
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
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!
"Cut their pay in half, and send them home half the year..."
I still think it is good advice. These clowns pass laws that impact all of us, including the businesses that pay our checks, then cut exemptions for themselves.
( To mention just one of innumerable grievances I bear against them! )
It's time to get their attention.
One of the things I count against both Condit and clinton is the fact that neither one of them ever did an honest day's work in their sorry lives- went right from college to "public service," without ever having to wonder if this week's check would pay last month's bills, or know what it's like to have to dip into their own pockets to meet a payroll.
Politicians need a dose of reality, like everyone else gets every day.
D1
Exactly
If ONLY the American People understood what this stupid bill is all about. They would be up in arms. Most people don't give a rats behind.
THIS BILL WILL NEVER STAND UP IN COURT.
***
So, the Senate has approved the so-called "Campaign Finance Reform" bill by a vote of 60-40; this after the House of Representatives passed it by a vote of 240-189. Florida's own two Senators, Bob Graham and Bill Nelson, signed it. It should come as no surprise, really. After all, once people obtain positions of power, it only stands to reason that they will alter the game to assure that they remain there. This also explains why the mainstream media has almost universally supported this, since this bill gives those agencies almost complete domination of election information thirty to sixty days prior to an election.
You have to love the way that politicians can work the language. "Campaign finance reform" sounds so much better than "incumbent protection act", doesn't it? And most of the American public, as usual, have their opinions formed by misinformation, or are simply unaware of what is happening, or worse, don't care.
Let it be known right here and right now that every one of the 249 members of the House of Representatives and 60 members of the Senate have acted in deliberate and direct violation of the Oaths of Office, which states that those who hold office in the federal legislature shall "support and defend the Constitution of the United States". The First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, which is the Supreme Law of the Land, begins with "Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech". What part of "Congress shall make no law" don't these "educated" people understand? A rhetorical question, of course -- these people know exactly what they are doing.
It also seems that no one perceives the supreme irony that this bill embodies -- that our so-called "leaders" must pass a federal law to supposedly keep themselves honest? At the very least, this bill is a vote of no confidence against themselves.
What will become of all this is quite uncertain. If President Bush signs it into law, it is almost assured that some portions of it will be immediately challenged on First Amendment grounds and struck down. But the law of unintended consequences looms large in this corrupt and blatantly unconstitutional piece of legislature. It may turn out for those who supported this bill that the old phrase, "Be careful what you wish for -- you might just get it", will turn out to be all too true.
***
So, the Senate has approved the so-called "Campaign Finance Reform" bill by a vote of 60-40, after the House of Representatives passed it by a vote of 240-189. Florida's own two Senators, Bob Graham and Bill Nelson, signed it. It should come as no surprise, really. Once people obtain positions of power, it only stands to reason that they will alter the game to assure that they remain there. This also explains why the mainstream media has almost universally supported this, since this bill gives those agencies almost complete domination of election information thirty to sixty days prior to an election.
You have to love the way that politicians can work the language. "Campaign finance reform" sounds so much better than "incumbent protection act", doesn't it?
Let it be known right here and right now that every one of the 249 members of the House of Representatives and 60 members of the Senate have acted in deliberate and direct violation of the Oaths of Office, which states that those who hold office in the federal legislature shall "support and defend the Constitution of the United States". The First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, which is the Supreme Law of the Land, begins with "Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech". What part of "Congress shall make no law" don't these "educated" people understand?
It also seems that no one perceives the supreme irony that this bill embodies -- that our so-called "leaders" must pass a federal law to supposedly keep themselves honest? At the very least, this bill is a vote of no confidence against themselves. What will become of all this is quite uncertain. The law of unintended consequences looms large in this corrupt and blatantly unconstitutional piece of legislature.
The Inner Ring: On Making Good Men Do Bad Things (C.S. Lewis)
With a SALUTE TO THE GOP CONGRESS inside!
I'll get a link up to the petition at Declaration Foundation.
Keyes and I are both urging the President to veto, joining a list that is virtually a who's who of the conservative movement.
Cheers,
Richard F.
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