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.
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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!
Hand written note faxed!
I know if Gore had been elected, there would be no CFR now, but that's because America wouldn't exist by now! A traitorous Conservative is still less of an evil than a Liberal.
Subject: Mr. President, veto this bill!
To: president@whitehouse.gov
Dear Mr. President,
I would like to thank you for the outstanding job you have been doing to further the cause of freedom in the United States and around the world.
On September 11, your country was assailed by a merciless, brutal, suicidal, and cowardly enemy, intent on destroying the United States and, with it, the spirit of excellence your country has come to symbolize.
Under another president, the vicious ambitions of this cowardly enemy may have been fulfilled. As Edmund Burke reminded us, "All that is necessary for evil to triump is for good men to do nothing."
Mr. President, you did not let evil triumph after September 11. You knew what had to be done, and you did it, even though there were voices in your country and elsewhere that positively questioned your sanity for what you were doing. You did not need to be given a lesson on what was sane and what was not, and may God bless you for it!
Today, your constitutional republic is once again being threatened. Does the First Amendment to the United States Constitution not clearly prescribe that "Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech" ? Is not the very core of the intent of this provision to allow unrestricted campaigning before elections? Would the bill that has been put before you not restrict campaigning before elections?
In addition to being unconstitutional, this bill is also dramatically anti-Conservative. It bans paid advertisements, but it does not silence those voices I spoke of earlier ... the voices that question your sanity whenever you do the right thing. Mr. President, I can assure you: those voices mean business! Remember what Mr. Goldberg had to say in his book "Bias" !
Yes, you will be disparaged, criticized, condemned, reviled, and denigrated if you veto this bill. In other words, you will be given a bad press. Do not let this mislead you; whenever Conservatives do the right thing, they get a bad press. Do not let this discourage you; the Liberal press does not represent the views of your voters--after all, your voters are Conservatives, are they not?
Yes, Mr. President, if you do the right thing now, you will get a bad press. If you fail to do the right thing now, you will get a bad press whenever you attempt to do the right thing in the future. And the counterbalance will fail you when you need it most: before elections!
Mr. President, do not be like those failed terrorists: do not be cowardly, and do not be suicidal! The future belongs to the strong, whoever that may be. Please let it be you!
Yours truly
Roland Horvath
Hungary
Bump!
Dear Mr. President,
To put it very simply, I strongly urge you to veto the currently proposed campaign finance reform bill. Clearly, many parts of the bill are unconstitutional. Knowing, as you undoubtedly do, that the constitutionality of the bill will be challenged and most probably find its way to The Supreme Court, you are opening a can of worms best left alone. Indeed, if The Supreme Court does not strike it down, then you, Mr. President, will be recorded in history as the one who signed into law the first of what will most certainly be many erosions of our First Amendment rights. History will also record you as a true heir to your father's dynasty; one whose lips are not fit to be read.
Mr. President, I am a life-long conservative. My initial hesitancy to support you as a candidate for president, in favor of those I believed more conservative, is returning. You will find I am not alone.
With all due respect, sir, I understand compromise is a way of life in our nation's capital. Some ideals, though, are too precious to be compromised. This is one of them. Again, I urge you to veto the proposed campaign finance reform bill.
Respectfully,
........
Crude, yet ingenious. Well said.
You cannot possibly be serious.
Lots of people think it is. It just hasn't been challenged. Neither has this bill, as it is not yet a law.
I have followed the news on this issue and have learned that it is believed to be unconstitutional for several reasons, The most common being violation of the free speech ammendment.
When stripped of the unconstitutional sections, the remaining portions of the bill double hard money. Republicans win in hard money contributions.
In the end, after the SCOTUS moves, we win. Therefore, it's ok to sign the bill.
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