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!
Where is Pat Robertson, the NRA, Falwell, the NRLC now that they got their man?
I am not naive enough to think my voice is or will be heard, now.In 2002. and 2004 my voice is an echo of many voices who WILL be heard.
September 11, 2002 Terrorists Forever Silenced 3,000 Innocent People. March 20, 2002 60 Senators Voted to Silence 275 Million Americans.
Congressman Billybob says there is a VERY good chance most of this will be tossed. That kills this PERMANENTLY.
Probably not, remember according to some of the wacky outpatients here, this is all part of the big and elaborate plan that President Bush has. Somehow, passing CFR and giving amnesty to all the illegals here, is part of a very strategic plan that President Bush and his very special planner, Karl Rove, have up their sleeves. According to these Kool-Aid drinkers, at least. If you want to find something even more entertaining than this curious trend, troll onto A Day In the Life Thread and amaze yourself with the great ties and suits that President Bush wears and how clever it is when he and the First Lady color-coordinate with each other. The substance of any meaningful conversation usually stops hours before that and then you realize that President Bush has a great future behind him.
Anyway, at this moment, I was just thinking that if anyone wants to write a good children's book with a moral lesson, a story about Lemmings and their deadly habit of following each other off the slippery slope, would make a very interesting read.
You're 100% right. This reminds me of the famous Ali "rope-a-dope". GOP wins big time!
Have you and/or Keyes actually spoken to the President about this? I'd be interested in hearing his response.
Daschle has publicly admitted that some of this will be struck down by SCOTUS. He knows it, yet he voted for it. So now what? What's he gonna pound on Bush for next?
I still think the President has an ace up his sleeve, and I still have faith in him.
Some will, no doubt, call me a "mind-numbed Bushbot", but I am so OVER that that is does not even phase me anymore. And I really don't care at this point what they call me.
Bush comes out in favor of CFR, knowing that the Free Speech issue will get struck down, and he leaves the RATS scratching their heads. :-)
Interesting theory.
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