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!
You want `em, get them elected. But don't complain when the votes don't go there because you ran off like some two-year old in a hissy fit!
Let it be understood that your rant is in response to a couple of simple questions...
Could anything cause you to lose (your faith in President Bush)?
Is there any line you'd draw?
Speaking of hissy fits, God forbid anyone suggest that there might times when the President needs to be reminded who he works for.
It's that simple. Those are the lines I have drawn at present. I like a lot of what Ron Paul says, although I disagree with him strongly on foreign policy and legalization of drugs. I'm probably a neoconservative/libertarian hybrid.
The fact is, right now, we only have about 205 decent or better people in the House, and maybe 45 decent or better Senators. The good news is that in the House, we've got leadership that will do the right thing at least 90% of the time. We don't have that in the Senate.
Quite frankly, the President has done pretty well for the most part. My big beef is the camnpaign finance bill, but at the same time, this thing will be dealt with permanently by SCOTUS. Congressman Billybob is very sure we can get just about everything in Shays-Meehan tossed.
We've got to pick our fights carefully right now. And frankly we've got that border security stuff in the House that Senator KKK is holding up in the Senate. And we get to kick his butt on two counts as opposed to one.
I learned in 1995 we were not going to get everything we wanted, and if we pushed too hard, we'd get our butts handed to us by the media and the Dems. On the other hand, I think that if we apply the lesson of the parable of the old bull and the young bull, we'll win big now and down the road.
But we have to be realistic here. We need numbers and we need to back the President over this Social Security mess that Gephardt and Matsui are trying to start. Because if the Dems win Congress in 2002, and if they add the White House in 2004 with Hillary, Gore, or anyone else like that, it is 100% over.
Same here. I hope President Bush realizes how big this decision is with his true supporters. He is so wrong if he thinks his soft tactic's like giving Boner Bono $$$ are going to win him any substantial votes. So wrong. HE NEEDS US!
BTW I found some great "Lets Roll" bumper stickers at http://www.victorystore.com/bumper/letsroll.htm
If Bush signs the CFR I am plastering my new "Lets Roll" sticker over my Bush sticker :( sniff sniff
He could disappoint me on CFR, but the only real and plausible deal-breaker for me, as you know, is Illegal Immigration.
I have other disagreements with Bush, but not nearly so vehement.
I'm not looking for excuses to vote other than GOP, and even if I did, I don't plan on registering otherwise. If I put my vote in play, rather than staying party-line, I want the GOP to know that the loss of my ballot isn't necessarily permanent.
But we have to be realistic here. We need numbers and we need to back the President over this Social Security mess that Gephardt and Matsui are trying to start.
Do you really think that a veto of CFR is going to cost us numbers? It's a press-suckeled non-issue with the electorate. I suppose that Bush could sign it with a press conference stating he's doing it so that the Supreme Court will take it up, but to me that's a passing of the buck. He has 80% polls and moral authority now. Why not use it to make the case for more, not less, freedom of speech in political campaigns?
And as to Illegals, the President is paddling up a bad stream, the people don't want what he's pushing.
How doesn being antagonistic or unnecessarily compromising help us with Social Security?
To be blunt, the border security measures that could help with illegal immigration are tied up by the Dems. And frankly, according to today's Washington Times (http://www.washingtontimes.com/world/20020322-11804762.htm), Mexico's been helping us out in other areas.
Sorry if we've got different hot-button issues, but right now, trading a brief extension of 245(i) in exchange for getting better border security is one I'll take, since it also adds a lot of stuff to fix messes like Atta's visa.
PRESIDENT BUSH
TO VETO
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM
and is a constitution issue. The clock is ticking!
What in the world do you have against the CFR?
The Council on Foreign Relations has as much clout as Baying Buchanan.
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