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
Windows Media Format
RealMedia Format
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!
E-MAIL THE PRESIDENT TODAY, CALL THE WHITE HOUSE, VETO CFR!
LETS GO EVERYONE! TELL THE PRESIDENT TO DEFEND THE CONSITUTION!
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LoanPalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
Members of FreeRepublic, I hope you'll all take a few minutes or more to let the President know that you want him to veto this bill.
There isn't an excuse for even one of us to take a pass on this. It doesn't take long. Freep him often over the next few days until he vetos CFR!
Now make a few clicks, send a few emails and feel good about yourself. Heh heh heh...
I called the White House two weeks ago on this. I was on a construction site with my cell phone. Just dialed 411 and told the operator "Washington DC, The White House, Public Affairs Comments Operator". The operator connected me in a flash.
The White House has voice mail if the operators are busy. Light 'em up!
My Fellow Florida Freepers!
The FR Network is joining with the ACU (American Conservative Union) in a nationwide Freep to try to convince President Bush to VETO the CFR bill, which was PASSED by the Senate today by a 60-40 vote.
Go to this post. See the video message from David Keene, head of the ACU, on the Free Republic Network website.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/650327/posts
Forward this email to your contacts outside of FR also.
This is our First Amendment folks.
This is a call to action. Get Involved now! Time is short. The President mist hear from the grass roots!
Gene McDonald
"Seeking the Truth"
President
Florida Chapter
I will call the White House tomorrow, since it is now 1728 EST and their offices are now closed. I am also notifying everyone else I know.
1st - That would be dishonest and hypocrital, so I hope he doesn't disappoint me like that.
2nd - If he does that, he risks the wrath of his core voters in 2004, because he would have basically shafted them. I hope he's not that stupid.
The God the patriots back in Massachusetts, who gathered at Lexington & Concord, didn't listen to your great advice.
Hey, let's don't do anything now, let's wait until the British take all the powder from the armory!
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