Posted on 03/20/2002 4:33:41 PM PST by erk
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 20, 2002
Statement by the President
Like many Republicans and Democrats in the Congress, I support common-sense reforms to end abuses in our campaign finance system. The reforms passed today, while flawed in some areas, still improve the current system overall, and I will sign them into law.
The legislation makes some important progress on the timeliness of disclosure, individual contribution limits, and banning soft money from corporations and labor unions, but it does present some legitimate constitutional questions. I continue to believe the best reform is full and timely disclosure of campaign contributions.
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Some of you people have lost your minds.
Maybe he'll be swayed by massive defections from the GOP.
I would poop in my cap and put it back on my head before I would wish for Algore!!
Buchanan says what he thinks, at least. But most of what he says is idiotic. I wouldn't vote for him on a dare.
I wish I had somebody better than Bush, Buchanan and the other losers to vote for.
Maybe next time.
He should have gotten an Opinion from the Attorney General that the bill was unconstitutional. Then he should have signed the bill into law, but also instructed the Solicitor General to go into court that day, seeking an injuction against ANY use of or application of that law, pending Supreme Court review.
(The President directs the position taken by the Solicitor General, At least five times the SG has been directed not to defend a federal law, but to attack it instead, because the President believed it to be unconstitutional.)
Never, however, has any President both signed a law and directed the Solicitor General to attack it in court on the same day. This could have resulted in a Supreme Court decision striking the law BEFORE the November Election, which would have defanged the Democrats and vindicated the (mostly) Republicans who condemned this bill.
My colleagues and I will now seek to have this entire law declared unconstitutional. We will do that not for the sake of the dishonest President, but on behalf of the Constitution that is under attack.
I SAID THIS BEFORE, AND REPEAT IT NOW. IF WE DO NOT GET THIS LAW DECLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL, I WILL RESIGN FROM THE BAR OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND NEVER ENTER ITS BUILDING AGAIN.
Congressman Billybob
He gave his word twice, once in the campaign and once when he swore to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
Yes, a teeny bone. I hope we don't all choke on this.
We can hope. Of course that's assuming ppl WILL defect.
ANYONE have the breakdown of the votes in the senate and house on this bill? Where can they be seen?
Only to see him come up with some angle that gets him to where "we" want him to be. And where he said he was going in the first place.
Will this be his first major "political failure" since he entered politics? The silver bullet that does him in? Will this be the end of "W". The grand finale? Closing of the curtain? The final act?
Don't bet on it. Or, don't bet against him. If the past is any indicator of the future he will come out on top.
But if he signs this. Straight up. Even his James Carville types like me are going to be upset.
ROFL. Yeah - Elizabeth Dole's stock is rising, maybe she'll run. There's a real conservative for you.
Keep us informed of the "massive defections."
If they don't happen within the next two weeks, they won't happen.
(PSST: They won't happen.)
Richard F.
I missed this, what article or amendment to the constitution covers this notion?
My father enlisted at 17 for cripes sake. He could fight but not vote nor send campaign contributions? Come on man.
Actually this bill goes into effect 1 day after the November 2002 election doesn't it?
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