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To: erk
It seems like so many of the posters here are against CFR because of the concept that soft money contributions are a form of free speech under the constitution.

Am I missing some other reasons most people here are against this? I'm sort of up in the air at the moment, and trying to determine what I think.
78 posted on 03/20/2002 5:07:05 PM PST by jurisdog
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To: jurisdog
Actually, my view is "which part of 'no law' does Congrees not understand???" i think any regulation of speech via regulation of campaign limits is offensive ... but it is clear the unconstitutional part of this that has me and others hot around the collar is the provision that limits independent groups ability to speak out if it affects elections, within 60 days of election day.

It is also clear that the politicians in Congress are quite *fond* of the idea of limiting outside group spending, since it generally attacks *incumbents*. So this is an incumbent protection bill.

103 posted on 03/20/2002 5:14:40 PM PST by WOSG
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To: jurisdog
It seems like so many of the posters here are against CFR because of the concept that soft money contributions are a form of free speech under the constitution.

Am I missing some other reasons most people here are against this? I'm sort of up in the air at the moment, and trying to determine what I think.

CFR wasn't even on the back burner until Clinton suddenly announced that we needed it. Why did he say that? To change the subject from the fact that he had been caught redhanded violating existing campaign laws! So passing and signing CFR is, in the first instance, (barf alert!) vindication of x42.

The irony of the matter is that in fact politics should be banned from the "public airwaves." Of course you shouldn't do it by halves, as in CFR--journalism is politics and should be banned from the public airwaves.

And that is because the fundamental aspect of freedom of speech and press is equality before the law. Broadcasting as we know it could not exist if everyone had an equal right to broadcast--so the only way to make us all politically equal (within the limits of our respective pocketbooks) is to ban political broadcasting by anybody.

174 posted on 03/20/2002 5:42:40 PM PST by conservatism_IS_compassion
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To: jurisdog
It also bans any broadcast advertising containing a candidate's name 60 dyas before a general election and 30 days before a primary. It also possibly changes laws so that grassroots groups like National Right to Life and Christian Coalition couldn't do non-partisan voter guides before an election. Not absolutely certain about the latter, but certain about the former. Basically shuts down free speech.
449 posted on 03/20/2002 8:33:40 PM PST by Zack Nguyen
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