December 22, 2006
THE ONLY PROTECTED SPEECH:
Panel says issue ads OK during elections (Associated Press, 12/22/06)
The federal government cannot prohibit advocacy groups from running issue advertisements during peak election season, a panel of federal judges ruled Thursday.
The 2-1 ruling was issued in a case involving a Wisconsin anti-abortion group that challenged congressional restrictions on ads by corporations, labor unions and other special interest groups that mention candidates two months before a general election.
Some lawmakers have predicted such a ruling would create a loophole in the 2002 McCain-Feingold campaign law, which attempted to reduce the influence of big-spending special-interest groups in elections.
It's not like they were ever going to find anyone to prosecute citizens for mere political speech. Posted by Orrin Judd at December 22, 2006 9:41 AM
Right. The point is that they can't silence the NRA, whch was the original purpose of McCain-Feingold, without silencing everybody, and the country won't accept that.
Posted by: Lou Gots at December 22, 2006 9:58 AMThis doesn't change the fact that a respected Senator, the senate, the house, the President and the Supreme Ct. approved and rubber stamped a portion of an act that was unconstitutional on its face.
This should give us all pause to think.
Some think "it can't happen here" and others think it can. Though some times still capable of of optimism, it is my view is that IF 'it can happen here,' it will happen quicker than most think, and most of your neighbors will go along for the ride.
Posted by: Bruno at December 22, 2006 11:04 AMThe FEC just issued $600 million in fines for political speech, and no one cared.
Posted by: pj at December 22, 2006 11:50 AMBruno, I'm afraid you're right ... IF, it can happen here,' it will happen quicker than most think, and most of your neighbors will go along for the ride.
We have a situation here of a small town police chief who, without prior authorization or even knowledge by the city commission, contracted with a TV reality show to set up and film internet predators who were lured to town by actors posing as kids. No doubt to add color and provide even more tension to the program, the filming was scheduled for the day Santa and friends were on parade just a few blocks south of target house.
One commissioner had a mild objection to not being told, all the rest were laudatory of the "sting," one even saying she was glad she didn't know about it! The majority of our neighbors thought it was great too even though all the 21 alleged perverts were out on bail within days if not hours of their arrests.
People can't think for themselves. That's why the media, especially TV, are so powerful and why I vacillate between despair and hope for the future.