Daily Campaign Finance Reform thread

[DustyMoment]

" . . . let them know that you are cutting back by 1/2 your contribution to them as a protest."

No, let them know that you are cutting ALL of your contribution to them as a protest. As Rush pointed out in his analysis, the SC has, essentially, said that it is the contributors to political campaigns who are responsible for political corruption. As a result, in order to end political corruption, we must withhold any and all future donations to political campaigns.

If we hurt the politicians in their wallets, they will be only too happy to repeal this law but, my friends, don't become complacent if/when they do. They are noted for circumventing process and passing dreadful laws in the middle of the night when they think no one is watching.

Our first priority MUST BE to get CFR struck down in its entirety and allow NO similar bill to be introduced. The government has declared war on us; we must show them that we are ready, willing and able to fight back with every tool in our arsenal. That means writing our representatives to express our displeasure; it means withholding campaign contributions; it means actively protesting them everytime they make a public appearance. They should NEVER be allowed to forget or repeat the CFR debacle.

[jmc813]

My Congressional 'Representative' is Nick Smith, one of the RINOs that voted for this monstrosity. I have questioned him several times about his vote and he is unwavering in his support for Congressionally imposed limits on Free Speech. I have no hope he would vote to repeal this law. However, I will be making it clear to him that I will publicly oppose his position in Congress and will actively work against his son's attempt to replace him in the next election

Isn't he one of the few Republicans to stand up to the GOP leadership on Medicare? If so, perhaps he deserves a pass.

[backhoe]

Thanks for looking- I wondered if the old bump lists can be added to, and they still can.

[jimkress]

Isn't he one of the few Republicans to stand up to the GOP leadership on Medicare? If so, perhaps he deserves a pass.

No pass. The evil he has embraced by perverting our freedom cannot be offset through a minor disagreement with the other RINOs in the House.

After all, Hitler loved his dogs. Did his kindness to his pets offset his evil? I think not.

[jmc813]

I understand your frustration, but I would urge you to carefully research any opposition his son gets in the primary. He had been "warned" by many RINOs that his son is doomed, simply because of his contrary position on the Medicare Bill.

Of course, my representative is one of the few politicians out there who I respect these days. After over 20 years of RINO Roukema, we now have Scott Garrett who has allied with Ron Paul's Republican Liberty Caucus and has consistently taken a stand against crap like this.

Not to brag or anything. ;-)

[jmc813]

Post 65 should have been addressed to you.

[rep-always]

I'm in.

[DustyMoment]

Here is my letter to Sen. Bill Nelson:

Dear Sen. Nelson,

When the McCain-Feingold Bill was brought to the Senate floor for a vote, you voted for it, even though it contained provisions that clearly violated the First Amendment of the US Constitution. The assumption/explanation was that it would be corrected "upstream". It wasn't.

The President acknowledged that the Bill was flawed, then subsequently signed it into law, assuring us that the Supreme Court would strike down the unConstitutional provisions of the law. Like the Congress, the President played "pass-the-buck" politics.

The Supreme Court, in their ruling on this law, rather than strike down the unConstitutional provisions, upheld them. In essence, they stated that the citizens who contribute to political campaigns are directly or indirectly responsible for political corruption and influence buying. As a result, the Supreme Court has stifled free speech in this country in what can only be interpreted as a clear violation of the Constitution which states, in part " . . . Congress shall make no law abridging the right to free speech." I fail to understand what part of this sentence you and your fellow Senators did not comprehend? It seems to be clear and unambiguous.

The unConstitutional provisions of CFR violate my rights to freedom of speech. In addition, by the ruling handed down by the Supreme Court, the foundation of our judicial system has also been attacked: innocent until proven guilty. By ruling that campaign contributors are responsible for political corruption, the Supreme Court has, in essence, tried and convicted American citizens for crimes neither alleged, nor proven.

When the new Congress convenes next year, the first item of business MUST BE a bill to repeal CFR in its entirety. Until CFR is fully repealed, in order to control and eliminate political corruption, there will be no further contributions to any individual campaign nor to any political party. When this Bill to repeal CFR is presented for a floor vote, I expect that you will vote to repeal CFR.

This is not a minor issue, Senator, this is a direct assault on the very foundation of America. The freedoms we enjoy, as defined by the Constitution, are the hallmark that has made the United States the beacon of freedom for the rest of the world for more than 200 years. We have not descended into mediocrity because of the protected freedoms that we enjoy. When irresponsible politicians fail to perform their most sacred duty by protecting those freedoms, they sentence this nation to a life of national fear, similar to that experienced by the Iraqis under Saddam Hussein. Is that the America that you envision, Senator? If it isn't, you will work aggreesively to repeal CFR.

[backhoe]

Be advised the following is two years old; some of the information is dated- however it is still a good starting point:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/544794/posts

Communicate! Let the Sons of....
various links | 10-10-01 | backhoe

[justrepublican]

Somewhere there is inaccuracy. Wellstone(d-mn) shouldn't be voting.

[deport]

Wellstone(d-mn) shouldn't be voting.

---

Why?

[proud American in Canada]

"Too many people just don't understand what is at stake here."

bump to that...

What's sad is that apparently people at DU (from Freeper reports) have concluded that since freepers are mad about CFR, they should be happy. That is a tremendous loss for "them" just as much as it is for "us".

On such an important issue, there should be no us vs. them. We are all Americans, and we should ALL fight for political freedom of speech; without that freedom, the others will quickly crumble.

Perhaps this thread could adopt a new slogan: "WWTPD?"

What would Thomas Paine do?

"These are the times that try men's souls," indeed.

http://www.ushistory.org/paine/

[proud American in Canada]

Oh, wow, oh wow! May we copy and paste this?

Someone, someone, whether it be Tom Tancredo or someone else, MUST present in Congress, on the FIRST day of the session, a bill to repeal this.

And I think that conservatives should make it clear that our votes will depend on their reps' outspoken support of the repeal.

Like someone said before, no more promises--instead, ACTION in the spring of '04.

This is more important than Medicare, than anything else. And as much as I admire GW in wartime and had planned on really helping to get a Republican majority in both houses... I think the American people deserve the "quo" before the "quid" this time.

You had a great letter that I hope every Freeper, every lurker, and anyone who cares about the most basic right we (used to) and now, within certain limitations, still have, reads and ponders and then sends a variation of the letter to their representatives and senators.

And that includes you, any Democrats or Democrat Underground posters reading this. :)

[proud American in Canada]

Paul Wellstone has passed away.

[TigersEye]

I hope every Freeper, ... sends a variation of the letter to their representatives and senators.

I'd be glad to phone, fax and e-mail mine. Sanders, Jeffords and Leahy. Would you like me to come back and post their responses? They won't take long to read; Leahy is the only one who ever responds.

[deport]

What does that have to do with the vote on CFR?

[proud American in Canada]

Hellooooooo? Is there anybody out there?

jeesh... the fights between Bush supporters and Bush critics attract 1000+ posts...

Yesterday, FR was full of infighting about CFR, and how Bush screwed up, the SCOTUS screwed up, etc.

I saw a lot of passion yesterday. Where's the passion today, when we have a plan?

I've pinged everyone I can think of but no one seems to care, beyond the people that have responded here.

Pretty sad...

I know there a lot of people who love GW because of his love for the military. As a person who has military family--who got spit on in O'Hare airport, btw, upon returning from Vietnam--I understand that. I love how GW supports th troops.

And after 8 years of Clinton corruption, I can tell you that GW's inauguration was the happiest day of my life (ahem, besides the birth of my children and my wedding day).

:)

But we--and I'm talking to ANYONE who reads this, DU members or not--MUST realize that we have just given up a huge--well, not so huge, after all, it's just sixty days, right?--right.

We all, as Americans, MUST stand up for the First Amendment. And we should ALL, as Americans first, Democrats and Republicans second, demand that this law be repealed.

Why do you think the Founders put the First Amendment first? It is because they knew that without freedom of speech, and ESPECIALLY without freedom of political speech, the rest falls like a house of cards.

We--Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, Communists, whatever--cannot tolerate the first "brick in the wall" in stopping the freedom to express political opinions.

/end plea. Goodnight...

[proud American in Canada]

Hellooooooo? Is there anybody out there?

jeesh... the fights between Bush supporters and Bush critics attract 1000+ posts...

Yesterday, FR was full of infighting about CFR, and how Bush screwed up, the SCOTUS screwed up, etc.

I saw a lot of passion yesterday. Where's the passion today, when we have a plan?

I've pinged everyone I can think of but no one seems to care, beyond the people that have responded here.

Pretty sad...

I know there a lot of people who love GW because of his love for the military. As a person who has military family--who got spit on in O'Hare airport, btw, upon returning from Vietnam--I understand that. I love how GW supports th troops.

And after 8 years of Clinton corruption, I can tell you that GW's inauguration was the happiest day of my life (ahem, besides the birth of my children and my wedding day).

:)

But we--and I'm talking to ANYONE who reads this, DU members or not--MUST realize that we have just given up a huge--well, not so huge, after all, it's just sixty days, right?--right.

We all, as Americans, MUST stand up for the First Amendment. And we should ALL, as Americans first, Democrats and Republicans second, demand that this law be repealed.

Why do you think the Founders put the First Amendment first? It is because they knew that without freedom of speech, and ESPECIALLY without freedom of political speech, the rest falls like a house of cards.

We--Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, Communists, whatever--cannot tolerate the first "brick in the wall" in stopping the freedom to express political opinions.

/end plea. Goodnight...

[proud American in Canada]

wow, sorry for the double post.. not intended by any means.

[proud American in Canada]

"What does that have to do with the vote on CFR?"

Maybe I'm confused but your post asked merely "why" when the original poster said that Wellstone would not be voting on any repeal of CFR.

I'd appreciate any clarification if you meant something else, though I need to log off soon.