Gingrey (R-GA, 11) interested in FR, and in law restoring free speech

Meeting | 12-14-2003 | Robert A Cook

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Thanks Chad- One can always count upon you for clear thinking and kind words. Hope you are well!

[Chad Fairbanks]

Doing well, thanks! :0)

[neverdem]

There is a Congressman Phil Gingrey from Georgia who was reported to be a lurker on FR. He was also reported to be considering the sponsorship of a bill that would repeal the absurd 30 and 60 day restrictions on free speech prior to elections. Here's a link to the thread that includes the URL of his Congressional office.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1040281/posts

He has an Email function that you may have to stumble about to find, but give Congressman Gingrey a holler.

[neverdem]

I thought I was posting this thread to the *bang_list. Please forgive the error.

[Abram]

Mine is a slimey trial lawyer...your's too Whee The People...?

[Smile-n-Win]

Way to go bump! It's easy to pass a law that "reduces the influence of money in politics" but it's difficult to oppose a law that affirms free speech.

[proud American in Canada]

"Respectfully written, but I disagree until corrected by an Admin Moderator or Jim R.

A direct meeting with a Congressman about breaking news of the week, even if informal and not covered by the "mass media," DOES properly belong to "Breaking News."

Further, since a "call to action" is specifically invoked to have Freepers help correct a bad Supreme Court ruling, your judgment that "Activism" isn't invoked is incorrect."

I agree completely! Thank you for your post; it looks like CFR repeal may be picking up steam!

I have NOT been able to log on to FR since Friday night. Every time I did, my computer crashed (no joke!)

However, I kept trying, because I sent the following to the Denver Post and the Washington Times. I don't know if it will get published, but I urge anyone who wants to to feel free to cut, paste, and modify and send along to your local paper. In this way, regular people can be educated about the importance of repealing at least this part of this law.

Valin, I pinged you on this but I'll post about it first thing tomorrow a.m. on the daily CFR thread.

:)

"Dear Editor:

Contrary to the expectations of just about everyone in the country, perhaps even of the President who signed the bill, the Supreme Court has upheld Campaign Finance Reform.

Although the name of the bill is deceptively attractive-who doesn't want "reform"?--the law it embodies is a direct attack on the most fundamental right all Americans hold--the right to political free speech. No longer can groups of citizens purchase, in the 60 days prior to a general election, radio or t.v. time that criticizes a politician.

The freedom to express political opinions is at the heart of all other freedoms. That is why the Founders put it in the First Amendment. We cannot have the right to privacy, the right to keep and bear arms, the right to be free of unlawful searches and seizures, without the right to challenge the politicians who govern us.

Indeed, many have described this law as the "Incumbent Protection Act," for it makes it very difficult for incumbents to be held accountable for their voting record. In today's sound-bite world, 60 days is a lifetime.

That is why I have sent a letter to Rep. Tom Tancredo, asking him to present a bill, on the very first day that Congress meets in January, to repeal this odious law. I hope that other congressional representatives join in this endeavor, for this issue rises above party.

Every American--Democrat, Republican, Green, Libertarian, whatever--who cares about the right to speak freely on a political issue should demand that this law be repealed--and repealed immediately.

[proud American in Canada]

"Best? Sure; completely remove McCain-Feingold. But it won't happen in today's media climate, given the power this yields to the "national press corpse". So we shouldn't weight down a "possibly-successful" bill with dreams of revoking the whole thing."

Good thinking! Very good thinking... It would have far greater chances if we focused on this part, and really hammered home the First Amendment implications.

Thanks Robert! :)

[proud American in Canada]

"No kidding. I would change it, but I don't want to look like a newbie for heavens sake..."

I would change mine too. I had zero inspiration when I joined FR and this was the best I could do. :)

But like you say, who wants to get flamed as a newbie? :)

It would be nice to have a feature where we could change and "re-introduce" ourselves, but FR may be too large for that. On smaller boards, people get to know each other more quickly.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

No, yours is good.. mine really stinks. Although Freeper Chad Fairbanks did make me feel a bit better about it.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[proud American in Canada]

"Although Freeper Chad Fairbanks did make me feel a bit better about it."


I read his post--so very true! We came within a hair's breadth of having President Gore on 9/11... now that's a nightmare. :)

[Robert A Cook PE]

Bump.

But for those 537 votes they DIDN'T cheat us out of .....

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

My congresscritter is a doc too

Mine is a snake.

A lawyer?

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Good article. I wish you well.