Let Noncitizens Contribute to U.S. Elections (NYT Knows No Limits)

nytimes ^ | January 3, 2012 | Paul Sherman

[lbryce]

ON Friday the United States Supreme Court will meet to decide whether to hear Bluman v. F.E.C., a First Amendment challenge to a federal law that prohibits noncitizens living in the United States (but who don’t have green cards) from making contributions to American political candidates or from spending money on independent speech to influence elections.

The lead plaintiff, Benjamin Bluman, is a Canadian lawyer who lawfully lives in New York City. He is legally prohibited from paying for leaflets he planned to distribute urging the re-election of President Obama.

The case raises fundamental questions about the scope of the First Amendment. Do noncitizens who lawfully reside in this country have a First Amendment right to advocate the defeat or election of American political candidates? And do American voters have a First Amendment right to hear what noncitizens have to say about our politics?

Last August, a panel of three federal judges in Washington answered both these questions with a resounding “no.” That was a mistake, and the Supreme Court should correct it.

While it may sound surprising that the First Amendment could protect electoral advocacy by noncitizens, including political contributions and expenditures, the argument is grounded in precedent. The Supreme Court has held for over 35 years that the First Amendment protects the right to make political contributions and expenditures. Moreover, courts have long held that noncitizens who lawfully reside within the United States are entitled to the full protection of the First Amendment. The plaintiffs’ argument in Bluman simply combines these two strands of precedent.

Noncitizens who have permanent residency are allowed to make contributions and political expenditures.

[lbryce]

In trying to understand the mindset in which the Slimes becomes exceedingly more extreme with each passing day, it seems the closer it gets to its own demise, the more hysterically demented its left-wing, liberal perspective becomes.

[Diogenesis]

[SECURE AMERICA]

So the Chinese Government can plant legal non citizens and then spend billions influencing our elections? Think that is scary how about the islamofacists doing it!
If you can not legally VOTE, then you can not legally have a say in our election PERIOD!

[Le Chien Rouge]

1)Would the lefties support the Vatican financially backing Pro-life/pro-family candidates???

2) Would the left back former Eastern Block nations financially backing anti-communist candidates???

[Jonty30]

I hope the judge slaps this lawsuit down.

The last thing America needs are billionaires, from other countries contributing to its destruction.

[Lazamataz]

The New York Times would be thrilled to have a global election for our President.

The New York Times walks casually past bat-shit-crazy, and goes all the way to Not Of This Universe.

[traditional1]

What the USSC SHOULD rule is that no Taxpayer Benefits, nor Rights bestowed to U.S. Citizens, should be afforded illegal occupants of this country, and that the Federal Government has an OBLIGATION, under the Constitution and Sworn Office-Takers Oathes, to "protect and defend" against "all enemies, foreign and domestic".

THAT is what SHOULD be done, but won't, because the USSC is now a political body, with embedded subversives who want to re-interpret the U.S. Constitution to fit the Agenda.

[bcsco]

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[SERKIT]

It seems to be done all the time whether it be both Klintons (think China) or the the un-audited $1B Soetoro War Chest (think Mohammedan Brotherhood). Maybe it has become the norm not the exception.

[danielmryan]

I'm pretty sure they'll be hoist by their own petard. Foreigners like me who sympathize with American conservatism may be less numerous than the Obamabots, but we make up for it in effort to understand how things work in the States.

I should add that I'm not only a Canadian citizen but also a resident of Canada. "America for the Americans:" that's why I'm detached from a lot of the fun here.

[Flintlock]

They already do.
Barry got TONS of Mideast cash last time.

[FlingWingFlyer]

If non-Americans REALLY want to “contribute” to something, they can “contribute” to the IRS. Other than that, I think it’s time for them to go home.