Posted on 04/27/2008 12:38:54 PM PDT by Dawnsblood
Ugly locutions often crop up in the promotion of ugly politics. Consider the threat of "scrutinization."
It has been made against some residents of Parker North, Colo., who expressed a political opinion without first getting their state government's permission for political activity. Herewith another example of what is being done around the nation in the name of political hygiene, as that is understood by "campaign finance reformers," those irksome improvers whose animating ideology is McCainism.
Parker North is a cluster of about 300 houses close to the town of Parker. When two residents proposed a vote on annexation of their subdivision to Parker, six others began trying to persuade the rest to oppose annexation. They printed lawn signs and fliers, started an online discussion group and canvassed neighbors, little knowing that they were provoking Colorado's speech police.
One proponent of annexation sued them. This tactic -- wielding campaign finance regulations to suppress opponents' speech -- is common in the America of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law. The complaint did not just threaten the Parker Six for any "illegal activities." It also said that anyone who had contacted them or received a lawn sign might be subjected to "investigation, scrutinization and sanctions for campaign finance violations."
The First Amendment guarantees freedom of association, "the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances." The exercise of this right often annoys governments, and the Parker Six did not know that Colorado's government, perhaps to discourage annoyances, stipulates that when two or more people associate to advocate a political position, and spend more than $200 in doing so, they become an "issue committee."
(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...
Thanks John.
I’ll vote for you now.
Can you fix immigration the same way?
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
This would be enough to cancel McCain's eligibility for the American Presidency; when we look at what he proposed and almost got passed for illegal immigrants, he has clarified beyond any argument that he is not interested in what is best for the United States of America.
You betcha he can. And since ‘campaign reform’ legislation (McCain-Feingold) is one of his signature ‘accomplishments’ we can expect more of that too.
I was at the Nevada State Republican Convention yesterday. One of the planks of the state party platform was ‘We demand the repeal of McCain-Feingold...’ but presumably it was a little embarassing to name McCain so it was changed to ‘We demand the repeal of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002...’. The same act of course but without attaching the nominee’s name to it. How Clintonian!
Sure. The McCain/Kennedy/Feingold bill, which will give free speech rights only to illegal immigrants.
and Orwellian. - Incredible that we have come to this...
The whole of McCain/Feingold is based on the proposition that, since politicians cannot be expected to remain ethical, the American citizen’s rights must be removed in order to prevent politicians from potentially being tempted.
How about this campaign finance idea Johnny: use the Constitutionally stated method for impeaching and kicking out unethical politicians. But, of course, you in the 100 Club don’t have the guts to do that to one of your own, do you?
McCain will fix immigration so that no citizen may be hired while there’s a criminal invader that can do the job.
Even if they have to import one.
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