McCain-Find gold: RNC uses finance law to illustrate its flaws

Union Leader ^ | 6/27/02

[kattracks]

OPPONENTS of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law said it violated the U.S. Constitution, was too broad in scope and would be overly intrusive and burdensome for groups involved in legitimate political activity. Proponents said that was just a bunch of hot air. But now one opponent has proven the critics correct.

Last week the Republican National Committee had a host of political interest groups, mostly left-leaning and pro Democrat, subpoenaed to find out if their political activity violated the McCain-Feingold law. Naturally, the groups that received the subpoenas cried foul. They said they would have to divulge sensitive information that they should not have to make public.

The RNC asked these groups (including the National Education Association, U.S. Term Limits, the National Abortion Rights Action League, Emily’s List, the League of Conservation Voters and the American Trial Lawyers Association) for detailed lists of their donors and their political activity. The RNC also asked each group whether any of their “activities corrupt or appear to corrupt any federal candidate or federal office holder.”

The campaign finance law, you may remember, was intended to put a stop to any political activity that corrupted or appeared to corrupt candidates for federal office.

The RNC said it went after the records of these groups to show how the campaign finance law violated the equal protection clause of the Constitution by allowing special interest groups to continue raising and spending soft money for the purpose of influencing federal elections.

“This is overly burdensome, it’s vague and overbroad,” a spokesman for NARAL told The Washington Times about the RNC’s actions. Maybe so. But then, so is the law that allows this sort of intrusion to take place.

[goldstategop]

Funny. All the liberals were on record as supporting constitutionally forcible rape. And now they're whining about intrusion of THEIR freedoms now that they've gotten their wish. One can only imagine what the Four Comrades must be thinking of the Republican National Committee's employment of their plan to disarm conservatives against their liberal brethen. I'm sure they never foresaw this result.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

.

[sourcery]

Be careful what laws you pass: they may be applied in ways you didn't consider. The law is a two-edged sword.