http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/mccainfeingold/ en-us Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:04:39 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2409605/posts J.D. Hayworth yesterday took to the airwaves to pummel Grant Woods for filing a complaint with the FEC against the talk show host and potential Senate candidate. Woods alleged Hayworth is pulling in $540,000 a week in corporate in-kind contributions from KFYI/Clear Channel for using his show as a campaign platform. The response came in true talk show form as Hayworth called Woods an “ambulance chaser” who cashed in on a tobacco settlement lawsuit that was sold as a public health measure. “You’re even lower than some bacterial forms of algae, and that’s saying something,” Hayworth said, before chiding Woods... The Arizona Capitol Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2409605/posts#comment Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:04:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2408632/posts Link only, per FR copyright rules The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Ariz. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2408632/posts#comment Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:29:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2343149/posts WASHINGTON – Independent advocacy groups will be able to spend more money to try to influence federal elections under a decision Friday from a federal appeals court that overturned rules limiting nonprofits' campaign spending. Three judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington agreed with Emily's List, a nonprofit that backs women Democratic candidates who support abortion rights, that the regulations limited free speech rights. The Federal Election Commission enacted the rules in 2005, after concerns were raised about the amount of unlimited "soft money" contributions used to fund attacks in the 2004 election. The FEC said nonprofits would... AP on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2343149/posts#comment Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:28:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2338745/posts The First Amendment, as rewritten under the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law: "Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, except if it is funded by a corporation, unless it is a media corporation, or if the speech occurs just prior to an election, unless it is in the form of a book, which, even though the law covers books, too, the Federal Election Commission would never apply that law to books because we say so, though we said something entirely different a couple of months ago." In an apoplexy of righteous indignation over... The Las Vegas Review-Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2338745/posts#comment Sun, 13 Sep 2009 19:11:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2338449/posts WASHINGTON.Last March, during the Supreme Court argument concerning the Federal Election Commission's banning of a political movie, several justices were aghast. Suddenly and belatedly they saw the abyss that could swallow the First Amendment. Justice Antonin Scalia was "a little disoriented" and Justice Samuel Alito said "that's pretty incredible." Chief Justice John Roberts said: "If we accept your constitutional argument, we're establishing a precedent that you yourself say would extend to banning the book" -- a hypothetical 500-page book containing one sentence that said "vote for" a particular candidate. What shocked them, but should not have, were statements by a... The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2338449/posts#comment Sun, 13 Sep 2009 05:51:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2335913/posts A central pillar of federal election law appeared to be crumbling Wednesday as government lawyers faced tough questioning at a special Supreme Court hearing about whether limitations on corporate and union campaign spending violated the First Amendment right to free speech. The Washington Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2335913/posts#comment Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:27:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2335621/posts High court tackles 'Hillary: The Movie,' again It's 'not a musical comedy,' Justice Stephen Breyer says of the film WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court signaled Wednesday it may let businesses and unions spend freely to help their favored political candidates in time for next year's elections. In a case that began with a movie attacking Hillary Rodham Clinton, newly seated Justice Sonia Sotomayor jumped right into the questioning. She appeared skeptical about taking the far-reaching step of lifting the ban, a move urged on the court by a lawyer for a group that made the 90-minute movie that sought to... APReport http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2335621/posts#comment Wed, 9 Sep 2009 18:23:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2335220/posts The selective muzzles applied by the McCain-Feingold law. BY DAVID N. BOSSIE The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides that "Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech." The Framers' clear intent was first and foremost to protect political speech. Today, in a rare summer session, the Supreme Court will hear arguments as to whether it should overrule two previous, and in my opinion incorrectly decided, rulings on political free speech. Namely, the justices will decide whether or not to allow Austin v. Michigan State Chamber of Commerce and a significant section of McConnell v. Federal... The Washington Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2335220/posts#comment Wed, 9 Sep 2009 06:07:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2335219/posts The Supreme Court considers government controls over speech. The Supreme Court is hearing arguments today regarding Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. The case could decide what political speech is prohibited by federal campaign finance laws. To put it simply, campaign finance laws constrain free speech. This showdown provides the high court with an opportunity to make clear that it's not the proper role of government to limit how much is being spent on campaigns or by whom. The controversy of the day is over a film released during the 2008 presidential campaign. "Hillary The Movie" didn't expressly advocate that... The Washington Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2335219/posts#comment Wed, 9 Sep 2009 06:05:28 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2334219/posts The Supreme Court on Wednesday will hear arguments from campaign finance reform advocates and opponents in a case many insiders say will be the most significant decision in more than 35 years. The case the court will hear, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, has the potential to overturn key elements of campaign finance law that prevent corporate spending on elections, a move that would open the door to millions of dollars that could not be spent previously. “This is the biggest case in campaign finance law, really, since Buckley v. Valeo in 1976,” said Rob Kelner, a partner at... The Hill, Washington, DC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2334219/posts#comment Mon, 7 Sep 2009 22:47:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2333057/posts WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court appears poised to wipe away limits on campaign spending by corporations and labor unions in time for next year's congressional elections in a case that began as a dispute over a movie about Hillary Rodham Clinton. The justices return to the bench Wednesday — nearly a month early — to consider whether to overrule two earlier decisions that restrict how and when corporations and unions can take part in federal campaigns. Laws that impose similar limits in 24 states also are threatened. The court first heard arguments in March in the case of whether... AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2333057/posts#comment Sat, 5 Sep 2009 22:21:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2330160/posts THE Supreme Court seems poised to reshape cam paign-finance law, affirm ing fundamental First Amendment rights by overturning restrictions on corporate political speech when it rehears Citizens United v. FEC next Tuesday. At issue is whether the government can ban distribution of a political documentary, "Hillary: The Movie," produced by Citizens United, a conservative group that received some corporate funding to make the film. The government argues that it can -- relying on a 1990 case, Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce, that upheld a state law banning corporate political spending, and McConnell v. FEC, the 2003 case that upheld... NY Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2330160/posts#comment Wed, 2 Sep 2009 10:11:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2328025/posts WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court will cut short its summer break in early September to hear a new argument in a momentous case that could transform the way political campaigns are conducted. The case, which arises from a minor political documentary called “Hillary: The Movie,” seemed an oddity when it was first argued in March. Just six months later, it has turned into a juggernaut with the potential to shatter a century-long understanding about the government’s ability to bar corporations from spending money to support political candidates. The case has also deepened a profound split among liberals, dividing those who... NY Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2328025/posts#comment Sun, 30 Aug 2009 17:23:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2323729/posts With the battle over ObamaCare heating up to white-hot temperatures -- which promise to become even hotter in the fall -- I became a little curious today to see who the heavy hitters are, donations-wise, to Democrats in their fight to keep all those un-American, well-dressed mobs currently invading August town halls across the country from seizing the reins of power in a coup d’état of astounding proportions. … Naturally, the top spot's occupied by our favorite group of folks; the lawyers. For 2008, they somehow managed to rub two nickels together -- to the tune of 126.8 million dollars... Entitlement Syndrome http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2323729/posts#comment Tue, 25 Aug 2009 02:49:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2322215/posts The Republican National Committee is asking a federal court to restore the ability of national parties to raise unlimited amounts of money and to spend it to help elect state-level candidates. The case focuses on hotly contested governor’s races in New Jersey and Virginia. The 2002 McCain-Feingold campaign financing law (PL 107-155) does not allow national parties to give money directly to state candidates. The RNC wants to change that so it can expressly back the party nominee for governor, advertise and send out mailings on behalf of state or local Republican candidates and make get-out-the-vote calls. The law also... CQ Politics http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2322215/posts#comment Sat, 22 Aug 2009 20:11:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2288467/posts <p>Decades of lawmaking and court decisions restricting the flow of cash into U.S. elections are on the verge of coming undone, placing President Barack Obama in the unexpected position of presiding over the possible demise of the modern campaign finance regime.</p> Politico http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2288467/posts#comment Thu, 9 Jul 2009 00:11:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284926/posts Pair Try to Force Naming of More Commissioners. BY DAN EGGEN Seven years after their landmark campaign finance legislation became law, Sens. John McCain and Russell Feingold are reuniting under the banner of spending reform at a time when restrictions have come under fire both in the courts and at the embattled Federal Election Commission. McCain (R-Ariz.) and Feingold (D-Wis.) announced this week that they were blocking the appointment of Democratic union lawyer John Sullivan to the FEC until President Obama agrees to fill two other open panel seats. The two senators, who co-sponsored legislation in 2002 that banned "soft... The Washington Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284926/posts#comment Fri, 3 Jul 2009 16:47:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283275/posts The campaign finance dream team of Sens. Russ Feingold and John McCain is reuniting to block President Barack Obama’s first appointment to the Federal Election Commission and to push him to shake up the embattled agency. In a surprising move that invokes memories of a bitter skirmish during Obama’s annihilation of McCain in last year’s presidential election, Feingold (D-Wis.) and McCain (R-Ariz.) have placed a hold on the FEC nomination of Democratic labor lawyer John Sullivan, POLITICO confirmed Tuesday. Their hold could reverberate in Congress, the White House, the 2010 midterm elections and beyond. In a statement issued in response... Politico http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283275/posts#comment Wed, 1 Jul 2009 14:48:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2281686/posts The Court has held that Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (08-205) will be reargued on Wednesday, September 9 at 10 a.m. The Court has issued the following written order: “The parties should address the following question: ‘For the disposition of this case, should the Court overrule either or both Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce and the part of McConnell v. FEC which addresses the facial validity of Section 203 of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002?’ ScotusBlog http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2281686/posts#comment Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:15:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2268743/posts WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers rarely shine a positive spotlight on lobbyists, much less publicly toast them and rave about their style on Capitol Hill. But they did just that on Tuesday night for consumer advocate Joan Claybrook, who retired earlier this year as the head of the watchdog group Public Citizen. The organization held a dinner event in honor of her 27-year leadership. Claybrook has become known as one of Washington's most relentless consumer-interest lobbyists. Her work has influenced rules on auto safety standards, congressional ethics, campaign finance and more. Among the lawmakers who praised Claybrook's efforts were House Speaker... AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2268743/posts#comment Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:46:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2242333/posts It is unnecessary for me to tell any of you reading this that the left has a stranglehold over both Hollywood and the mainstream media. It is axiomatic in today’s news world . . . . . that the “news” is delivered to your doorstep with a leftward slant. What are less well understood, however, are the lengths to which the government has gone to protect the left’s monopoly during the last decade and the complicity of the news media in that endeavor. The recent confrontation between General Electric CEO Jeffery Immelt and an O’Reilly Factor producer at GE’s shareholder... Breitbart / Big Hollywood http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2242333/posts#comment Fri, 1 May 2009 21:40:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2224752/posts John McCain has made a number of heroic contributions to American politics and life, but this law isn't one of them. How in the world did he ever wind up sponsoring this monstrosity? The only excuse I can come up with is that he got involved with bad company. Namely, the very epitome of liberal -- excuse me, progressive -- excess, Russ Feingold. Sen. Feingold's proposals regularly disappoint, but by now they no longer surprise. Justice Kennedy now has figured it out: The whole statute fails the constitutional test. It is an infringement on free speech -- an injury and... Townhall.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2224752/posts#comment Wed, 8 Apr 2009 11:51:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2220171/posts A top adviser to President Barack Obama, whose rejection of public funding for his presidential campaign is widely considered to have killed the Watergate-era reform, is accusing Republican rival John McCain of damaging efforts to revive the system. At issue is an interview the Arizona senator gave Friday to The Washington Times, in which he said that the public financing system, intended to reduce the influence of big money in presidential politics, is “dead.” That comment – according to a blog post by Obama’s personal and political attorney Bob Bauer – “was not helpful” to “the cause of public financing... Politico http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2220171/posts#comment Wed, 1 Apr 2009 21:24:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2219632/posts On Mar. 24, the Supreme Court heard arguments in Citizens United v. FEC, the latest installment in an ongoing series of challenges to the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA), better known as McCain-Feingold. This case has far-reaching implications for the future of campaign activities, and draws an important line between the right of citizens to speak out and the power of government to imprison them if they do. The group Citizens United produced a documentary critical of Hillary Clinton during her failed presidential campaign. (Citizens United also made a similar film about Barack Obama, though this lawsuit focused on the... The American Thinker http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2219632/posts#comment Wed, 1 Apr 2009 10:30:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2217407/posts Sen. John McCain, an architect of sweeping campaign-finance reform who got walloped by a presidential candidate armed with more than $750 million, predicts that no one will ever again accept federal matching funds to run for the nation's highest office. "No Republican in his or her right mind is going to agree to public financing. I mean, that's dead. That is over. The last candidate for president of the United States from a major party that will take public financing was me," the Arizona Republican told The Washington Times. The Washington Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2217407/posts#comment Sun, 29 Mar 2009 15:05:17 GMT