Sunday, July 01, 2007
Missing The Point Entirely
David Broder, "the dean" of D.C. journalists, has a column today where he once again takes shots at liberals and totally misses the point about campaign finance reform. It must be Sunday.
If you believe most of the newspaper editorials and the outraged complaints from self-styled reform groups last week, the Supreme Court opened a huge "loophole" in campaign finance law that will enable corporations and unions to pollute the political process with their ads.
It is astonishing to me that a decision grounded in the First Amendment right to address basic public policy questions should be objectionable to people who consider themselves liberal.
No Broder. That is not the objection and you know it. Basically, third party groups can't run ads mentioning a candidate by name 30 days before a primary and 60 days before a general election. There is a solid reason for this. It is a way to use a subterfuge to get around campaign finance limits for a campaign.
Let's say Senator X is for removing tax breaks to oil companies. Challenger Y loves it, and the campaign contributions he receives from the oil company executives. There is a problem. They are maxed out in what they can give.
A lightbulb goes off in their heads and 5 days before the election, a massive ad buy sweeps across the state.
Senator X, why do you oppose saving kitties? Please call Senator X and tell him to support legislation to protect little furry balls of adorability.
(This ad paid for by Citizens for Patriotism, Mom, & Apple Pie)
In reality, this "issue" group, with the banal sounding name is trying to not influence the kitty protection issue, but to assist the campaign of Challenger Y by running a negative ad against the incumbent. They already gave their $2,000 and now they are trying to give more. This is why these advocacy group ads were banned.
It is not about mean liberals trying to stop free speech. Broder knows this. Instead of speaking truth to power, he is being their tool.
This is what puts you at the head of the class? These objections aren't shocking to anybody who is being honest.
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