In a recent column, George Will highlighted the bipartisan corruption spawned by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA):
Two years ago President Bush, who had called it unconstitutional, signed the McCain-Feingold bill -- furtively, at 8 a.m. in the Oval Office. The law expanded government restrictions on political speech, ostensibly to combat corruption or the ``appearance'' thereof. Bush probably signed it partly because the White House, thinking corruptly, or appearing to do so, saw re-election advantage in this fiddling with the First Amendment.
And partly because the nation's newspaper editorial writers were nearly unanimous in praise of McCain-Feingold. The editorialists' advocacy of McCain-Feingold could appear corrupt: The bill increases the political influence of unregulated newspaper editorializing relative to rival voices (parties, and candidates and their financial supporters) that are increasingly restricted.
Last December the Supreme Court said there is no serious constitutional infirmity in the law because, although the Constitution says Congress shall make ``no law'' abridging freedom of speech, Congress has broad latitude to combat corruption or its appearance. There is the appearance of corruption when a legislator's views attract contributions from like-minded people, and then the legislator acts in accordance with his and their views.
Today McCain-Feingold itself does not just appear to be corrupting. It is demonstrably and comprehensively so. . . .
Concerned Women for America recently endorsed the First Amendment Restoration Act of 2004 (H.R. 3801), which would restore free speech rights lost to the BCRA by repealing the ban on non-PAC funded issue advocacy 30 days before a primary or within 60 days of a general election. You can offer your endorsement by using our Take Action page to contact your legislators.
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