Permission to Speak Freely

Jacob Sullum | August 2, 2004, 10:06am

Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) has introduced a bill that would repeal the McCain-Feingold law's restrictions on pre-election political messages. Among other things, McCain-Feingold, a.k.a. the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, prohibits political advocacy groups organized as nonprofit corporations from engaging in political advocacy (if it mentions any actual politicians) within 30 days of a primary or 60 days of a general election. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.) already has introduced a bill aimed at lifting this censorship in the House. He calls it, aptly enough, the First Amendment Restoration Act.

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Comments to "Permission to Speak Freely":

db | August 2, 2004, 4:38am | #

No, but I bet they'd prosecute the newspaper, and that's why you wouldn't be able to run the ad in the first place.

Tuning Spork | August 2, 2004, 5:18am | #

db's right. You can do it yourself (ie stand on a street corner with a sign) but you can't do it through established media. Gawd, I wish I owned a newspaper right now...

Unlikely Likely Voter | August 2, 2004, 10:17am | #

Will this First Amendment Restoration Act repeal the FCC? Or is it something "for the children."

Maybe I should read it, but with a name like that, I am only destined to be dissappointed that it doesn't go far enough, just enough to sling mud again.

R C Dean | August 2, 2004, 10:36am | #

Well, "not far enough" is better than "nothing at all", no?

garym | August 2, 2004, 10:41am | #

It looks like an unmixed improvement to me, even if it doesn't do all the damage of Mc(Censored by the FEC)- Fe(Censored by the FEC).

Shannon Love | August 2, 2004, 10:42am | #

I think I read somewhere that Rush Limbaugh or some other similar talk show host has threatened to run forbidden ads for or against any candidate as an act of protest.

That would be interesting.

Hank Reardon | August 2, 2004, 11:34am | #

Rush is already in too much trouble to risk the severe penalties for supporting politicians right before the election.

s.a.m. | August 2, 2004, 11:41am | #

Rush is on drugs!

JD | August 2, 2004, 12:24pm | #

Hey, I've thought about taking out a small ad in the paper myself. How much do those little text ads at the bottom of a column cost anyway? If a few thousand people around the US did it, you think they'd prosecute us?

estate loan real | November 5, 2004, 1:33pm | #

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Permission to Speak Freely

Comments to "Permission to Speak Freely":