[antimedia] antimedia: When I read about this....

[Email subscription to blog articles]

Posted by antimedia:
When I read about this....
http://www.antimedia.us/posts/1175302045.shtml


   ....[1]at Democracy Project, I was disgusted.

     Without a vote or debate, the failure of the Fox nomination might
     be deprived of significance, being just a political moment in time
     with no status as âprecedent.â It could be read entirely the other
     way, too. The Administration could be said to have accepted the
     proposition that a nominee must answer to the opposition party for
     objectionable, rather than illegal, political speech. The
     Democrats, including Senator Kerry, did not emphasize legal
     questions about Swift Boatâabout unregistered âpolitical committeeâ
     activity or illegal coordination. Fox was challenged on the type of
     advertising he supported with his moneyâ¦.
     This is a development of consequence. Political comment is seen as
     rancorous and uncompromising, indifferent to fact in a ruthless
     quest for impact. There is wide agreement that this is so, but only
     minimal meeting of the minds about which speech is reprehensibly
     beyond the pale. It is also understood that none of this
     controversial speech will travel far without money, and so, whether
     the complaint lies on the left or the rightâwhether the culprit is
     a well-known figure such as George Soros or the more obscure
     Foxâthe fight is now carried to the donor.
     When the Supreme Court in Buckley v. Valeo held that Congress could
     limit contributions to candidates, it resolved the First Amendment
     question by finding that the contributor was not the primary
     speaker, suffering a direct infringement of her own speech. Hers
     was âspeech by proxy,â a lower form of speech. Contributors who
     remain within the regulated system approved by Buckley may still
     safely speak by delegation, through the candidate or the party or
     other registered organization.
     But those who provide funding outside those limits, outside that
     system, to groups engaged in âattackâ advertising are not just
     âspeaking by proxy.â It appears that they will be held accountable,
     directly and personally, and others like Fox, with money and a
     cause but also with ambition, will surely pay attention.

   It's time for a Republican purge. Every person in the administration
   who has ever donated to MoveOn.org should be fired immediately. Screw
   the damn Democrats. It's time for all out political war.

References

   1. http://www.democracy-project.com/archives/003203.html