On Thursday, something unique in American history will take place. That's the day when McCain-Feingold will silence broadcast advertising that contains criticism of members of Congress seeking re-election in November. The act prohibits negative campaign ads that mention names, 60 days before the election. So, incumbents will be able to put their feet up on their desk, secure in the knowledge that their opponents will not be able to criticize them, no matter how poor their performance has been. There is nothing preventing them from running TV and Radio ads praising themselves to high heaven. And there is nothing to prevent them from just going out and calling a news conference, giving a speech, or cutting a ribbon to get into the news. Under the guise of campaign finance reform, incumbents will be protected, opponents will be silenced. President Bush shamelessly signed and the Supreme Court shockingly upheld McCain-Feingold three years ago. If incumbents are to be so insulated from criticism, I wonder why we bother to hold elections at all. Maybe that's next. Why aren't the Democrats marching in the streets at this repression of freedom? Because they like it.
No comments:
Post a Comment