Quote:
Originally Posted by LobsterBoy
I would be okay with that, except that this decision allows direct corporate and union spending on advertising to expressly elect or defeat a named candidate. This is separate from issue advertising. Advertising to expressly elect or defeat a named candidate is essentially a donation to the candidate because they are doing the work of that candidate. This is now unregulated, giving corporations and unions much more say than the voting citizen.
I find such a new potential influx of money into politics disgusting and find it hard to believe that it can be good for this republic.
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Okay, fine - except here's the problem: UNIONS had that right previously; corporations did not.
Now the playing field is leveled.
In any case, I still disagree with your premise. Advertising is just that - spreading a message. Ultimately, it's up to the voter in the booth. No one but the citizen has that right.
In the end, it comes down to a simple dichotomy - either you believe that American voters are stupid and therefore advertising is more important than the electorate itself (as advertising is the primary source of voter information), or you don't. In the case of the former, if you actually believe that, please tell me why you then believe that the electorate is even qualified to choose ANY official for major leadership posts.
My opinion is simple: especially in the era of "one-click-information", anyone or any entity should be entitled free speech as protected in the Constitution. It's worked for decades prior to McCain/Feingold, and should be only more irrelevent a question considering that anything one needs to know is merely a web-address away.
Plain and simply, free speech is not to be abridged. That's what the Constitution says. If you don't believe in that, than why not just ignore voting rights altogether?
Besides, what's to stop individuals outside of corporations from simply banding together to purchase advertising time?
Oh, wait, nothing. They've been doing it for years as 527s.
At least we can now have some accountability.