McCain-Feingold blocks Free Speech

Former Speaker of the House, and probable presidential candidate Newt Gingrich is speaking out on the unconstitutionality of the McCain-Feingold Bill, which limits political speech:

In the election of 1800, Thomas Jefferson became president and swept his party into power due, in part, to the country’s overwhelming opposition to the Sedition Act of 1798. This act was a deliberate attempt by the Federalists in power to silence their political opponents.

The McCain-Feingold campaign-finance law enacted in 2002 is an equally dangerous modern-day assault on the First Amendment. It could more accurately be called the McCain-Feingold censorship law because it stifles political speech, protects incumbent politicians and consolidates power in Washington. This law is of the Congress, by the Congress, and for the Congress, because it protects members of Congress by silencing opposing points of view.

McCain-Feingold explicitly rejects James Madison’s warning in Federalist 10 that the destruction of liberty in pursuit of “curing the mischief of factions” is worse than the disease itself.

Madison and Thomas Jefferson were very sensitive to limitations on free speech because they lived through the Federalist efforts to criminalize political speech that was critical of the government. In response to the Sedition Act, Madison helped author the Virginia legislature’s resolution that declared the act unconstitutional and stated that the law 'ought to produce universal alarm, because it is leveled against that right of freely examining public characters and measures, and of free communication among the people thereon, which has ever been justly deemed, the only effectual guardian of every other right.'

How did we get to the point when bills such as this are able to get passed? Aren't people paying attention? Don't the politicians have a grasp on the constitution?

Not enough of the right people are paying attention and politicians DO have a firm grasp on the Constitution and they are steadily tossing it out the window a little at a time when we're not looking.

Then there's that pesky feeling that we're not "as safe as we could be" if Big Brother would only step in with some restrictions on the behavior of others, especially when we're not that fond of the restricted behavior; smoking, for example.

A little restriction here, a new requirement there and before you know it Big Brother is sticking his obtrusive nose into every aspect of our life whether we want him to or not.

We're there right now!

The last thing we need is encumbant politicians making laws encroaching on our beloved Constitution (which, by the way, they swore to protect and uphold) prohibiting criticism of them 60 days before election day to ensure their pitiful re-election. Shame on them!

Be sure you read all of Gingrich's piece. McCain-Feingold needs to be overturned.