New campaign law gives wealthy last-minute voice

[Freddie Stubbs]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Though companies and unions are now banned from financing last-minute election ads, wealthy individuals already are writing big checks that will give them a voice on the airwaves in the final days before voters pick candidates.

An exemption in the nation's campaign finance law allows well-heeled people to give unlimited amounts to certain tax-exempt, unincorporated groups to pay for TV and radio ads targeting candidates just before elections.

The option is so attractive that some traditional political groups, such as the GOP-leaning Club for Growth, are considering shedding their incorporated status to qualify for the right to influence elections with big-dollar ads down the stretch.

"I'm sure if and when that ever happens it will drive all the campaign finance reformers batty. But it clearly is allowed by the law," said David Keating, executive director of the Club for Growth.

more: http://www.theunionleader.com/prez_show.html?article=29990

[rbnyc]

1. Wow.

Thanks for posting that.

:scared:

[OhioStateProgressive]

2. well

to look at this positively, many Hollywood types, and Ben and Jerry's could now Finance some TV ads for Kucinich

[Frodo]

3. There's no way to avoid that. (And all the BIG $s have been for us)

There would be no possible way for a law to pass Constitutional muster if it said and individual couldn't spend his/her own money to say something about a political issue.

You can keep them from giving the money to a candidate or party, you can keep them from "coordinating" the expenditure with the candidate or party (though I have no idea how you enforce that). But you can't keep Soros from spending five million dollars the day before the election to say "I don't like Bush".


What's the point of free speech if I can't say "don't vote for 'x'"???