Reason.com
The Golden Rule of Politics
If politics is show biz for ugly people, the U.S. Congress may also be a comedy club for performers without any sense of irony. Even as any number of elected officials rail against Enron execs for cashing out just before that shell game got busted, they're trying to swing a sweetheart deal for themselves under the uplifting and misleading phrase, "campaign finance reform." Arguably the most openly self-serving effort in this latest attempt to restrict political speech comes from Robert Torricelli, New Jersey's groupie senator: Torricelli wants to force broadcasters to give pols the absolute lowest ad rates available.
Which reminds us about the Golden Rule: He who has the gold makes the rules. Except, of course, in Olympic figure skating. There, it falls to judges from Russia, China, Poland, Ukraine, and France.
More Articles by Nick Gillespie
- DC Capitol Hemp Shutting Down: Obama's War on Drugs to Blame, Joshua Swain, Kennedy & Nick Gillespie, May 21, 2012
- The Swing Vote: Why Independents Will Decide the 2012 Election, Nick Gillespie & Meredith Bragg, May 19, 2012
- Is Austerity to Blame for Europe's Economic Woes?, Nick Gillespie & Jim Epstein, May 11, 2012
Related Articles (Media, Campaigns/Elections, Congress)
- Montana’s Misguided Attempt to Nullify Citizens United, Damon W. Root, May 23, 2012
- Political Motivations in Scott Walker-Related Probe, Matt Kittle, May 22, 2012
- Nicholas Kristof's Bogus Anti-Beer Crusade, Walter Olson, May 18, 2012
- Obama Is Losing the Keystone Pipeline Battle, Ronald Bailey, May 8, 2012
- 5 Freaky Fetishes of Golden-Age Hollywood - And The Enduring Question They Still Raise, Nick Gillespie, April 15, 2012
Most Popular Stories
- St. Louis Cops Worry That In-Car Cameras 'Are Being Used Against Them' (5.23)
- Reason "Hero of Freedom" Larry Flynt's Latest Stunt? Photoshopping a Penis into Mouth of Conservative Pundit S.E. Cupp (5.24)
- Plastic Bag Ban Will Put Los Angeles In Landfill (5.23)
- A Report From Obama’s “Humane” Drug War: “My son screamed for his mother for what seemed like an eternity” (5.20)
- Ron Paul Roundup: New York Times Respects His Movement's Power, Rand Paul Endorses, and Remember the Christian Right? (5.23)
Reason RUPE: Public Opinion Survey
- New Poll: Obama Leads Romney In Wisconsin, But Gary Johnson Could Impact the Race (5.24)
- Wisconsin Recall: Walker Leads Barrett 50-42 Among Likely Voters (5.24)
- Reason-Rupe Poll: Walker Leads Barrett 50-42, Obama Leads Romney 46-36 (5.24)
- Brookings Study: Romney Electability Perhaps Less Impacted by Mormonism (5.17)
- Majority Tenuously Favors Same-Sex Marriage (5.15)
advertisements
Get Reason E-mail Updates!
Manage your Reason e-mail list subscriptionsSite comments/questions:
Media Inquiries and Reprint Permissions:
(310) 367-6109
Editorial & Production Offices:
3415 S. Sepulveda Blvd.
Suite 400
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 391-2245
Editor's Note: We invite comments and request that they be civil and on-topic. We do not moderate or assume any responsibility for comments, which are owned by the readers who post them. Comments do not represent the views of Reason.com or Reason Foundation. We reserve the right to delete any comment or disable your ability to comment for any reason at any time.