Campaign Finance Reform Forces Lies

The absurd Bi-Partisan Campaign Reform Act strikes again. The Supreme Court actually upheld the BRCA's limits on political speech (I mean, limits on financing political speech; everyone knows that money isn't speech, right?) At the behest of Republican campaign weasels, the Federal Election Commission is considering closing the one remaining avenue where people can spend money to tell their fellow citizens what they think. Such regulatory shenanigans force activists like former Clintonista Harold Ickes who heads up the Media Fund which is rolling out a TV ads to complain about President Bush's policies to tell whoppers such as:

"Politically, we are trying to really highlight, underscore and push into sharp focus the policies of the Republicans. That may have a certain effect on the Bush or the Kerry campaign, but we are not involved in electing or defeating people. We are raising issues."

One begins to wonder what other gag orders politicians who don't want to be criticized will one day dream up. For example, when I lived in Latin America, a lot of countries had legislation that outlawed besmirching the honor of elected officials. Are you so sure that it can't happen here?