Bill Wilson, ALG:
Baucus is inviting the IRS to reinterpret the 501(c) section of the law, apparently to even rein in activities previously allowed for under that section. For example, he complains about the activities of Americans for Job Security in Alaska for promoting a referendum campaign, even though these groups are legally allowed to engage in referenda processes without any public disclosure requirements.
Under Baucus’ interpretation of the law, the Federalist Papers, which advocated for the adoption of the Federal Constitution via referendum, would be illegal because they were published anonymously under pseudonyms.
Justice Clarence Thomas had the same problem with the recently decided Citizens United decision, which upheld disclosure requirements of groups engaged in electioneering. In justifying his partial dissent of that decision, he wrote of the “the fallacy in the Court’s conclusion that ‘[d]isclaimer and disclosure requirements . . . impose no ceiling on campaign-related activities, and do not prevent anyone from speaking.’”
“Of course they do,” Thomas wrote, citing “real-world, recent examples” of intimidation: citizens receiving death threats for supporting a referendum, losing their jobs for appearing on a donor list, declining to donate to a candidate’s campaign for fear of reciprocity from a sitting attorney general, having their property defaced and damaged, and other clear examples of disclosure rules being used to silence speech.
“Disclaimer and disclosure requirements enable private citizens and elected officials to implement political strategies specifically calculated to curtail campaign-related activity and prevent the lawful, peaceful exercise of First Amendment rights,” Thomas explained.
“I cannot endorse a view of the First Amendment that subjects citizens of this Nation to death threats, ruined careers, damaged or defaced property, or pre-emptive and threatening warning letters as the price for engaging in ‘core political speech, the ‘primary object of First Amendment protection,’’” Thomas concluded.
While Baucus and other members of Congress are concerned about legally-constituted groups openly expressing their views, they apparently have no problem with fraudulent voting. FOX News recently reported on massive voter registration fraud in Texas, where a group called “Houston Votes” registered some 25,000 people to vote — but only 1,793 of them turned out to be valid.
This follows widespread efforts by groups like ACORN to submit phony voter registrations in several swing states, including Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Missouri. ACORN had a long history of such fraud in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington, Michigan, Wisconsin, and New Mexico.
If Baucus had a commitment to fair and open elections, he would be investigating a clear pattern of voter fraud by shady ACORN-like groups; not deputizing the IRS to be his thugs to shut down legitimate debate. In the least, Baucus’ efforts to silence that debate show how little he and his ilk have to say in defense of the disastrous policies of the Obama Administration.
Individuals speaking out, whether publicly or anonymously, for or against candidates standing for public office, attempting to influence the outcome of legislation, or promoting ballot initiatives are no threat to “elections that are the constitutional bedrock of our democracy,” in Baucus’ words. Phony voters showing up at the polls are.
The much-maligned (from the left at least) Justice Thomas writes some of the best opinions, and continues to be the best defender of the Constitution on the court. As for the rest, Baucus is a good Statist. They should be proud to have him in their ranks. With his help, America will be transformed. Yes They Will, if we don’t stop them.
Congress shall make no law abridging seems to be a concept that congresscritters have much difficulty understanding.
That rotten SOB needs to be sent packing as soon as can be. Even the Clintons tried to be subtle about unleashing the IRS on foes – but Baucus is out and open about his wishing to use Amendment I to the US Constitution as toilet paper.
I disagree, JD.
I smell your fear, Sen. Baucus. It is exhilerating.
That bloody fool has been in the Senate since I was one year old. What is this, Bolivia?
Any blogger worth his salt can keep a people from commenting on their site by using the most rudimentary tools provided on the internet. And yet the Houston Election Board can’t prevent 20K phony voter registrations.
I’m going to write to Chawlee Rangel and ask him to look into this.
and by “keep a people” I mean, of course, an entire race, creed, or identity group. What did you think I meant?
“Under Baucus’ interpretation of the law, the Federalist Papers, which advocated for the adoption of the Federal Constitution via referendum, would be illegal because they were published anonymously under pseudonyms.”
You know, one would think that a sitting Senator would be aware of the incongruency between his proposal and, if not the intent of the founders of our nation then at least, the historical record of their actions.
Maybe he thinks Madison, Jay , and Hamilton ascribe to the cynical progressive tenet, “by anu means necessary”…
Or, you know, maybe he doesn’t really think all that much.
And yet, his Mainstream Media critics continue to claim he never writes any opinions, concurring or dissenting, or anything else worthy of mention…
And yet, his Mainstream Media critics continue to claim he never writes any opinions, concurring or dissenting, or anything else worthy of mention…
That’s because the people who give them their thoughts tell them to say that.
Thomas’ MFM critics don’t actually read any opinions, they read what their fellow journalists write about the opinions. The circle-jerk continues.
Somewhat off-topic, Rush Limbaugh has a (seriously!) drunk caller on his show claiming all he does is “run President Obama into the ground because he’s black”.
The longer Rush lets “Bob” talk, the more obvious it is that the caller is sloshed to the gills. Wow.
#13 – Spiny, I usually hear callers like that on the local sports talk radio…
I’ve heard those guys too. That is EXACTLY how “Bob” sounded.
The longer Rush lets “Bob” talk, the more obvious it is that the caller is sloshed to the gills. Wow.
They really shouldn’t let the First Lady drink that heavily.
Rob, would you want to be the one announcing last call?
Excellent point.
Last call…reminds me of the one where Rene Descartes is sitting at the bar when the barkeep announces “last call”. He asks Descartes if he will have anything else and Rene answers “I think not” … and promptly disappears.
I have sent a form DDS-14L-7 to the office of Mr. Baucus for no reason at all.
Well, that just about wraps it up for the day. Guess I will punch out and spend a few hundred of your tax dollars on a Phillipino prostitute I found through an ad in the back of Washingtonian magazine.
Thanks, taxpayers!
Did you hear the one about the thing that did not make Nietzche stronger?