The Demise of the 1st Amendment

One of the most insidious bills to be signed into law, McCain-Feingold has some most unsettling provisions. When signing the bill - now known as the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act - into law back in 2002 President Bush noted, "Certain provisions present serious constitutional concerns. The courts will resolve these legitimate legal questions." But the law's most heinous provision, barring groups from both sides of the political spectrum from criticizing incumbent politicians' votes on bills on TV or radio for 60 days before a general election and 30 days before a primary still stands, despite court challenges from the NRA-ILA and Judicial Watch.

Note the bill's sponsors: Russ Feingold is one of the most liberal senators to ever hold the honor, and John McCain, notwithstanding his Vietnam War hero status, is now clearly a RINO (Republican in name only). What would cause two senators to draft a bill that abridges the first amendment? The lure of incumbent protection? But a larger question remains: why did the majority of the congress and the president himself - all sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution - not adhere to the founders’ first and simple dictum: “Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech?”

Now we come soon to an election, and - by law! - the grassroots have no voice.