president bush on 527s and billionaires
Bush Dismisses Idea That Kerry Lied on Vietnam [ny times, august 27, 2004]“Five twenty-sevens – I think these ought to be outlawed, ” he said. “I think they should have been outlawed a year ago. We have billionaires writing checks, large checks, to influence the outcome of the election.”
they might’ve been outlawed a year ago, mister bush, except that you opposed that approach back when you signed the campaign finance reform act…. remember?
President Signs Campaign Finance Reform Act [march 27, 2002]However, the bill does have flaws. Certain provisions present serious constitutional concerns. In particular, H.R. 2356 goes farther than I originally proposed by preventing all individuals, not just unions and corporations, from making donations to political parties in connection with Federal elections.
I believe individual freedom to participate in elections should be expanded, not diminished; and when individual freedoms are restricted, questions arise under the First Amendment.
I also have reservations about the constitutionality of the broad ban on issue advertising, which restrains the speech of a wide variety of groups on issues of public import in the months closest to an election. I expect that the courts will resolve these legitimate legal questions as appropriate under the law.
there aren’t any constitutional reservations anymore? did we just see a flip?