Bush's assault on political speech. (Insider Report).In a "stealth stealth Any military technology intended to make vehicles or missiles nearly invisible to enemy radar or other electronic detection. Research in antidetection technology began soon after radar was invented. signing" held at the White House on March 27th, President Bush signed a "campaign finance reform Campaign finance reform is the common term for the political effort in the United States to change the involvement of money in politics, primarily in political campaigns. " measure passed by Congress earlier this year. Some congressional sponsors of the McCain-Feingold/Shays-Meehan legislation complained that by signing the bill in a quiet, unpublicized ceremony, the president had deprived the "reformers" of a moment of glory. "It is unfortunate that the Bush administration decided not to invite these reformers to the White House this morning," pouted House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.). "The White House missed an opportunity to pay proper tribute to these members whose vision and persistence made this day possible." But one could argue that the president wasn't hogging hogging clipping the mane. credit, but protecting congressional "reformers" from the political consequences that might ensue en·sue intr.v. en·sued, en·su·ing, en·sues 1. To follow as a consequence or result. See Synonyms at follow. 2. To take place subsequently. once the true nature of the campaign finance legislation becomes widely appreciated. During the 2000 presidential campaign, George W. Bush promised to reject campaign reform legislation that threatened freedom of political speech. In announcing that he had signed the McCain-Feingold/Shays-Meehan bill, the president acknowledged that "certain provisions [of the law] present serious constitutional concerns" by restricting the rights of individuals to donate to political parties and to advertise their views during election campaigns. So why would the president, bound by oath to "preserve, protect, and defend" the Constitution, sign such a bill into law? Mr. Bush explained that he expects the courts "will resolve these legitimate legal questions as appropriate by law." But the Supreme Court may decline to rectify rec·ti·fy v. 1. To set right; correct. 2. To refine or purify, especially by distillation. the damage the president and Congress have inflicted on the Constitution. Bruce LaPierre, a professor of law at Washington University Washington University, at St. Louis, Mo.; coeducational; est. as Eliot Seminary 1853, opened 1854, renamed 1857. It has a well-known medical school and school of social work as well as research centers for radiology, space studies, engineering computing, and the , notes that in the wake of the Enron scandal The Enron scandal was a financial scandal that was revealed in late 2001. After a series of revelations involving irregular accounting procedures bordering on fraud, perpetrated throughout the 1990s, involving Enron and its accounting firm Arthur Andersen, it stood at the verge of , the Supreme Court is "ready --just like Congress and President George W. Bush -- to sacrifice some of our political freedom on the altar of post-Enron public passions." |
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