Web politics

by Michael Schrimpf

File Under: Internet Regulation

The impact that the internet has had on Barack Obama's ability/decision to opt out of the presidential public financing system has been examined to the point of near exhaustion. Over the weekend, the New York Times offered an insightful look into another way that the internet has transformed politics.

This phenomen has turned "political activists" into "communications political strategists" and allowed citizens to reach an audience the size of which watches Meet the Press for as little as $50. The cause, of course, is the ability of just about anyone to use inexpensive editing software to produce their own political videos that could be viewed by millions on YouTube and other video sharing sites.

"For years I sat in conversations with people who said the only way we can be effective is we have to raise $1 billion and buy CBS. Well, Google raised a couple of billion and bought YouTube, and it’s here for us, and it’s a huge, huge difference,” observed one online activist.

The internet's ability to amplify the voice of ordinary citizens should merit protection across the political spectrum.

Published on July 1, 2008 01:30 PM

CCP welcomes new Government and Coalition Relations Director

CCP welcomes Kristi Meade as our new Government & Coalition Relations Director.  Kristi most recently worked for Purdue University's Office of Governmental Relations, working on federal affairs.  Before becoming the voice of Purdue in DC, Kristi worked at the Leadership Institute. While at LI, Kristi worked with students throughout the mid-Atlantic to help them develop plans to engage politically on college campuses. She also aided in the cultivation of LI's donor base. Kristi graduated from Purdue University in 2004.

Published on July 1, 2008

A bit of irony

by Michael Schrimpf

Just days removed from a victory at the Supreme Court, congressional hopeful Jack Davis was dealt a blow when the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced it would support Iraq veteran Jon Powers in the Democratic primary.

The DCCC certainly has the freedom to support whomever it wishes in primary fights, and now, thanks to the Supreme Courts ruling, Jack Davis has the freedom to spend his own money on his behalf without penalty.

Published on July 1, 2008

Stevens: Politics Shouldn't be as Tough as Beanbag

by Sean Parnell

File Under: Faulty Assumptions, Jurisprudence & Litigation

 Yesterday's decision by the U.S. Supreme Court striking down the "Millionaire's Amendment" was a great victory for the First Amendment (you can read CCP's amicus brief on the case here), strengthening earlier decisions by the court rejecting the notion that Congress can infringe on First Amendment rights in order to "equalize" speech by competing candidates.

Reading the dissent by Justice Stevens, however, should send a chill down the spine of anyone who values political speech free of government management. In his dissent, Stevens explicitly endorses the idea of limiting the quantity of speech in politics. Apparently, all of the ads filling the airwaves encouraging voters to support one candidate or oppose another, or care about this issue or that one, hurt the Justices preference for an "orderly debate," as he puts it.

"... the imposition of reasonable limitations would likely have the salutary effect of improving the quality of the exposition of ideas," Stevens writes. "After all, orderly debate is always more enlightening than a shouting match that awards points on the basis of decibels rather than reasons."

More after the jump

Published on June 27, 2008 06:00 AM