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Stopping independent speech
Published on May 14, 2008
by Michael Schrimpf
Politico ran a story yesterday revealing that Barack Obama's campaign finance chairwoman is asking donors not to contribute to independent advocacy groups.
Two days earlier CQ reported that the Service Employees International Union is organizing "a $75 million fund to help Barack Obama win the presidency and the Democrats expand their majorities in Congress."
And the Washington Times previously reported that Obama "has benefited more than any other candidate from millions of dollars in independent political expenditures, records show."
Now, there is every reason to believe that the Obama campaign is sincere in its pleas to donors that they not fund independent groups (and the campaign also certainly has selfish reasons for limiting independent expenditures).
But the above examples should illustrate the beauty of First Amendment - no one, not even presidential candidates - can keep citizens from speaking out.
