NYT: Why Senator McConnell Is So Nervous

[ProgressiveEconomist]

2. How can McConnell expect to twist the 1st Amendment into protecting SECRET "free speech"

How can McConnell expect to twist the 1st Amendment into protecting SECRET "free speech" in the form of unlimited corporate-funded political advertising? I believe it was Justice Stevens who pointed out that the 1st Amendment rights of corporations are not unlimited because (a) they don't have the right to vote and (b) their only reason for existence, let alone political advertising, is crass profit for shareholders.

The Times editorial you linked in turn links to McConnell's USA Today editorial, but omitted McConnell's spurious "First Amendment" rationale for opposig the Disclose Act. IIRC, even the USSC's Citizens United decision opposed SECRET unlimited political bribes almost unanimously. The only exception was Justics Clarence Thomas.

How can McConnell expect this to fly?

From http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/story/2012-07-05/Disclose-Act-Mitch-McConnell/56046300/1 :

"Disclose Act is un-American
By Mitch McConnell

I have spent nearly my entire career defending the First Amendment from Democratic and Republican attempts to undermine it. And I have yet to encounter a serious attempt to limit our freedom of speech that doesn't sound good at first blush. And that's what is happening with the so-called Disclose Act. ..."