Reply #3: Kennedy ought to be embarrassed and ashamed for the 'Mr. Smith' argument

[dmr]

The first time I heard this, I thought the TV person was making a bad joke. Found out it was worse than bad, and sadly, no joke.

Fourth, the majority bizarrely invoked the "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" defense. Under the Austin ruling, Justice Anthony M. Kennedy argued, lawmakers unhappy with being lampooned in the movie "could have done more than discourage its distribution -- they could have banned the film." Beyond untrue. There is no scenario under which works of art about fictional lawmakers could be limited by campaign finance laws.

That the majority would stoop to this claim underscores the weakness of its case -- and the audacity of the result it has inflicted on the political process.

Someone posted the Powell Memo yesterday. The SCOTUS decision seems to fit as big business rounds the bases for their final triumphant run.
http://reclaimdemocracy.org/corporate_accountability/powell_memo_lewis.html
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7531890