Naturally, Bush and Repubs would like to outlaw the present 527 setup...

[kentuck]

because these groups now favor the Democratic Party. Forget about the $100 million dollars that Bush has spent on negative ads - just think about the $63 million that the MoveOn.org type groups have spent against George W Bush. Can't you see how evil they are?

Bush says they are all the same - outlaw them all. This "soft money" is not good for our campaign system, he says. It doesn't matter to him that some are lying their asses off and some are telling the truth 'til their asses fall off. If he has disagreed with any of the $63 million worth of messages by these 527's, then why didn't he say something about it?? The reason is, they were telling the truth.

Now, here he comes with his own 527 and a bag full of lies, and compares them to the others that were telling the truth about him.
Just like the Iraq War was similar to World War II? Democrats are lucky to have a resource to call Bush and the Repubs on their lies and dirty deeds. No, we should not surrender the 527 advantage - we should speak louder for the truth.

[Philostopher]

1. I'm convinced that's exactly what it was about.

It wasn't necessarily important that they take down Kerry -- they really wanted to smear and discredit 527 organizations as much as they did their opponent. Smearing John Kerry was just a bonus for them.

[Marlie]

4. Democrats 527 Organization

At least these contributions come from we the people, tons of small
contributions from people who won't gain access, etc., unlike the
Republican fat cat contributors. I wish some talking head would talk
about the difference between the Pub and Dem donors to these
organizations. There's a big difference between the two. This is
the first year of my life I've contributed many time and more than
I can afford and the people I've contributed to wouldn't know me
from Adam. We give for the love of our country, nothing more.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. We'll gladly give up 527s . . .

. . . when they give us back the Fairness Doctrine.

[Zinfandel]

10. ABSOLUTELY!

:smoke:

[nofurylike]

3. agree. but not an advantage in comparison.

http://www.mediatransparency.org/stories/apparat.html


peace

[sandnsea]

5. freedom of speech, THEIR idea

I remember during campaign finance reform, THEY were the ones who insisted on protecting freedom of speech. We need to google up all the debate from back then. They never thought they would be on the receiving end of so much money being thrown at them. Poetic justice.

[kentuck]

6. Yes. The NRA and the ACLU were on the same side....

as I recall...and the Repubs were behind them almost 100%..

[KelleyKramer]

7. Repubs complaining about too much campaign money??

That’s so hypocritical its hilarious. Think about it.

They thought they had the Dems beat on money anyway you worked it.

Now they fear groups like moveon.org because the internet has completely changed everything, we can give $50 each with the click of a mouse.. And there are MILLIONS more of us than there are rich friends of the Bush/Cheney family.

So now the Bush/Cheney campaign is complaining about too much money in political campaigns? Ha!

That’s too funny!

[splat]

8. 527s purpose: to level the playing fiels

The president signed the McCain-Feingold bill himself. The Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of non-party organizations to “remain free to raise soft money to fund voter registration, activities, mailings, and broadcast advertising.”

The Springsteen etc. concert tour is a 527 effort giving the money to ACT too.

527s were to be a grassrootes way to balance Republican large hard money contributions from many wealthy contributors investing in administrations that benefit rich people.

The two-party system is propped up by 527s. So are media revenues. They all expect good political seasons.

[KharmaTrain]

9. MoveOn & ACT Scare 'Em Shitless...And For Good Reason

Next week is the GOOP's one and only "event" of this campaign season. The Democrats have been going at it all year...from the primaries through today. Right now the GOOP is spreading 70 million or so around and trying to shape opinions like they did in 2000 and 2002...thus the sliming of Kerry and so on.

Other than their convention, they've got nothing short of an "October Surprise" or launching another war. Meanwhile, the ACT tour with Springsteen, Mellencamp, DMB and others will be a media event next month. This would be a major tour without the political element...but add the pro-Kerry tone it's sure to take and you bet the GOOPers want those 527s out of biz pronto...like yesterday.

They hate when they can't control all the cards...especially when they're outspent. I remember a wingnut claiming in 2000 that all of Bunnypants money was $5 & $10 donations. You're not hearing that now...they're all going to MoveOn & the various Democratic groups. Sucks to be them.