We Will Save First Amendment
Call your Senator and tell him/her to defeat unconstitutional attack on American democracy – DISCLOSE Act.
In a desperate attempt to save themselves from the landslide defeat in November elections, Democrats in the House today passed so called DISCLOSE Act – an outrageous attack on the First Amendment of the Constitution. Compiling together series of modifications specifically tailored to block grass-roots organizations and private businesses from the participation in election campaigns, while excluding labor unions and left-wing organizations, the liberal Democratic leadership managed to twist enough hands of their moderate colleagues to obtain minimum number of voices sufficient for passing the bill. In order to calm down nervous Blue Dog Democrats the leadership designed the bill by adding strong lobbying groups (such as National Rifle Association) to the list of exemptions.
It’s important to note that among other bargaining chips in the negotiations with moderate Democrats the House Leadership used “assurance” from leading Democratic Senators that their chamber will vote for the bill before August recess – to make the bill to go into effect in time for the November elections. This promise – though sounds solid and encouraging – does not YET present a sustainable merit for the passage. The reason is simple: Democrats need at least one renegade Republican to shut down the filibuster. And in the current toxic pre-election environment Republicans (including the moderates) happened to stand united against any attempt by Liberals to pass even less controversial attempts to hijack the democracy process.
Yes, the DISCLOSE Act, as the attack on free speech, as unequally used against different entities is unconstitutional. Yes, it won’t stand in court. And, if passed, it will be undoubtedly challenged and defeated. The problem is – that will happen only after the elections. And this is precisely what the Democrats are trying to do – silence us right now and save themselves from being defeated. And this is just what we should fight against, by making sure each Republican senator – whether moderate or conservative – votes against the bill when it reaches the Senate.
We urge you: call your senator and make him/her help defeat the anti-free speech DISCLOSE Act. You can look here if you want to add some “meat” to your argument.