Ed Whitfield: “I really do not understand why the other side would be so surprised that there are so many amendments being offered on…”

“I really do not understand why the other side would be so surprised that there are so many amendments being offered on these bills. When we have bills that so blatantly trample on constitutional rights, I think those of us on the other side have an obligation to introduce amendments to try to prevent that from happening. Justice Holmes in a case of Abrams v. U.S., 1919, in speaking about political campaigns, said that ``The ultimate good desired is better reached by free trade in ideas; that the best test of truth is the power of the thought to get itself accepted in the competition of the marketplace.'' Most of these bills introduced drastically diminish the rights and opportunities for individuals who are not candidates to participate in the political system. I have heard some on the other side today say we have to reform the way the candidates receive their money, and yet these bills do not talk about the way candidates receive their money. It talks about the way other people who are not involved in the political system spend their money. Then we hear so much about special interest. And I have asked many of them what is a special interest, and I never do get an answer. But I finally have come to the conclusion that if someone does not like someone else's views, then that is a special interest. But if they like the views that are talking about, then they are probably good and wise public advocates.”