David Thomas: “It also proves that Shays-Meehan is nothing more than incumbent protection. It continues to amaze me that Members of…”

“It also proves that Shays-Meehan is nothing more than incumbent protection. It continues to amaze me that Members of Congress, newspapers and 'senior scholars' continue to advocate limiting free speech and prohibiting citizens from criticizing government officials and incumbents in the name of 'campaign reform.' The first amendment, America's premier political reform, was not written for pornographers or flag burners. It was drafted to allow citizens to petition and criticize their government. But Shays-Meehan would stifle free speech and end criticism of elected officials at critical stages of the election process. Make no mistake about it. Shays-Meehan guts the first amendment, threatens citizen participation in the political process, and ends the ability of citizen groups to educate the public unless they file bureaucratic paperwork with the Federal Government.”