Free Speech Extends to Campaign Contributions
 

WASHINGTON: Supreme Court says political donors can spread wealth much more widely - Nation Wires - MiamiHerald.com

In what amounted to a 5-4 decision, the court’s conservatives declared that the aggregate contribution limits imposed four decades ago violated the First Amendment’s free-speech protections. Though individual donations may still be limited, the ruling frees donors to spread their wealth across as many candidates as they can find.
Personally, I agree that the caps were unconstitutional. Next step, eliminating the secrecy of where the money is coming from. Freedom of speech is not absolute.

Probably would be simpler if we just proportioned votes to wealth. Poor get 1. Millionaires get 1000. Billionaires get 10,000.

This is pretty close to that. A sad day for the country.

I couldn't agree more.

I would like to see private funds removed from elections entirely. I'd rather it be publicly funded, campaigns limited to 6-8 weeks and call it a day.

I do not see how the electorate is served by spending somewhere around $1b just for the office of president.

That is it. No hiding. If you want to stand up and speak we need to know who you are. Free to speak, but not be anonymous about it.

Yep.

Has anybody ever seen the government fund anything over which they did not eventually exert some measure of control?

How many billions of tax payer money is used to buy votes. You seem OK with that.

Candidates that accept public money are under regulations. Note that Obama and Romney both decided to say "thanks, but no thanks" to public funding. Public funding tends to be the major source for third party and unaffiliated candidates.

Another issue of such clarity that we all agree. That is just short of astounding!

Soros bought the WH for Obama so whats the beef?

So the conservative 'faction' of the Supreme Court affirms Obama's mantra of spreading the wealth and the left is jacked.....LOL

Priceless

And what happened in the last campaign? Despite all the GOP funding and the candidate's own deep pockets, both raised over a Billion through private contributions.

So yes, what is the beef?

Obama - Let's spread the wealth....left..........http://greatbuys.net/forum/Smileys/c.../happy-102.gif

Scotus - Let's spread the wealth....left.......http://greatbuys.net/forum/Smileys/classic/crybaby.gif

I don't follow.