by Sandy » Tue Nov 19, 2013 10:59 am
I don't think there is any intention to limit the free speech of any entity, be it public or private, corporate, independently owned, or individual. Limiting the amount that can be made in political contribution or that can be used to purchase broadcast time does not put a clamp on free speech. It simply levels the playing field. Just because you have the money to buy broadcast time doesn't mean you are entitled to use it to advance your political cause or candidate. Maxing out the contribution limits for any individual, business, corporate entity, non-profit, at a relatively low level is fair. And that should include PAC's as well as individual candidates, and it should be a one-limit-covers-all kind of thing. You've got a maximum of $5,000 to contribute. Divide it up wisely.
I'm also a proponent of bringing back the free and equal time provision for the print and broadcast media. If journalism is to have credibility, it must be neutral, and if it must provide equal time for opposing views, it is required to guard against bias. That doesn't mean that Rush Lamebrain would have to provide the equal and opposite view on his program, because that wouldn't come off well, and it would be hypocritical. But it does mean that stations which carry the Lamebrain would also have to carry Rachel Maddow, in an equally attractive time slot. That would also prevent a lot of the incitement to violence that goes on, particularly in the extremist right wing media, especially if the laws against it aren't being enforced.