Obama Regime Pushes Political Censorship

When bad laws are applied by bad people, bad results follow. For an example of an awful law applied by awful people, refer to the Obamination Administration exploiting McCain-Feingold to quash our right of political dissent. If Obamunists succeed in this latest push for totalitarian power, the First Amendment will have been effectively repealed:

On Mar. 24, the Supreme Court heard arguments in Citizens United v. FEC [Federal Election Committee], the latest installment in an ongoing series of challenges to the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA), better known as McCain-Feingold. This case has far-reaching implications for the future of campaign activities, and draws an important line between the right of citizens to speak out and the power of government to imprison them if they do.

The group Citizens United produced a documentary critical of Hillary Clinton during her failed presidential campaign. … But when the group sought to market the movie through Video On Demand, the FEC blocked it. The FEC cited BCRA, which makes it a federal felony to fund any TV or radio broadcast that names a candidate for federal office in the thirty days prior to a primary election or sixty days prior to a general election, called the “blackout” periods. …

Far more important than the specific facts in this case was the enormous scope of power that the Obama Administration was claiming under BCRA, an array so broad that the justices balked at the government’s answers to their questions. The Obama Administration claimed that BCRA allows the federal government to ban a 600-page book if it mentions a candidate’s name only once, a 90-minute movie if it mentions a candidate’s name once, or even a toy action figure of a candidate. If the organization uses a single dime of its general funds to produce, promote or distribute any such materials during the “blackout” periods, it becomes a federal crime. …

Selling a banned movie, book or even toy action figure is a felony under this law, punishable by five years in federal prison.

Needless to say…

Such laws have a chilling effect on political speech that violates the core purpose of the First Amendment. That such a law could ever be enacted in this country is itself a fact that should raise concerns.

That’s putting it mildly. Whatever happened to the Left’s righteous advocacy of free speech? But I’m forgetting, it only applies to frivolous speech like pornography. When it comes to banning books and movies deemed unsupportive of Chairman Zero’s agenda, the liberal establishment will dutifully line up in support.

On a tip from Kevin R. Hat tip: Teh Resistance Blog. Cross-posted at Moonbattery.

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