Bipartisan No More
A Supreme Court ruling on Thursday, January 21, 2010 overturned the longstanding precedent regarding campaign advertising by corporations, 5-4. The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (otherwise known as the McCain-Feingold Act) was something that both parties had agreed on. It was constructed in order to protect the individual citizen from being run over by special interest groups with deep pockets. It was designed to help prevent the corporate corruption of elections. Its roots can be traced back to The Tillman Act of 1907, a law put in place due in large part to President Roosevelt. This concept of checks and balances was recently disregarded by the conservative majority of the Supreme Court in favor of corporate influence. This decision made it possible for big business to contribute an unlimited amount of money to the promotion or downfall of any given candidate or issue at any point during the election process. The results of this decision could impact future elections enormously. If political campaigns can receive corporate funding, it might open the door to persuasion of government by financially well-off entities.
“The conservative activist block of the Supreme Court reached an unnecessary and improper decision that is going to distort future elections,” affirmed Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy. He added that this action went against common sense itself.
President Obama personally spoke up about the issue. “It is a major victory for big oil, Wall Street banks, health insurance companies and the other powerful interests that marshal their power every day in Washington to drown out the voices of everyday Americans,” he declared.
Although the dissenters are primarily Democrats, there are some Republicans who disagree with the decision. John McCain, cofounder of the bipartisan act of 2002, stated he was “disappointed by the decision of the Supreme Court.”
Ken Klukowski, Fox News contributor, claimed “the founding fathers are smiling,” about the Supreme Court’s decision. “The Supreme Court’s action in striking down the worst censorship provision of McCain-Feingold restores vital free speech protection in America,” he wrote. He called it a “tremendous victory for average Americans,” and referred to President Obama’s fear of the decision’s ramifications as a “chicken little” act.
Republican Senator John Cornyn similarly opined, “This is an encouraging step, and it is my hope that political parties will one day soon be able to speak as freely as other citizen organizations are now permitted.”
The bipartisan collaboration has been lost to history. A visible crack appears once again between parties as conflict trumps cooperation.
Justice Anthony M. Kennedy: Yes
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.: Yes
Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr.: Yes
Justice Clarence Thomas: Yes
Justice Antonin Scalia: Yes
Justice John Paul Stevens: No
Justice Stephen G. Breyer: No
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg: No
Justice Sonia Sotomayor: No