“WAR IS Peace; Freedom is Slavery; Ignorance is Strength.’’
So goes the slogan of Big Brother’s Inner Party in George Orwell’s “1984.’’ Such a masterful example of obfuscating language comes to mind when reading the Aug. 6 op-ed of former senators Bob Kerrey and Warren Rudman, “Free speech and our election laws.’’
The cochairmen of Americans for Campaign Reform argue, “When government regulation is harnessed for the purpose of leveling-up rather than limiting-down political speech, the result is a maximization of First Amendment rights. Call it the ‘more speech’ solution to the problem of free speech in campaign finance.’’
The First Amendment is not a “problem.’’ It provides for the protection of free speech rights for everyone, including the right not to support a candidate with your tax dollars.
State “clean elections’’ programs, on which the Fair Elections Now Act - a government bailout for political candidates - are based, have failed. Their proponents point to the number of participating candidates as evidence of success, but they lack other credible metrics. It’s hardly surprising that candidates accept free government money under pressure. These programs, though, are supposed to end corruption and restore trust in government.
Maine is suing a consultant for fraudulently taking “clean elections’’ money and sending bogus mailers. The consultant’s candidate, according to the Sun Journal of Lewiston, Maine, was a self-described “stoner’’ and “weed farmer’’ running on the Fourth Branch Party ticket.
Jeff Patch
Communications manager
Center for Competitive Politics
Alexandria, Va. 
