Posted at Don Surber:

By a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court upheld the First Amendment. Justices were all over the place as they struck down Vermont's ridiculous Campaign Deform Act of 1997, which holds that a campaign contribution of more than $200 is somehow a bribe that will unduly influence a candidate.

The problem is for 30 years Congress has had Incumbent Protection Acts disguised a s "campaign reform" that have made it more difficult for challengers to raise money. Re-election rates as high as 98% have been the rule over the last 30 years, thanks to campaign "reform."

For example, John Kerry and Jay Rockefeller are each in their 22nd year in the Senate. Both sit behind two of the longest serving senators in U.S. history. Bob Byrd just passed the recently expired Strom Thurmond as the longest serving senator in history. Ted Kennedy is only one term behind him.

John Dingell has been in the House for over 50 years.

The average House member is 54, the average senator is 60.

These seats are safe in large part because it is so difficult to raise money to oppose them.

This safety has fostered corruption. Yes, the campaign "reform" has allowed congressmen to kick back and accept all sorts of gratuities. Duke Cunningham gave contractors a menu of bribes. Jack Murtha's brother lobbies for earmarks. William J. Jefferson had $90,000 in his fridge. Talk about your cold cash.

But there is hope. With the Internet and cable TV, the cost of getting the message to voters has dropped considerably. The Swift Boat Veterans were able to get the truth out about John Kerry in 2004 despite a cone of silence on ABC, CBS, CNN and NBC.

Ridding the nation of Vermont's law is the first step. Here is hoping all these laws that promote the status quo at the polls are tossed out. "Congress shall make no law ..."

Remember?

UPDATE: Legal Fiction says the decision is so splintered, it is unreadable. And here I thought it was just me.

Curiously, 29% of Kossers (51 of 171) in this poll say: "Any limits on contributions and expenditures violate the First Amendment."

Linked to OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY and BASIL'S BLOG and JO'S CAFE and ADAM'S BLOG and FREEDOM WATCH and THIRD WORLD COUNTY and PLANCK'S CONSTANT. Thanks!

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