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John McCain thinks free speech is less important than his ideas about “clean” government

Posted by Trevor in under other on May 1st, 2006 | View Comments |

Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. John McCain thinks that his ideas about "clean" government are more important than the Constitution he swore an oath to defend. Well I swore an oath to defend that same Constitution, and I disagree with Mr. McCain.

"He [Michael Graham] also mentioned my abridgement of First Amendment rights, i.e. talking about campaign finance reform….I know that money corrupts….I would rather have a clean government than one where quote First Amendment rights are being respected, that has become corrupt. If I had my choice, I’d rather have the clean government."

Go read the source document and if you live in Arizona, I hope you’re really paying attention. Do you think "clean" government is more important than free speech?

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Trevor

I'd rebut you too, Mr. Cox, but Kitanis is a regular reader and I think he has offered up a number of valid points.

As far as I am concerned, Congress has been out of control for decades, and needs to be reigned in one way or another. I fear it's going to end up being the hard way. History does tend to repeat itself. On the other hand there is still hope that things will turn around. It could certainly go either way in my lifetime. It's time for us to take a long hard look inward, at our own political system. There are some pretty broken cogs in the machine and we're on the cusp of a technological paradigm shift that is going to rock humanity. It will be an interesting century.
Let's stay on focus though. If there is nothing to hide, then why are politicians trying to limit the freedom to criticize politicians?

Kitanis

Interesting Take on the phrase Mr. Cox. I am more calm now and awake from my earlier posting so Guess I will try to answer you.

I am a realist when it comes to looking at the government. If you take a look at the congressional record, and watch CSPAN. You will see from those two examples and from the news (Whatever media outlet you choose to use), on the day to day working aspect.

If the government was so "clean" then you would get straight answers from politicans. There would be no in-fighting between parties. Bills would pass quickly and be brought before the presidents desk in plain easy to understand language before signature. But that is not what happens.

Go to Thomas.gov and take a look at a selected bill.. I would use the recent Defense Appropriation Bill as an example. If you read the synosis, its straight forward on what the DOD gets to operate.. But go into the Admendments and the full portion of the bill.. and you find all kinds of interesting things. Additional spending for stuff that has nothing to do with national defense are attached.
The Air Force Times and Army Times (same publishing company) lists the big ones as:

1. $13.5 Million for International Fund for Ireland to help finance the World Toliet Summit

2. $500,00 for a teapot museum in Sparta, N.C.

3. (This one is dear to me because it affected my working budget in my job with the USAF) $591 Milllion to purchase 8 C-130J model cargo planes that the Pentagon does not want or anticiapte the need. (J model cargo planes are great, not necessary for all airlift needs).

4. $700 Million to study the feasiblity of moving rail lines in the South from waterways

5. $83 Million for "Historic Preservation" efforts in the Hurricane hit areas. (This one is fine and great.. but does it have to be in the defense bill?)

This is not honesty.. this is self-centered representive theft of taxpayer money!

But to get down to the basics of it all. To say that you are willing to limit free speach to get "clean government". Then I put to you that we have a sitting senator that is telling you that we have failed. He has said that he would limit that to solve another problem. Its all in perspective I guess

Don Cox

Clean government may be a higher priority, because if there is nothing to hide, then there is no reason to attack free speech. Really, they go hand in hand.

Saying that clean government is impossible is a terrible admission of failure. Why not have an Islamic dictatorship and be done with it, if that's how it is? Corruption needs to be fought as much as terrorism - these two also go hand in hand.

kitanis

Unfortunately.. I do vote in Arizona.

But to answer your question.. HELL NO. The 1st Amendment is the first right confirmed in the Bill of Rights portion of the Consitution. Senator McCain should know that as a former Commission Officer in the U.S. Navy.

Clean Government? That is a IMPOSSIBILTY in the United States today. Sentator McCain proved that by making a waffling statement to appease on demographic in the nation than the other with that bonehead statement.