Free Speech Needs Jerry Maguire

John McCain’s Shadow Campaign

The goo-goos are crooks. That’s the conclusion I have come to after finding that John McCain’s top three election staff members are being paid by the Reform Institute. This organization takes in massive contributions from corporations and foundations who are either trying to get favorable treatment from Senator McCain, or who agree with him that we have too much free speech in this country about politics.

Ryan Sager is blowing the lid off the so-called “campaign reform” lobby in a series of articles, the latest on Tech Central Station.

Here’s a quote:

...You read that right: The disclosure crowd is made up of hypocrites who won't disclose where their own money comes from.

Now, as non-profits, they're not required to do this. But if they're going to work to repeal the First Amendment on the premise that money dictates motives, well, they better show us theirs.

For example, who are the donors to the Reform Institute, and what did they want (and/or get) for their money? The Reform Institute, you might remember, is the bogus think tank that serves as a shadow McCain 2008 office. It's supposedly a not-for-profit "education organization," but mostly it just educates the public about how totally awesome John McCain is. What's more, at least three high-ranking McCain 2000 staffers are cooling their heels there until McCain 2008.

Richard Davis, the McCain 2000 campaign manager, takes home a $110,000 a year "consulting fee" as the fake-tank's president. Trevor Potter, general counsel to McCain 2000, is -- fittingly enough -- general counsel to the Reform Institute. And Carla Eudy, national finance director of McCain 2000, is -- you may have guessed it -- the Institute's director of finance.

An Associated Press investigation earlier this month already found that Cablevision gave the Institute $100,000 right after its CEO, Charles Dolan, testified before McCain's Commerce Committee in 2003. Another $100,000 check from Cablevision came into the Institute in August of 2004, 12 days before McCain wrote to Dolan about a pending pricing issue, urging him to "feel free to contact me and discuss these issues further."

What other companies made donations to his think tank -- donations, by the way, that would be illegal many times over under McCain-Feingold because of their size if made to a political party or campaign?

Most importantly, when will the cleanies come clean? Show us the money!

We want to see who is funding these groups and who is working behind the scenes to prevent John McCain and others from having to answer attack ads within 60 days of elections. McCain has a famously thin skin and an equally famous temper. He may very well have cost Kerry the election by blowing up at the Swiftboat Vets when Kerry was busily trying to ignore them (with the avid assistance of the mainstream media).

Mc Cain, Feingold and the others who want to limit political speech need to be reminded that they are not Gods; they are not beyond criticism. And if they continue in their beliefs, their presence in political life becomes a threat to democracy.

But for now: show us the money!