THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
An Online Journal of Political Commentary & Analysis
Volume VI, Issue # 212, September 29, 2004
Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
Government Committed to & Acting in Accord with Conservative Principles
Ensures a Nation's Strength, Progress, & Prosperity
527 ORGANIZATIONS: UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES
OF ELECTION CAMPAIGN FINANCE "REFORM"
By Christopher G. Adamo
FULL STORY:
The 2004 presidential election cycle has been unlike any other in recent memory. Several factors contribute to this situation.
Admittedly, Leftists recognize the “all or nothing” possibilities for their worn out 1960s agenda, with George W. Bush perceived as
the greatest impediment to their utopian delusions. Furthermore, they remain enraged that they were unable to dimple sufficient
numbers of chads in Florida to secure their theft of the 2000 presidential race.
Yet, beyond even this, the political landscape is dramatically shifted this time around.
Campaign finance “reform” legislation, the errant progeny of Senators John McCain and Russ Feingold, was promoted as a means
of cleaning up political corruption, though it was clearly never intended to do so. Specific provisions of McCain-Feingold dealt,
instead, with government sanctioned censoring of political advertisements within sixty days of a general election.
Senator McCain made abundantly clear his hopes of protecting the political class by getting rid of the annoying attack ads that any
true statesman should recognize as being part of the turf of those who enter the highly competitive arena of electoral politics,
seeking to acquire or retain legitimate authority to govern society. Nor has McCain ever made a credible case as to how such ads
were corrupting the political process, and thus how their prohibition would “clean up politics.” Yet, despite its blatantly
unconstitutional character, the McCain-Feingold law stands.
But then something happened that the ruling class didn’t anticipate. Americans, being accustomed to living in a country that
traditionally endorsed the principle of involvement by the masses, began to coalesce into organizations that have not yet been
rendered illegal by the elected aristocracy. And these organizations, to the surprise of many, produced a fundamental alteration in
the direction and format of the political debate.
Only a few months ago, most Americans had never heard of a “527” organization, so named on account of the section of the tax
code that provides the loophole within which it can exist. Despite media insinuations that these organizations are the domain of
Rightwing political groups, the exact opposite is true. The overwhelming majority of 527 organizations, and their funding, are the
work of staunch Leftists, such as the wealthy anti-American businessman George Soros.
This reality, and the possibility of its enormous influence on the political process, caused little or no excitement in the media and
among Liberal Democrats, who were quite content with the advent of a new arm to their propaganda machine. But then came the
Swiftboat Veterans for Truth, and everything changed.
On a shoestring budget, the Swift Vets launched a campaign to expose John Kerry’s underhanded dealings during and after his
brief service in Vietnam. But, while the flagrantly fabricated propaganda of George Soros and Michael Moore never resonated,
except among the Far-Left fringe, the message of the Swift Vets rang true, resulting in a major erosion of Kerry’s carefully
crafted image as a “war hero.”
Within Democratic Party circles, it is slowly becoming apparent that their pretense of being political “Centrists” is being stripped
away by Liberal extremists who, in their zeal to attack the President, are revealing their character in no uncertain terms. Democrats’
worst nightmares have come true in that the “light of truth,” the mortal enemy of Liberalism, is being shined upon them by their
own party members.
Efforts by Republican Party insiders to soften the rhetoric, under their misbegotten notion that a “moderate” tone might be more
palatable to undecided voters, are fading from the limelight, as the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth increasingly define the real
political debate. And, though such controversy is unnerving to the often-timid GOP insiders, among the citizenry, it clearly
delineates the disparity that exists between candidates.
Contrary to the wishes of the political parties to present a sanitized (often to the point of fraudulent) picture of their respective
agendas, both sides are increasingly seen for what they are. On each end of the political spectrum, the 527 groups have redirected
political discussions from the standard posturing of the party apparatus to the real intentions and ideologies of the “grassroots.”
And, while in some cases the results have not been pretty, the reality is nonetheless enlightening.
Campaign finance “reform” is certainly not a good thing. Nevertheless, it has managed to result in the best side of traditional
America being contrasted against the worst elements of the Left. Though a heinous affront to the principle of free speech, it did
not successfully stifle the “rabble” as intended, but, instead, seems to have empowered them. Somewhere, behind closed doors,
John McCain is having one of his infamous tantrums. It is a good day.
LINKS TO RELATED TOPICS:
American Politics & Political Competition
American Government & the U.S. Presidency
Christopher G. Adamo is a freelance writer who lives in southeastern Wyoming and works in the field of industrial instrumentation.
He is actively involved in Wyoming's political process, serving as a delegate to successive Wyoming State Republican Conventions
and as a member of the Wyoming State Republican Central Committee. He has assisted Republican candidates for local and state
legislatures and for the United States Congress. His articles, which appear regularly in The Progressive Conservative, U.S.A.,
and on a number of other websites, reflect a major concern with the damage being done to Conservatism and Conservative causes by
the Liberal Leftist faction in the Republican Party as well as by the much larger and more powerful Liberal Leftist faction in the
Democratic Party. During the early and middle 1990s, Adamo was Editor of the Wyoming Christian Coalition's official news organ,
The Wyoming Christian. Adamo maintains his own Internet website, which is located at
www.chrisadamo.com.
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Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
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