New GOP senator could vote with Democrats on campaign finance bill

[The_Dude 1,142]

I have and per usual, you choose to ignore/not accept it.

If you cannot see how harassment on your donation choice affects ones ability to free speech, then you need to look at closeted homosexuals as a precise example of people who are persecuted for who they are, who feel they can't be open, who are afraid to express what they really want.

Paul, as per usual, you are delusional here. If someone can't make a donation without fearing that some boogeyman might come out and harass them, I question their sanity and convictions. You are making an interpretation to the amendment that simply isn't there. Do you mean to suggest that the constitution might need to be interpreted to meet the current needs of society?

[mawilson 2,133]

Freedom of speech is the freedom to express a political opinion without prejudice. You lose that with complete transparency. You could end up with groups on your front lawn protesting you then, harassing your friends and family, etc.....

Corporations have friends and family?

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Paul, as per usual, you are delusional here. If someone can't make a donation without fearing that some boogeyman might come out and harass them, I question their sanity and convictions. You are making an interpretation to the amendment that simply isn't there. Do you mean to suggest that the constitution might need to be interpreted to meet the current needs of society?

No interpretation needed. The intent of the first amendment was to stop people from being persecuted against for speaking out against the government. It was to allow individuals to have a free opinion of the government and its officials, NOT other individuals.

Protesting a business isn't a first amendment right in technical aspects. We treat it as acceptable in many cases, but unless you're protesting a government entity, then the first amendment doesn't really apply.

[The_Dude 1,142]

No interpretation needed. The intent of the first amendment was to stop people from being persecuted against for speaking out against the government. It was to allow individuals to have a free opinion of the government and its officials, NOT other individuals.

Protesting a business isn't a first amendment right in technical aspects. We treat it as acceptable in many cases, but unless you're protesting a government entity, then the first amendment doesn't really apply.

Paul, you are simply making things up now. You have a right to free speech and expression. I don't see anything mentioned about allowing anonymity. If you are fearful of others finding out your political inclinations and that prevents you from donating, I question your character and conviction. There are no physical barriers to speech by making donations transparent..... hallucinations and imaginary people don't count paul.

Edited November 9, 2010 by Rob & Mel

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Paul, you are simply making things up now. You have a right to free speech and expression. I don't see anything mentioned about allowing anonymity. If you are fearful of others finding out your political inclinations and that prevents you from donating, I question your character and conviction. There are no physical barriers to speech by making donations transparent..... hallucinations and imaginary people don't count paul.

so a closeted homosexual in a highly anti-homosexual area is just hallucinating about the consequences of publicly coming out of the closet?

[The_Dude 1,142]

so a closeted homosexual in a highly anti-homosexual area is just hallucinating about the consequences of publicly coming out of the closet?

Paul, you don't seem to grasp the difference between perceived harassment and actual harassment.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Paul, you don't seem to grasp the difference between perceived harassment and actual harassment.

Both a eqally dangerous to a political system.

It's the same thing as the Black Panthers during the 2008 election. Intimidating voters.

The system should be set for the least amount of intimidation for a clear and honest election. You take some of that away by making individuls names readily available for everyone to see. It doesn't matter how strong your convictions are. If you're harassed because of it, that changes a lot of people's minds or keeps them away entirely.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Both a eqally dangerous to a political system.

It's the same thing as the Black Panthers during the 2008 election. Intimidating voters.

The system should be set for the least amount of intimidation for a clear and honest election. You take some of that away by making individuls names readily available for everyone to see. It doesn't matter how strong your convictions are. If you're harassed because of it, that changes a lot of people's minds or keeps them away entirely.

Paul, you dont' seem to get it. Again, I reiterate, there is no physical impediment to voting, or free speech with making donations transparent. No insane hallucinations or paranoid delusions are going to create that state of fear either.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

So the 1st Amendment includes the right to speak with anonymity?

Technically speaking, anonymous free specch needs no protection at all. Who would face repercussions due to the lack of protection of free speech if nobody knows where that free speech originated in the first place?

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Paul, you dont' seem to get it. Again, I reiterate, there is no physical impediment to voting, or free speech with making donations transparent. No insane hallucinations or paranoid delusions are going to create that state of fear either.

You don't know people very well do you? Imagine working in an office of all conservatives and you're the only liberal who makes a campaign donation to a questionable candidate. Your co-workers find out and give you ####### about your opinion. While some would ignore it, others would become distressed over it. Not everyone reacts the same to criticism. You should have to risk being criticized for excercising political speech in the way of campaign donations, which is basically silently supporting a candidate without being out at a rally, etc...

[^_^ 5,021]

Imagine working in an office of all conservatives and you're the only liberal who makes a campaign donation to a questionable candidate. Your co-workers find out and give you ####### about your opinion.

That kind of environment doesn't exist at any respectable workplace. I did run into some of that many years ago when I worked at a data center but those guys were flushed during a reorg soon after. I'm not sure where you work or what you do, but anything approaching that would result in immediate termination where I work (and any place I would work).

[Obama 2012 1,714]

That kind of environment doesn't exist at any respectable workplace. I did run into some of that many years ago when I worked at a data center but those guys were flushed during a reorg soon after. I'm not sure where you work or what you do, but anything approaching that would result in immediate termination where I work (and any place I would work).

It all depends really. Some small businesses have a tight/close group of people, so you can run into that sort of thing from time to time. In corporate America it would never be acceptable (well, union members might harass union members who vote GOP.......), but when you have a smell company with 30 employees or less and the owners are partial to one side or another, you can run into that..... Shouldn't happen, but it does...

[Dan J 277]

You don't know people very well do you? Imagine working in an office of all conservatives and you're the only liberal who makes a campaign donation to a questionable candidate. Your co-workers find out and give you ####### about your opinion. While some would ignore it, others would become distressed over it. Not everyone reacts the same to criticism. You should have to risk being criticized for excercising political speech in the way of campaign donations, which is basically silently supporting a candidate without being out at a rally, etc...

1. If the company tolerates that kind of #######, is it really worth working there?

2. Depending on what type of harrasment occurs and what state the company is in, there might be even be an option to file a lawsuit.

[The_Dude 1,142]

You don't know people very well do you? Imagine working in an office of all conservatives and you're the only liberal who makes a campaign donation to a questionable candidate. Your co-workers find out and give you ####### about your opinion. While some would ignore it, others would become distressed over it. Not everyone reacts the same to criticism. You should have to risk being criticized for excercising political speech in the way of campaign donations, which is basically silently supporting a candidate without being out at a rally, etc...

Paul, you just described my work environment, at least the first part. I have said who I work for, so It's not so difficult to believe that 95%+ are staunch conservatives. I dont' make my views secret, neither does a vast majority of people I work with. So during the 08 presidential campaign, I did get some ribbing and comments. Did I feel intimidated? Not at all. Did it effect who I voted for, donated money to, or even what campaigns I volunteered at? Absolutely not. Why is that? Because I'm not a spineless moron who goes crying every time someone calls me a ** or whatever term du jour.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Corporations have friends and family?

Closest to that would be consumers which may execise their right not to frequent a business which supports issues they oppose. Paul feels that corporations should not have to face any potential for a backlash for supporting issues that adversely impact the very consumers that keep them afloat. He believes that corporations ought to have the right to purchase any number of seats in Congress and have their business conducted without ever being on record having purchased specific votes in support of legislation that benefits them at a cost to their consumers or employees or communities. Only if Congress and legislation can be purchased in secrecy do we have real free speech.