by Jack Cashill
News Talk 980 KMBZ (Year: 1999)

Courtesy of the Cashill Newsletter - July 27, 1999

As writer Nora Ephron once said, "I get more cynical each day, and I still can't keep up."

Case in point: A person can sing about alcohol, drugs and tobacco on a CD but is prohibited from buying air time and talking about them.

I recently heard Eric Clapton's "Cocaine" on the radio and I couldn't imagine a better ad for the stuff.

Similarly, a person is prohibited from advertising tobacco on a bill board, but is able to "billboard" tobacco use in a movie or even show a literal billboard with tobacco on it.

That same confused set of rules may well be imposed on campaign finance laws. I read that the Dems are trying to raise $200 million in unlimited soft money donations to offset Bush's advantage raised strictly in hard donations of $1,000 or less. But Al and Bill Bradley say that soft money reform is necessary once, of course, either is elected by finessing this very same money.

They also want government to dictate a limit on the dollar amount an individual can freely donate, dictate a limit on the amount a candidate can freely spend, but let unions purloin the checks of even unwilling members for "issue" advertising that really isn't.

We have a First Amendment that protects political speech -- FREE Speech--, but government rules that won't let you pay what it costs to deliver it.

I can't imagine a better reason to elect a Republican to the office of President. Even if campaign finance hysteria moves ahead, at least there will be a Court to strike it down.

I hope.