Pelosi and Other House Democrats: Amend Trash the First Amendment

 I am not making this up.  House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and other House Democrats want a Constitutional amendment to overturn the Citizens United decision and put free speech under the control of Congress.

Of course, the First Amendment as upheld by the Citizens United decision is simple and broad for a reason.  Once you turn Freedom of Speech into “Free speech for me, but not for thee,” you don’t have free speech at all, but something akin to what you have in Venezuela or Cuba, where only favored speech is free, if it can be called that.

 And that is exactly what these Democrats are aiming for.  They wish to muzzle corporations and “special interests” while letting their union buddies continue to extort massive amounts of union dues from workers (which they can do in those states that do not have right-to-work laws) and funnel them to elect Democrats who will favor unions.  Yes, incestuous.  By the way, the recall elections in Wisconsin are about union anger at Gov. Scott Walker saying no to this gravy train.

 And if the Democrats ever get control over political speech, they will muzzle those entities that oppose them while letting unions continue their use of forced dues in elections (which is itself a violation for free speech).  And that’s for starters.

 “Free speech for me, not for thee.”

 Those who have thought those accusing Democrats of being hostile to the Constitution are overwrought or paranoid may apologize in the comments.  Yes, I am forgiving.

 I will give these Democrats credit for one thing, however.  At least they get the process right this time.  If one wants to change the Constitution, the way to do that is through amending the Constitution, not through the usual Democrat practice of ignoring it or getting judges to trash it. 

 Of course, the reason they want to amend the Constitution is because Citizens United will not let them ignore or trash the Constitution in this area for now.  And they want to amend it to rig the political process and to attack freedom, not protect it.  But credit where credit is due and all that.


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Housekeeping: 
Yes, this post looks slightly different because Google/Blogger changed their blog editor, about which I am not entirely pleased.  I might tinker with this.  Suggestions are welcome.