Hypocrisy of the Arizona Republic

The Arizona Republic is miffed.  Well, more to the point, the in the shadows “Editorial Board” is miffed.  They are miffed that there endorsed golden boy (and lobbyist) in the Phoenix mayoral elections, Wes Gullett is being targeted by “anonymous groups” that “hide behind vague, meaningless names”.  The E.B. is clutching its collective pearls in disgust at the large amounts of money being poured into these “independent expenditure” groups without any disclosure as to who the group’s funders are.

Sigh.  I would have no qualms with the E.B.’s stance if it wasn’t so hypocritical.  Not once have they called out for the disclosure of those funding a group that is attempting to make sure that Republicans continue their super-majority in the Arizona Legislature and advantage in Congressional seats.  Instead of calling for a disclosure of this group’s donors (which is fronted by local attorney David Cantelme), the E.B. attempts to protect its golden boy.

It is beyond time for the Editorial Board of the Arizona Republic to call for full disclosure of the principles and financiers behind the FAIR Trust.  It is beyond time for the E.B. to call out this organization for attempting to circumvent the will of the Arizona voters by trying to suppress competiveness and to preserve the Republican legislative super-majority.

But the E.B. won’t.  It doesn’t have a golden boy to protect when it comes to redistricting.  Therefore, the Editorial Board of the Arizona Republic will continue to be hypocrites when it comes to “shadow organization” that use the Supreme Court’s Citizen’s United decision to pollute our nation’s elections.

McComish v. Bennett: The Supreme Court Takes On Public Campaign Financing

Tomorrow, the Supreme Court hears arguments in the Arizona public election financing case McComish v. Bennett.  This is the first big campaign financing case since the ludicrous decision in Citizens United.  McComish is the big test to see if the Supreme Court will expand their view that money equals speech or if they will pull back from the precipice and allow reasonable restrictions on campaign financing.

I am not holding out much hope for the continuation of the Arizona Clean Elections law.  I have no doubt that the majority in Citizens United will strike down the Arizona Clean Elections law and hand the Republicans and their allies another victory in regards to campaign financing.  They will expand the terrible concept that money equals speech and that the candidate with more money gets more speech.

Maybe its time to introduce the following amendment to the U.S. Constitution:

No group, association or other private legal entity may contribute to any political campaign, only individual citizens of legal voting age and state governments on an equal basis where public financing of campaigns have been enacted.  The states and federal governments may limit campaign contributions for their respective jurisdictions with equal protection for the contributors and campaigns.

I know.  No such amendment is going to be passed in my lifetime, but it never hurts to throw it out there.