Bradley A. Smith
Bradley A. Smith
Bradley A. Smithis the Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault Professor at Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio. He previously served as Commissioner, Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Federal Election Commissionbetween 2000 and 2005. He is best known for his writing and activities opposing campaign finance regulation...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionPublic Servant
CountryUnited States of America
Bradley A. Smith quotes about
greater led percentage
There is no evidence that super PACs have led to a greater percentage of negative ads.
campaign counts existed federal obligation usual whether
The usual test under the Federal Election Campaign Act for whether something counts as a campaign expenditure is whether the obligation would have existed but for the campaign. If so, it is not a campaign expenditure.
asking both campaigns candidates continue corruption financial fund problems public reality seek
The reality is that asking the public to fund political campaigns accomplishes nothing. Candidates continue to seek interest-group support through other channels, both financial and in-kind, and corruption problems abound.
vilified
Few developments in campaigning have been as vilified and misunderstood as independent expenditure PACs, or, as they are colloquially known, super PACs.
campaign church civilian commitment constitution court doctrine explicit flows freedom heading naturally separation state structure
Ultimately, the court is heading to a doctrine of 'separation of campaign and state.' This doctrine, like separation of church and state or separation of military and civilian authority, is not explicit in the Constitution but flows naturally from its structure and commitment to freedom and democracy.
book buy decision download guarantees michael moore next order political remember supreme time video
The next time you download a book on Kindle, buy a Michael Moore screed at Barnes & Noble, or order up a political movie from video on demand, remember that it is the Supreme Court's decision in 'Citizens United' that guarantees you the right to do so.
competition good super tend
Incumbents don't like it, but political competition is a good thing. Incumbents usually outspend challengers by better than 3 to 1. Super PACs, which tend to support challengers, have nullified some of this advantage.
applied attempted bill disclose federal form major since taken unions
Every major federal campaign-finance-reform effort since 1943 has attempted to treat corporations and unions equally. If a limit applied to corporations, it applied to unions; if unions could form PACs, corporations could too; and so on. DISCLOSE is the first major campaign-finance bill that has not taken this approach.
activity played theories unlike
Unlike many in the conservative camp, I accept theories of global warming, and accept that man-made activity has played a part in global warming. My differences have only been on what the solutions should be.
al aside changes countless expensive frightened global globe gore government impending industries leaving perceived prophets pushing tales
Even leaving aside government policy, whole industries are already making expensive changes around the perceived need to 'go green.' Al Gore and countless other prophets of global catastrophe are making megamillions pushing these expensive solutions. Schoolchildren around the globe are being frightened by tales of impending calamity.
act amendment beyond citizens disclose glad government political sought speech supreme testament wisdom
The DISCLOSE Act is a testament to the wisdom of the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United. The First Amendment sought to place political speech beyond the government's control, and we can be glad that it did.
ads allow attack bash candidates certainly chills government handouts money opponents receive rewarded speech spend taxpayer volunteer
If candidates spend money on ads and other political speech and their opponents are rewarded with government handouts to attack them, that chills speech and is unconstitutional. Non-participating candidates certainly don't volunteer to allow their opponents to receive taxpayer subsidies to bash them.
truth
The truth is, the 'Fortune' 500 prefer lobbying to campaigning.
campaigns elections interest number races seen super voter
With super PACs, we've seen voter turnout go up; interest in elections rise; and the number of competitive races increase. The campaigns of 2010 and 2012 have been more issue-oriented than their predecessors, not less.