John McCain: Campaign Finance Reform Is Dead

On “Face the Nation” John McCain, co-author of the McCain-Feingold bill that became the “Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002,” pronounced campaign finance reform dead.

[Bob] Schieffer asked McCain if he thought the issue of campaign finance reform was “dead.”

“Oh, I think so.” He predicted a backlash would occur when people see the amounts of unfettered money, from corporations and unions, that will go into political campaigns.

“But in the short term, the Supreme Court has spoken. I respect their decision,” he conceded.

McCain explained what he believes is wrong with the Supreme Court.

“I think that it was interesting that they have had no experience in the political arena,” McCain said. “I was reminded of the story of Lyndon Johnson, when he was vice president, was told about President Kennedy’s appointments of all these brilliant people, and he said, ‘You know, I wish one of them had run for county sheriff.'”

The Republican senator noted that in prior Court hearing on the issue of campaign financing, Justices Rehnquist and O’Connor had taken a different position. “Both had significant political experience; Justices Roberts, Alito and Scalia have none,” he said.

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.