Do Ray Buckley and the New Hampshire Democrat Party Lie? See for yourself. Here is an excerpt from an NHDP press release that quotes Mr. Buckley directly.
SB1459, which is before the state senate this afternoon, would hold foreign entities accountable for spending money intended to influence the outcome of domestic political campaigns. …
"There is nothing more un-American than allowing foreign countries and corporations to buy elections in this country," said Ray Buckley, Chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party. "Under current law, a business like British Petroleum could spend tens of millions of dollars defeating a candidate for office in New Hampshire without any disclosure whatsoever."
Prescott’s ardent opposition to the bill brings up serious questions about where his loyalties really lie.
This is a regurgitation of Obama’s claims regarding Citizens United v. FEC which he made to discredit the ruling. So is Ray merely repeating what he’s been told? He seems to need you to believe that without the Kathy "(hate) free speech" Sullivan amendment in HB 1459, that foreigners are going to buy up New Hampshire elections the same way he’s been using out of state special interest money to do it for years. So what’s the real deal?
2 U.S.C. § 441e bans all foreign nationals from directly or indirectly contributing to a federal candidate or a political party. It also bans all foreign nationals from making any independent political expenditures – and this ban was not overturned by the Supreme Court. The term “foreign nationals” is defined to include individuals, foreign governments, foreign political parties, and corporations “organized under the laws or having its principal place of business in a foreign country.” It is simply not true that Citizens United freed foreign corporations to make independent expenditures in American elections.
2U.S.C 441e explained further…
Foreign nationals, specifically defined to include foreign corporations, are prohibited from making "a contribution or donation of money or other thing of value, or to make an express or implied promise to make a contribution or donation, in connection with a Federal, State or local election" under 2 U.S.C. Section 441e, which was not at issue in the case. Foreign corporations are also prohibited, under 2 U.S.C. 441e, from making any contribution or donation to any committee of any political party, and they prohibited from making any "expenditure, independent expenditure, or disbursement for an electioneering communication."
There you go.
Foreigners are not going to buy up New Hampshire elections, in fact they can’t, no matter what Ray says. HB 1459 is a waste of legislation that simply overburdens the process of political speech, using political power, fees, and fines to dissuade or intimidate people from objecting to their government. But think about all the money lawyers like Sullivan, or firms with names like Pignatelli or Shaheen could earn while clogging up the NH court system with case after case until no one who owns a business or that runs a non-profit dare speak a word becasue they simply can’t afford to defend themsleves? That’s intimidation.
Sounds like liberal governance to me.
One more point. Why does Ray Buckley feel the need to lie outright to the people of New Hampshire? And is it safe to assume that this is not the first or last time?
Cross Posted From NH Insider
