Never let it be said that George Allen isn't a man of principles. In 2002, Allen was one of 41 Senators to vote against the McCain-Feingold Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act, historic legislation aimed at reining in the influence of money in American politics. President Bush signed the bill into law on March 27, 2002, saying, "I believe that this legislation, although far from perfect, will improve the current financing system for Federal campaigns." Today, Allen is opposing another attempt to restrict money in politics. According to the Wall Street Journal, Allen has come out against a bill, supported by the Republican National Committee, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN), and the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, aimed at reining in 527 advocacy groups "527s," such as the infamous Swift Boat Veterans for Lies...er, "Truth," represent a loophole in McCain-Feingold law. According to the Wall Street Journal:
...[527s] drew attention during the 2004 presidential campaign, particularly when financier George Soros donated millions of dollars to launch the Media Fund and America Coming Together, or ACT. Those groups ran television commercials against President Bush and registered voters opposed to his re-election.Republicans want to prevent Mr. Soros and other wealthy Democrats from doing that again...
However, according to the Journal, today "it is right-leaning 527s that are most active," with the conservative "Club for Growth...leading the charge to kill the Republican bill that would shut down 527s."
The problem is that the 527 limits are contained in a House bill which also includes an overhaul of lobbying rules undertaken by worried Republicans in the aftermath of the Jack Abramoff scandals. The Senate lobbying reform bill does not contain 527 limits. Now, the Journal reports:
Seven Republican senators have sent a letter to Majority Leader Bill Frist warning they might filibuster the lobbying legislation if it emerges with 527 limits attached to it...It was signed by Virginia Sen. George Allen and Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, two potential 2008 presidential candidates who are wooing the Republican's conservative base.
Allen's wooing of those conservatives appears to be working, at least if you see what they're saying over at the extreme right wing Free Republic site, which even conservative talk show host Sean Hannity has described as "fringe." Over at Free Republic, they LOVE George Allen, while slamming the Republican Party, President Bush, and John McCain - not to mention most Democrats - for advocating what they call "government control of political speech."
So, George Allen is a hero to the far right wing. Wonderful. But there are a few problems. First, Allen is trying to block any regulation of money in politics, which most Americans consider to be a serious problem that needs to be dealt with. Second, Allen is threatening to derail important lobbying reform legislation in order to accomplish this objective. Finally, although Allen claims he is acting on principle, it is curious that this has flared up now, less than 3 weeks after Jim Webb won the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate from Virginia. Perhaps Allen is thinking he might need a little outside assistance, which 527 groups like the Swift Boat Veterans could provide?
Luckily, we all know that George Allen is a man of principle and would never take a position for political reasons. Nope, never. Not in a million years. Ha.