Corporate Corruption

The lead article in today’s New York Times is titled, “Justices, 5-4, Reject Corporate Campaign Spending Limit.” It describes a Supreme Court ruling that overthrew two precedents to allow corporations to spend whatever and whenever they want to support a political candidate.

President Obama decried the decision as supporting oil companies and banks, and the ruling also seems to place Democrats at a disadvantage because they are not usually supported by big business, the main beneficiary of this ruling. The ruling was supported by the conservative bloc of the court with Justice Kennedy serving as the tie-breaking vote.

Previously, corporations were prevented from airing political advertisements within 30 days before a Presidential primary or 60 days before a general election. Observers had thought the court might hand down a narrow ruling instead of the encompassing proclamation in this case.

I think we’ll have to wait to see how things play out. Congress can still mandate that the source of the advertising must be revealed and make other restrictions within the scope of the ruling. The precedent may have a more shadowy effect by allowing lobbyists to threaten political advertisements rather than actually make them.

Free speech is a noble goal, but it does have its limitations. It seems the Supreme Court erred and failed to show common sensibility in this decision.