Senator McCain no Choice for President

The more I learn about presidential hopeful Senator John McCain (R. Arizona), the more convinced I am that he is not only a poor choice for the job as president, but as a politician and senator he is from another planet.

In December of last year, McCain introduced the "Stop the Online Exploitation of Our Children Act of 2006", an act designed in theory to protect our nation's many exploited children, but in all reality is nothing more than a thinly disguised piece of legislation aimed at limiting bloggers and their right to free speech as afforded by the First Amendment of our Constitution.

In his speech to Congress, McCain stated "The Federal government has in place a system for online companies such as Internet service providers to report images to National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The Center is directed by law to relay that information to Federal and State law enforcement agencies. This reporting system has been successful, but it is in need of several vital improvements. This bill would enhance the current reporting system by expanding the range of companies obligated".

Now don't get me wrong, I am certainly not advocating the right for anyone to manufacture and distribute child pornography, but this act was merely created as a way for Senator McCain to get his "foot in the door" for Senate Bill 1, Section 220 which allows for the regulation of "grassroots lobbying" and defines such as "the voluntary efforts of members of the general public to communicate their own views on an issue to Federal officials or to encourage other members of the general public to do the same".

While this section endorsed by McCain has subsequently been struck from the bill, it would have allowed Congress to "require grassroots causes, even bloggers, who communicate to 500 or more members of the public on policy matters, to register and report quarterly to Congress the same as the big "K" Street lobbyists", according to Richard A. Viguerie, columnist for the Washington Post. "Section 220 would amend existing lobbying reporting law by creating the most expansive intrusion on First Amendment rights ever. For the first time in history, critics of Congress will need to register and report with Congress itself." McCain's proposal would have introduced legislation making it legal to fine bloggers up to $300,000 for offensive statements, photos and videos posted by visitors on their comment boards.

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