Issue Blackout Starts Today

The McCain-Feingold law's prohibition on broadcast issue ads by unions and incorporated groups such as the Sierra Club or the U.S. Chamber of Commerce takes effect today. From now through election day, such organizations and groups cannot run broadcast ads that even mention a federal candidate, unless they have a PAC with enough money to do so.

So as congress considers budget bills and other legislation in the next few weeks, they can do so free from most of those pesky ads that rally citizens to call their congressmen and senators to tell them how they think their representatives should vote.

Ah well, could be worse. We could have "corruption" in government.

"I would rather have a clean government than one where quote First Amendment rights are being respected, that has become corrupt. If I had my choice, I'd rather have the clean government."

- John McCain