[EL] David Brooks & McCutcheon Whistles

[Rick Hasen]

Steve,
I suppose it is a failing on my part in lack of clarity in my writings, 
but my talk about "corruption" and of political equality is not dog 
whistle politics for an anti-Republican party argument.
It really has nothing to do with that.
Rick

On 4/4/14, 10:38 AM, Steve Hoersting wrote:
>
> When a Cass Sunstein and John McCain fan of the caliber of David 
> Brooks says, in his closing paragraphs, the progressive 
> campaign-finance vision is flawed, reformers must take that statement 
> seriously.
>
> Rick says Brooks gets the "gridlock" argument, but Brooks misses the 
> "corruption" argument.
>
> I have resisted saying that these points, from Rick, (and less 
> Delphically from Pildes) are themselves "dog whistles." And much of 
> the reformers' longstanding endgame seems to be revealed in Rick's 
> language.
>
> The "gridlock" argument that Rick says Brooks gets is that the 
> McCutcheon opinion will allow the Republican party committees to quell 
> the Tea Party insurgency.
>
> The "corruption" argument Rick says Brooks does not get is that 
> stronger [Republican] parties may sweep a Republican back in as Senate 
> Majority Leader and into the White House. After all, this was the 
> state of play pre-McCain Feingold, pre-killing of state party ground game.
>
> I had a substantial role in creating the Super PAC and thereby freeing 
> the "Koch-fueled" grassroots that progressives decry today.
>
> And I had a substantial role in bringing the McCutcheon opinion into 
> existence. I admit I worry the McCutcheon opinion may quell the Rand 
> Paul, Ted Cruz, Mike Lee realignment the Republican Party so 
> desperately needs.
>
> My concern, frankly, is that the Party will now be John McCains and 
> Lindsey Grahams "all the way down."
>
> Here is the difference, though, between me and the reformers: I 
> believe America's political representation should be the result 
> cultural and philosophical debate, not hampered debate under 
> restrictive campaign laws.
>
> Steve
>
> Sent from my phone.
>
>
>
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-- 
Rick Hasen
Chancellor's Professor of Law and Political Science
UC Irvine School of Law
401 E. Peltason Dr., Suite 1000
Irvine, CA 92697-8000
949.824.3072 - office
949.824.0495 - fax
rhasen at law.uci.edu
http://www.law.uci.edu/faculty/full-time/hasen/
http://electionlawblog.org

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