[What follows is a response submitted by NRLC to various publications
that in December carried letters written by the national president of the
League of Women Voters which attacked NRLC's position on free speech about
politicians.]
Dear Editor:
Becky Cain, the president of the League of Women Voters (LWV) recently attacked
the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) for running radio ads that criticize
certain lawmakers who are pushing so-called "campaign reform"
bills that would greatly restrict our speech about politicians' positions
on issues. In letters published in various publications, Ms. Cain claimed
the NRLC ads are "wildly inaccurate." However, she failed to mention
a single inaccuracy - - perhaps because the text of each ad scrupulously
conforms to the provisions of each specific bill discussed.
Although Ms. Cain neglected to mention it, several of the bills opposed
by NRLC (including the bills proposed by Reps. Scotty Baesler, D-Ky., and
Dick Gephardt, D-Mo., HR 1366 and HR 2777 respectively) contain a provision
recommended in the LWV's own five-point "campaign reform" plan
- - to prohibit groups (other than federal PACs) from even mentioning the
name of a federal politician, in print or broadcast communications
to the public, for three months before any primary or general
election (even if the communication deals with an imminent vote in Congress).
The McCain-Feingold bill contains a similar provision.
The LWV has promoted this outrageous gag-rule scheme in a $1 million TV
and print ad campaign, funded with tax-deductible money from the Pew Charitable
Trusts. The LWV proposal explicitly exempts "candidate debates and
press coverage" from the proposed restrictions on corporate-sponsored
commentary on politicians. Not surprising, since the LWV (itself a nonprofit
corporation) depends heavily on its credibility with the institutional news
media and editorial boards - - credibility closely related to its carefully
cultivated image as a "neutral" sponsor of "nonpartisan"
debates - - in order to advance its public policy agenda.
But what is that agenda? Many might be surprised to learn that it includes
lobbying against restrictions on abortion - - even partial-birth abortion.
On April 3, Ms. Cain herself signed a LWV letter to all senators, urging
them to vote against the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act in the name of "reproductive
choice." The LWV also lobbied this year in favor of the chemical weapons
treaty, gun control, funding of the U.N., health care for children, and
clean air standards, and against the balanced budget constitutional amendment.
We believe that the LWV has a perfect right, under the First Amendment,
to seek to persuade officeholders, officeseekers, or the general public
of its viewpoint on these or any other issues. But we will strongly resist
the LWV's attempts to use the force of law to suppress the free-speech rights
of other, larger associations of American citizens, such as NRLC and the
Christian Coalition, in order to enhance the eroding value of its own species
of political "currency."
Finally, Ms. Cain seems perturbed that NRLC received contributions from
the RNC and from a wealthy businessman in 1996. Since it is still a free
country, NRLC is ready and eager to receive such legal donations, with no
strings attached, from any individuals, incorporated groups, unions, or
parties that support NRLC's public policy goals, including our current defense
of the First Amendment's protection for the right to communicate with the
public about politicians' positions on issues. However, potential donors
should be aware that such donations to NRLC are not tax-deductible
- - unlike the money funneled through fat-cat foundation bosses that Ms.
Cain's group is spending to promote legislation to gag us.
Sincerely,
Douglas Johnson
Legislative Director
National Right to Life Committee
Washington, D.C.