DAVE ROSS

When free speech attacks

Oct 24, 2012, 8:28 AM | Updated: 8:45 am

A Supreme Court ruling that unleashed the flood of third-party political ads is coming back to bite...

A Supreme Court ruling that unleashed the flood of third-party political ads is coming back to bite at least one Congressman who championed "the full flowering" of political speech. (AP image)

(AP image)

On January 21, 2010, the Supreme Court ruled that for the purposes of free speech, corporations are people – unleashing the flood of third party political ads that we’re all currently enjoying. California Representative Dan Lungren took the floor of the House that day to congratulate the court.

“And the court has said we ought to attempt to allow the full flowering of political speech,” Lundgren said.

But what he might not have appreciated back then was just how vigorously the flowers of progress would be blossoming in his own district.

“This is Rep. Dan Lundgren, he voted against embryonic stem cell research, is he a doctor?” says an attack ad targeting the Congressman.

Dan Lungren did vote against the type of research that uses stem cells from embryos. So in this bit of Supreme Court-enabled political speech, actors portraying a mother, a grandson, and a child wonder what would happen to them if they were to contract some horrible disease that could only be cured by the research he voted against.

“Help me , help me, maybe I’m your mother. Maybe I’m your little girl,” say the voices in the ad.

Now, Congressman Lungren wasn’t against all stem cell research, but strangely the ad doesn’t mention that.

“How come he gets to decide who lives and who dies. Who is he?” asks a little girl in the ad.

Actually, he chairs the House committee with jurisdiction over campaign finance issues. And according to the New York Times, he and others who once applauded the Supreme Court decision are drafting laws that would force candidates and campaigns to take more responsibility for these ads.

Beautiful as they are, some flowers smell better than others.

Dave's Commentary

Dave Ross on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM
  • listen to dave rossTune in to KIRO Newsradio weekdays at 5am for Dave Ross on Seattle's Morning News.

Dave Ross

car culture...

Dave Ross

Ross: Are we killing car culture? Or is car culture killing the US?

I don’t think the question is whether we're going to "kill" our car culture. The real question is can we stop our car culture from killing the U.S.?

3 days ago

drivers data insurance...

Dave Ross

Ross: As cars release driving data to insurance, is your driving my business?

Every move you make, every swerve you take, every lane change you fake – someone’s watching you. Do drivers have a right to keep driving data private?

10 days ago

rent control...

Dave Ross

Ross: Rent control was never the answer in Wash.

The rent control bill died in the Washington State Legislature this week, even though Democrats control both houses.

1 month ago

end of democracy...

Dave Ross

Ross: Conservative activist earns applause for pledging an ‘end of Democracy’

The theme from Jack Posobiec's speech is that Jan. 6 was a righteous attack not on democracy, but on those who threaten democracy.

1 month ago

Image: Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, is seen on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6, 2023. (Photo: Alex Brand...

Dave Ross

Ross: Voters can help cull bad politicians from the herd early

Let's remember that just about every occupant of a higher office once occupied a lower office, and was put there by us, Dave Ross says.

1 month ago

Super Bowl celebration...

Dave Ross

Ross: The NFL does it again

The NFL once again put on a show that was able to keep me tuned in for four hours even though I had no stake in either team.

2 months ago

When free speech attacks