By Peter Olsen-PhillipsCornyn told a room of around 70 attendees that “freedom of speech and freedom of association are under assault in this city” citing DISCLOSE and Udall’s proposed amendment. The Republican, like other speakers at the event, sees an ulterior motive in the campaign finance reform. “Government would use its power to silence those with whom it doesn’t agree.”Brad Smith of the Center for Competitive Politics added, in his remarks, that “You have to view this as a war. It’s [the reform movement] about trying to drive corporations out.In the context of Citizens United and the proposed regulation of ‘dark money’ outfits, the disclosure exemption granted to the media got special attention. As Cornyn, Smith and Amir Tayrani of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher emphasized, newspapers and other media outlets that engage in political speech are exempt from the disclosure requirements of explicitly political actors.
