CCP Chairman Brad Smith appeared on Public Radio International’s “To the Point” program Monday to discuss the Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission with a panel of guests. The segment starts at about seven minutes into the show, available here.
Here’s the description from KCRW, which produces “To the Point” from Santa Monica, Calif.:
The U.S. Supreme Court and Partisan Politics (12:07 p.m., Jan. 25)
Corporations are individuals with First Amendment rights, and they can spend whatever they want to in political campaigns. So said the US Supreme Court last week in a 5-to-4 ruling that overturned two of its own precedents and a 63-year-old limit on corporate spending in political campaigns. The majority said it was lifting the burden of “censorship.” The dissenters said it was opening the door wider than ever to corporate corruption. Is the decision a victory for free speech or will it drown out “the voice of the people.” Will there be more money in politics than ever before? Will Republicans get a big, new advantage? Will there be all that much of a difference? We look at the ruling, the controversy and the possible impact in this year’s elections and beyond.
Guests:
Tom Hamburger: Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times
Fred Wertheimer: Founder and President, Democracy 21
Bradley Smith: former Chairman, Federal Election Commission; Chairman, Center for Competitive Politics
Heather Gerken: Professor of Elections Law, Yale Law School
