Feingold: Campaign Finance Ruling Was A "Tragic Error"

As one of the co-architects of significant campaign finance reform legislation, Sen. Russell Feingold (D-Wisc.) was naturally displeased by the Supreme Court's recent decision to allow corporate funding of election advertisements.

“The Supreme Court’s decision ... was a tragic error,” Feingold said Tuesday. “It has harmed our democracy in ways that ... will likely become clear over the next few election cycles.”

The 5-4 ruling, which was made in Citizens United V. Federal Election Commission, denies that the FEC can restrict corporate spending on the grounds that it violates corporations’ rights to free speech, a notion Feingold claims “makes no sense.”

“Corporations can’t vote or run for office, they don’t have feelings or thoughts,” Feingold argued. “They don’t speak of make decisions except through individuals.”

Feingold, along with Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.), sponsored the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act. The legislation restricted the use of soft money and prohibited corporations from placing ads in the lead up to primaries or general elections.

Mukasey dodges bullets

Attorney General Michael Mukasey testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in a hearing on oversight of the Department of Justice. Mukasey was questioned about past and present ‘politicization’ of the department, openness of the department with its findings, and controversial new criteria he has implemented for launching investigations into suspected terrorist activity.

A barrage of questions from Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) proved ineffective. When asked by Schumer whether he would make records from certain cases from the Office of Professional Responsibility available to committee, Mukasey stated that it would depend on evidence. In response to his testimony, Schumer stated that he was very disappointed with the Attorney General’s answers. These sentiments were echoed by other members of the committee.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) criticized the Office of Legal Counsel’s actions, referring to it as ‘George Bush’s Shop of Legal Horrors'. He also called for Mukasey to learn from past mistakes in the deparment.

Mukasey was also questioned about new terrorist investigation criteria. These criteria would allow the department to access information on things like travel records and weapons possession. Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WIS) addressed the issue, asking about the limits to which these criteria would go. Mukasey dismissed the questions as dealing with hypotheticals.

'Misguided focus' on Iraq threatens America with bankruptcy

'Confronting foreign intelligence and information gaps' was the topic of discussion at the New America Foundation led by Senator Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) Feingold identified a lack of any coherent plan of
action since 9/11 which occurred almost seven years ago. He said America's vulnerability lies in strategic planning, institutional readiness and allocation of resources.

Feingold feels the biggest strategic mistake after 9/11 was the failure to directly deal with al Qaeda. In his opinion, America cannot construct an effective national security strategy which leaves thousands of U.S. troops in Iraq indefinitely, a scenario which he is against. Feingold also said he is sure that if there were a geographical base to al Qaeda, it was not in Iraq. He said al Qaeda's
goal to bankrupt America, as claimed by Osama bin Laden in a 2004 speech, has been successful thus far as America continues to spend its resources on its 'misguided focus' on Iraq.

In Feingold's opinion, a better and more effective national security strategy must include improved resources to collect undercover and public information, enhance multilateral diplomatic ties and hinder
proliferation of nuclear weapons. The strategy must also encourage transparent and fair government around the world, and promote accountability and the rule of law. Feingold emphasized that the best
information was obtained not by covert means but by open foreign service official channels.