RNC TAKES ON MCCAIN’S SIGNATURE BILL…. At least Republicans waited until after the presidential election to challenge the signature legislation of their presidential nominee.
Less than two weeks after John McCain failed to keep the White House in Republican hands, the Republican National Committee filed lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002.
Sen. McCain, R-Ariz., angered conservatives six years ago when he fought for the BCRA — and ironically some of the very restrictions McCain helped put in place limited what the RNC was able to do on McCain’s behalf during his White House run.
The move by Republicans, which comes just nine days after the election, indicates a concern among the GOP about party fundraising and its ability to influence state and local politics. One lawsuit, which the party says it filed today in the District of Columbia, seeks to overturn the ban on unregulated contributions or “soft money”. The other lawsuit, filed today in Louisiana, seeks to eliminate restrictions on coordinated spending between candidates and the political parties’ committees.
Marc Ambinder described this as the RNC throwing “a pie in John McCain’s face,” adding, “Nine days after the election, the Republican National Committee is no longer interested in being friends with their nominee.”
And Ben Stein concluded that it’s “not McCain’s party. It never really was, but the RNC’s lawsuit to overturn McCain-Feingold makes that particularly clear.”
