(Supreme) Court skeptical of McCain-Feingold's ad limits - AP

Source: Associated Press

Court skeptical of McCain-Feingold's ad limits
Federal election law said to restrict free speech rights

Updated: 1 hour, 13 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - A majority of the Supreme Court appears to be skeptical
of the landmark McCain-Feingold campaign finance law's restrictions
on pre-election issue ads that mention a candidate by name.

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In arguments defending the law Wednesday, attorney Seth Waxman said
that advocacy groups could still run the ads as long as they are financed
with funds from political groups that comply with federal limits and
disclosure requirements.

"What do you make of the fact that so many advocacy groups say that's
impractical?" asked Justice Samuel Alito, whose vote could be pivotal
because he took the place of Sandra Day O'Connor. She was one of five
justices to uphold large portions of the campaign finance law in 2003.

Waxman responded by pointing out that one of those groups, the ACLU,
never mentions a specific candidate by name and therefore hasn't been
affected by the restriction.

But Chief Justice John Roberts, who has also joined the court since
the 2003 ruling, wasn't moved by that.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18305892