As a consequence, the Court ruled that the limits on campaign spending violated the First Amendment, but it accepted the $1,000 limit on individual contributions on the ground that the need to avoid the appearance of corruption justified this limited constraint on speech. James L. Buckley 000acceptamendment share on social
In rendering its decision in our case, the Supreme Court equated money with speech because these days it takes the first to make yourself heard. James L. Buckley casecourtday Change image and share on social
I am persuaded that in the case of elected officials, the overwhelming temptation is to conclude that it is more important for your constituents that you be reelected than that you deal honestly with them. James L. Buckley caseconcludeconstituent share on social
I had hoped that the current presidential campaign debates might educate the public as to what is really involved in the ongoing controversy over campaign financing. James L. Buckley campaigncontroversycurrent Change image and share on social
What people fail to appreciate is that the currency of corruption in elective office is, not money, but votes. James L. Buckley corruptioncurrencyelective Change image and share on social
Unfortunately, the media, which are not at all reluctant to act in their own self-interest, have succeeded in equating reform in the public mind with further restrictions on just about everyone else's freedom of political speech. James L. Buckley actequatefreedom share on social
They may then be willing to cast principled votes based on an educated understanding of the public interest in the face of polls suggesting that the public itself may have quite a different understanding of where its interest lies. James L. Buckley basecasteducate share on social
This source of corruption, alas, is inherent in the democratic system itself, and it can only be controlled, if at all, by finding ways to encourage legislators to subordinate ambition to principle. James L. Buckley alaambitioncontrol Change image and share on social
The Court made an exception, however, in the case of candidates contributing to their own campaigns because of the rather reasonable presumption that a candidate is incapable of corrupting himself. James L. Buckley campaigncandidatecase Change image and share on social
