Did the NRA Sell Out?

Meredith Jessup | June 16, 2010 10:35 AM

Democrats on Capitol Hill are working to put together a bill to skirt around the Supreme Court's recent campaign finance ruling. But, according to RedState's Insider

, special interest groups are swarming Capitol Hill. The Democrats' plan is to limit free speech in campaign financing and Republicans are reportedly "furious" that the National Rifle Association (NRA) has signed on to support a bill called the DISCLOSE Act--after the organization negotiated a "special provision" exemption.

Roll Call (subscription required) describes the DISCLOSE Act like so:

The bill... comes in response to the high court’s 5-4 ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission in January that struck down many restrictions on political communications and the groups that fund them. The proposal would bulk up disclosure, political coordination and disclaimer requirements, and impose new limits on political involvement by government contractors and foreign governments.

The bill will essentially heavily restrict the political activities of 501(c)(4) organizations, unless--as in the case of the NRA--they're able to carve out a special exemption for themselves. RedState has many more details.

As Erick Erickson wrote yesterday, it seems "the NRA is selling out the Constitution in the name of self preservation." In the end, it's disappointing that the NRA won't stand up for everyone's First Amendment rights as fervently as they fight for everyone's Second Amendment rights.