Remember James Bopp, the sharp Indiana lawyer who represented the state Republican State Committee and Vermont Right to Life in their successful federal court challenge of the state's campaign finance law?
Ole Jim's one of the conservative circle's most favorite attorney, so it's not surprising he was the lawyer making the case in federal court recently that the right-wing financed "Hillary: The Movie" and advertizing for it shouldn't be subject to campaign finance law restrictions regarding disclairmers for ads and when the movie can be broadcast.
Bopp, representing Ciitizens United, a conservative advocacy group, tried to persuade a three-judge panel that the movie and ads for it was part of what he called "issue oriented speech" not political advocacy.
It didn't go well. Here's a portion of the exchange between him and one of the judges, courtesy of Associated Press.
Judge: “What’s the issue?”
Bopp: “That Hillary Clinton is a European Socialist.”
Judge: “Which has nothing to do with her campaign?”
Bopp: “Not specifically, no.”
Judge: “Once you say, ’Hillary Clinton is a European Socialist,’ aren’t you saying vote against her?”
Bopp said no, arguing that the movie did not use the word “vote.”
Judge: “Oh, that’s ridiculous.”
Later, Bopp tried to compare the movie to TV shows like Nova and 60 Minutes, evoking laughter from the same judge.
“You can’t compare this to ’60 Minutes,’” the judge said. “Did you read this transcript?”
Seems Citizens United would rather not be forced to disclose where the money for the movie and ads for it came from. The movie is just out and is about to have screenings in six states that are sites for primaries. It's also available as a DVD. To visit the movie's Web site, click HERE. The court, in Washington D.C., has made no ruling in the case as yet
Among the cast are such "actors" as Dick Morris, Ann Coulter, Newt Gingrich, Jeff Gerth, Michael Barone, Tony Blankley, Dick Armey, Bay Buchanan, Michael Medved and Kathleen Willey.
Don't think this movie will be appearing at the Savoy or the Roxy anytime soon.
-- Sam Hemingway
