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• EDITORIAL: The Case for McCain-Feingold 

The Supreme Court hears arguments tomorrow in a case that will very likely determine whether we, as a nation, have the ability to cleanse our democracy of the poison of huge special-interest campaign contributions. The justices are returning early from summer break to hear a challenge to the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law. The law closes two gaping campaign finance loopholes, reining in corrupt "soft money" expenditures and bogus "issue ads." It falls squarely within Congress's power to regulate federal elections, and does not infringe on any constitutional rights. The Supreme Court should uphold the law in its entirety. . . .

Everyone involved is in on the soft-money charade. Parties wink when they accept money secretly earmarked for Senator X's campaign. And when the donor comes by later for a favor, Senator X is well aware of the soft-money gift. According to evidence in the case, soft money played a key role in blocking Congressional action on generic drugs, tort reform, tobacco-control laws and new accounting rules for stock options. . .

At issue before the justices tomorrow is more than a single piece of cleanup legislation. The issue, in a very real sense, is democracy itself . . . .

If the Supreme Court holds that Congress cannot make these small but critically important fixes, it will be condemning the nation to a democracy forever held captive to the corrupting influence of monied special interests.

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