Recent evidence is ominous.
The basis of political-speech regulation is the 1971 Federal Election Campaign Act. Because of it, for the first time Americans were required to register with the government before spending money to disseminate criticism of its officeholders. Liberals eager for more regulation of political speech should note the pedigree of their project. His Justice Department got a court to enjoin the committee from further spending to disseminate its beliefs. Two years later this dissemination of truthful information brought a suit from the FEC's speech police, who said the committee's speech was illegal because the committee had not fulfilled all the registering and reporting the FECA requires of those who engage in independent expenditure supporting or opposing a candidate.