Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/boundvolumes/558bv.pdf
Page Number: 646

Cite as: 558 U. S. 310 (2010) 

485 

Opinion of Thomas, J. 

I cannot endorse a view of the First Amendment that sub­
jects citizens of this Nation to death threats, ruined careers, 
damaged  or  defaced  property,  or  pre-emptive  and  threaten­
ing warning letters as the price for engaging in “core politi­
cal  speech,  the  ‘primary  object  of  First  Amendment  protec­
tion.’ ”  McConnell, 540 U. S., at 264 (Thomas, J., concurring 
in  part,  concurring  in  judgment  in  part,  and  dissenting  in 
part)  (quoting  Nixon  v.  Shrink  Missouri  Government  PAC, 
528  U. S. 377,  410–411  (2000) (Thomas,  J.,  dissenting)).  Ac­
cordingly,  I  respectfully  dissent  from  the  Court’s  judgment 
upholding BCRA §§ 201 and 311. 

speech,’ ”  and  which  “sometimes”  involved  “strong  and  abusive  language 
in face-to-face encounters”).