Comments about ‘Herbert to disclose donors on Web site’

The First Amendment has had a powerful and important role in American history and a vital principle to an informed and free democracy. But while Gov. Herbert has moved a signficant step forward in electorate transparency and campaign reporting, his insistance on unlimited campaign contributions remains an ominous barrier to free speech. Money has come to dominate political speech and threatens to drown out informed political discussion by special interests who can buy the media message. Instead of promoting free speech, unlimited campaign contributions threaten to price out the ability of a diversity of discussion leaving only those with power and wealth to be able to control the message the public hears and allows only those influential candidates who can raise millions of dollars the ability to run, leaving out the dedicated public servants who are unable to buy into an expensive political campaign. Unlimited campaign funded campaigns in reality limit those who can run for office, limits free speech to those with money, the few who can influence and bargain and buy votes. Freedom of speech is being threatened not preserved under Gov. Herbert's campaign fund philosophy.

Admit it, Utah has the best politicians that money can buy. Halloween comes early this year.

Finally, a politician who doesn't just 'comply' with the campaign finance law, he is using his position to help foster a more transparent political process. Now, if only the legislature could get behind such a notion....

The principals you are talking about are true but you have them backwards. You refer to those with "power and wealth" and fear that by not caping campaign contributions, they would control the message to the public. Don't you think that if we limit contributions that that's EXACTLY what would happen when a rich guy with a name decides to run? Think how many unqualified celebrities become legitimate contenders simply because they can finance their own campaign. If you limit donations and an extremely qualified middle class citizen (Herbert?) wants to run, do you think he even stands a chance against a millionaire? (Huntsman?) Now who's controlling the message? You've just put handcuffs on the middle class citizen.