Ken Buck: Democrats chill free speech by halting Citizens United film
/By Ken Buck
Denver Post
The Colorado Democratic Party has struck another blow against the First Amendment by attempting to silence a documentary film that discusses the current political and policy atmosphere in Colorado.
The film intended to inform Coloradans before the election, and partisan politics prevailed over the public's right to know the truth.
Under current Colorado law, any film that includes footage of candidates running for office has to register with the Secretary of State's office and file burdensome campaign finance reports. The film's producer, Citizens United, filed suit seeking to be treated as any other media entity.
A federal judge ruled against Citizens United's motion for a preliminary injunction this week, effectively prohibiting the producer from releasing its movie.
I would have been appearing in their upcoming film, "Rocky Mountain Heist." The film explores the story of how wealthy liberals have radically transformed our state, turning it from red to blue in just a few short years.
They've run a systematic campaign to undermine conservative values, restructure the state's economic policies, and restrict our constitutional rights.
This is an important story that needs to be told to all Coloradans and adds significant information to the marketplace of ideas.
Unfortunately, it's currently sitting on a shelf because the state of Colorado and the Colorado Democratic Party don't believe that documentary filmmaking is legitimate media activity.
This is a blatant attempt to chill free speech at a time when voters need information more than ever.
Our local news stations frequently investigate the veracity of political ads as a public service to help citizens wade through the morass of information and misinformation.
Why can't an independent filmmaker document the corruption in Colorado politics to assist citizens determine the credibility of advertisements and the motives of their sponsors?
In filing its lawsuit, Citizens United is fighting to reconcile the law with what we all know to be fact: The media is changing. We've watched it evolve from traditional printed newspapers to radio, television, bloggers and film.
To impose campaign finance reporting obligations on one class of media entities while protecting others is both discriminatory and wrong.
The Denver Post may electioneer and even endorse candidates without any campaign finance reporting obligations. Colorado Public Television could broadcast its own version of "Rocky Mountain Heist" containing the same content as Citizens United's film and be exempt from reporting obligations because it is a broadcast entity.
These 20th century distinctions have no place in a world driven by modern technology in the 21st century.
The Citizens United decision that President Obama railed against during his State of the Union address is the law of the land.
Liberals have largely failed at attempts to undo Citizens United through legislation. Unfortunately, they have been successful today in carrying out their fight against the First Amendment in the courtroom.
I'm confident Citizens United will prevail on appeal.
Ken Buck is Weld County district attorney and Republican candidate for Colorado's 4th Congressional District.
