“Everyone is in favor of free speech… but some people's idea of it is that they are free to say what they like, but if anyone else says anything back, that is an outrage.” ― Winston Churchill
Supporters of Campaign Finance Reform frequently cite “good intent” in its defense. While this is a handy way to avoid the messiness of real world results, it does put their motives on table as an issue.
Norman J. Ornstein, a Congressional expert at the American Enterprise Institute and a member of McCain’s Reform Institute advisory board, said [NYT] that it was overstating the case to portray the institute as an extension of Mr. McCain’s personal political goals and that he could succeed without it.
“The man is a rock star,” Mr. Ornstein said. “He is doing it for the right reasons.”
I take this to mean: “John may be skating on the edge of propriety, but he means well, and his charisma will carry him through.”
