The Anti-First Amendmentists

Have you ever entered a dark room, flicked on the lights only to see surprised cockroaches scatter into the nearest cracks and crevices? Well that's how I felt when I happened across this Wall Street Journal blog while writing a paper for school.

I think some the best advice in politics I ever got was the best way to lose your argument is to overstate your case. So I don't go throwing around words like un--American indiscriminately, but its hard to see the 501 (c)(4) group, tax exempt, nonprofit "Accountable America" as anything but un-American

--or more specifically anti-First Amendment.

Most such groups -- both liberal and conservative -- are about issue advocacy, but this one is out to kill other groups and imprison conservatives who violate either actual laws or trivial technicalities. The so-called Accountable America doesn't seem to make any distinction. It is just out to destroy anyone they can.

Accountable America is going after people who contribute to any of of the groups it disagree with. They OUT contributors publicly, send threatening letters, offer rewards to snitches and tries to embarrass people into self-cencorship.

I don't think that is a proper way to win an argument. What do you think?

This isn't a watch dog group; this is a pair of rabid wolves. If these two men can't win on the merits, than maybe Misters Judd Legum and Tom Matzzie (pictured) might want to consider the possibility that they are just plain wrong.

Don't take my word for it. Here are Accountable America's stated objectives in their own worrisome words.

1. Financial Crisis Accountability Project: We will amplify the demands of the American people for accountability for the financial crisis. We will highlight the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission which has a mandate from Congress to investigate and make criminal referrals around the financial crisis.

2. Conservative Group Project: We seek to discourage groups and right-wing donors trying to "swiftboat" progressives. We aim to educate the public about the connections between these donors, many with unsavory business and personal stories, and lawmakers in Washington.

3. Stop Conservative Ideas: We're highlighting some of the bad ideas that conservatives are still pushing even after all the recent turmoil in the economy.

Accountable America is a non-partisan (yeah right!), non-profit corporation. We do not seek to elect or defeat candidates or endorse candidates for federal office.