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Transcript:

March 12, 2010
[NOT ALL VIEWERS MAY SEE THIS CONTENT DUE TO PLEDGE PROGRAMMING]

BILL MOYERS: We always like to hear from you to learn what you think about what we do here at the Journal. We read all of your comments, but here are a few that especially caught our attention. Recently law professor Lawrence Lessig and libertarian Nick Gillespie appeared to talk about campaign finance reform and the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision:

NICK GILLESPIE: I think it was a victory for free speech, in the end. And if anything, it didn't go far enough. Campaign finance regulation is always a suppression of speech. And this law addresses a small aspect of it. That should help the quality and quantity and variety of political speech.

BILL MOYERS: Here's what some of you had to say:

VOICE 1: Why doesn't your guest know that money buys megaphones to broadcast speech? It is not speech. The gentleman was afraid his taxes would be spent on a candidate he doesn't support, but when he buys something from a corporation, a portion of that money will be spent on politicians he doesn't support just as much as with public funding of campaigns. Jerry Scott

VOICE 2: If money equals speech, then the concept of "free speech" has been turned into an oxymoron by the Supreme Court ruling. Nicolina Contardo

VOICE 3: Nick Gillepsie was a welcome and refreshing addition to your normal stable of liberal pap. More "other points of view" will always be welcome. Herb Baker

VOICE 4: Everyone should have a chance to speak, even if they get together and speak by one voice under a corporate structure. The concern is the literally billions of dollars that big business can bring to bear upon issues. There is no power over the great masses that equals that of slick advertising. Michael Kitchen

BILL MOYERS: Eric Alterman and Melissa Harris Lacewell discussed President Obama's first year in office -

ERIC ALTERMAN: Barack Obama has the largest majority of both houses that any President has had in 30 years, and yet he's governing as if he's- it's 50-50 or even he's in the minority. Now, he should be willing to take some hits for what he strongly believes in.

VOICE 5: I couldn't agree with Eric Alterman more about the road forward for Obama… You can't play nice with people who are hell bent on destroying you, and having their way at any cost. Maybe it works in academia, but this is bloodsport. Obama has to fight back now... Otherwise we are looking at a failed presidency. Alice

VOICE 6: As Eric Alterman said: the Dem's loss in Massachusetts was a repudiation of Obama's being unwilling to fight for the agenda people thought they were electing him for. Amen to that… Democrats have been unwilling to fight for a public option or single payer. They were sent a message from Massachusetts. I hope they get it, start over, and this time start fighting for "change we can believe in." Ed Schilling

BILL MOYERS: Finally, just days after she was arrested trying to deliver a letter to the president, Dr. Margaret Flowers came on the Journal and told us why she was ready to risk jail to bring attention to the fight for single payer healthcare reform.

DR. MARGARET FLOWERS: If we passed a Medicare for all system, it would be a huge win, not just for the American people but for this administration. And that, in fact, we didn't really want to have to go through this to have our voices heard.

VOICE 7: Margaret Flowers has been accused of being naive. Isn't any marginalized voice always considered naive? If we look back at history and examine some of our American heroes: Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony, Martin Luther King. These historical figures when they were alive must have seemed naive, with their seemingly outlandish ideas: free slaves, extend the vote to women, desegregate schools and public services. Sophie Jasson-Holt

VOICE 8: While Dr. Flowers is passionate and self-righteous, we have but to look at the failing Medicare/Medicaid system or the underfunded Veterans' system to see why the government should not run health insurance programs. Robert E. Kelly.

VOICE 9: I am a retired Navy SEAL who served on active duty for 35 years... Dr. Flowers reflected an American profile of courage worthy of recognition and support by all Americans… Hope President Obama was watching. Gene Wardrobe

BILL MOYERS: Keep your comments coming - by mail, e-mail, or on our blog at pbs.org. We promise to keep reading.

[END SPECIAL CONTENT]
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