Who needs the 1st Amendment when you have Hope’n'Change instead?

A new White House policy on permissible lobbying on economic recovery and stimulus project has taken a decidedly anti-First Amendment turn. It’s a classic illustration of Big Government trying to control every aspect of a particular activity and in the process running up against civil liberty.

Check out this passage from a post on the White House blog by Norm Eisen, Special Counsel to the President on Ethics and Government Reform (emphasis added):

“First, we will expand the restriction on oral communications to cover all persons, not just federally registered lobbyists. For the first time, we will reach contacts not only by registered lobbyists but also by unregistered ones, as well as anyone else exerting influence on the process. We concluded this was necessary under the unique circumstances of the stimulus program.

Ah, the incredibly elastic concept of “unique circumstances” being used to justify the stifling of free speech.

Politics, Chicago-deep-dish style.

Or, put differently, “How dare you petition the government!”

Thanks a flipping ton, 52%.

X-Posted at The Vent-O-Matic.