A new ad in support of vulnerable Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., attacks his opponent, independent Greg Orman, over his support for a constitutional amendment that would override a Supreme Court decision.
The ad, released by conservative organization American Commitment, thanks Roberts for giving an impassioned speech defending free speech — something conservatives believe would be restricted if the amendment were passed.
“I am profoundly grateful for the wisdom of the founders and proud to stand here today to defend the First Amendment that they gave us,” Roberts says in a clip used in the ad, while depressing yet strangely patriotic music plays in the background.
The ad notes that Roberts’ opponent Orman would support the amendment. On the issues page of his campaign website, Orman says the Supreme Court “made a mistake” in its Citizens United decision (and multiple subsequent decisions) that allowed corporations and certain political organizations the ability to spend unlimited amounts of money on political speech.
“If elected I will support a Constitutional Amendment to overturn this verdict to ensure we can keep the unlimited flow of dark money out of politics,” Orman wrote on his campaign website.
In early September, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., held a vote to advance the amendment to debate and then accused Republicans of trying to “stall” the Senate for voting to advance.
Phil Kerpen, president of American Commitment, called the vote “shameful” and praised Roberts for voting against advancement.
“One of the most important votes in the Senate this year was on the Democrats’ shameful constitutional amendment to gut the First Amendment and let politicians in Washington and in state capitals restrict speech and silence dissent,” Kerpen told the Washington Examiner in an e-mail. “Pat Roberts not only voted the right way but made an impassioned defense of free speech on the Senate floor, and we appreciate his leadership.”
Roberts and Orman are locked in a tight race for the U.S. Senate.
