The McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform bill has passed the Senate. It still has to pass the House and then the Joint Reconciliation Committee, another vote in both houses and then a possible presidential veto. Even if it succeeds, it still must face challenges in the United States Supreme Court, a body which lately has proven it is not above politics.

Should the almost impossible occur and the bill in its current form, become enacted into law and sustained in the high court, this would still not solve some of the most egregious problems. That is, the problems of “freedom of speech” (translation: them with enough money and clout to be heard) paying for “issue and advocacy” ads.

The reason these are even more insidious than regular political ads is that they can be run without any responsibility being placed on any candidate or party. This ad is sponsored by the “Committee for Fairness,” or the “Committee for a New Start,” or “Citizens for Good Governance,” etc., whoever or whatever they are.

The candidate and his party is given plausible deniability. e.g. This policy, which is an attempt to destroy motherhood and apple pie, although we never mention by name or party, is sponsored by candidate “A” who we all know is a “commie wife-beating cheating drunk.” Candidate “B” can say, after the fact and after all the damage is done, that he or she knew nothing about the ad.

What I would like to propose, regardless of what happens with McCain-Feingold, is that all stations, both radio and TV have a responsibility in return for their license to provide a public service. That, at the end of every issue or advocacy ad they provided 8 or 10 seconds of free time in which each candidate must say either, “I endorse this ad and fully agree with what is says,” or, “This ad is full of half truths and distortions and presents a false picture.” No station would be permitted to air these ads without these comments and no politician would be able to hide. If we can ban tobacco ads, because they harm the public health, we certainly should be able to ban irresponsible ads that harm the public good.

The print media is a different story. They are not holders of federally granted licenses. But, they also owe the public the “unvarnished truth.”

It would be helpful if at the bottom of any ot these ads, a fraction of an inch of space was donated for similar comments, equally denying a “bought and paid for” politician any place to hide or the ability for his or her rich masters to provide him or her with cover.

Dr. Hal Goodman lives in Eastport.