Should Senators be able to write/sell books while they are in office?

[blankslate]

As long as a Senator doesn't compromise classified information that they may have seen with their book. Then in my opinion it falls under free speech.

It's up the the public the think critically about what the book is saying and what (if any) ulterior motives the author may have.

queue one liners about average intelligence / reading level of public...

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"

 

[Veliko]

I am not really very fond of politicians using their position to enrich themselves.

 

[Craig234]

I am not really very fond of politicians using their position to enrich themselves.

Writing books is the least of your worries - unless an interest group buys large quantities.

The way right-wing think tanks buy thousands of right-wing figures' books to get them up on the 'best-seller' list.

I don't have the facts on hand about them doing so for Republican politicians, but suspect they do that too.

Their leaving office to well-paid positions waiting to thank them is a much bigger problem.

 

[airdata]

I think it's in bad taste. Save books for when you retire. If they have enough time to write a book, they should be spending more time doing their jobs. 15 hours a week + golf isn't what they're getting paid for.

 

[Veliko]

Writing books is the least of your worries - unless an interest group buys large quantities.

The way right-wing think tanks buy thousands of right-wing figures' books to get them up on the 'best-seller' list.

I don't have the facts on hand about them doing so for Republican politicians, but suspect they do that too.

Their leaving office to well-paid positions waiting to thank them is a much bigger problem.

'tis a fair point!

 

[woolfe9999]

Of course they shouldn't be able to write books. Who the hell do they think they are? Americans or something? Everyone knows that free speech should only belong to dip wad trolls on the internet.

This is correct. I don't think even inmates can be prevented from writing them. They could be precluded from selling them, however.

 

[monovillage]

This is correct. I don't think even inmates can be prevented from writing them. They could be precluded from selling them, however.

I'd find it hard to believe that the House and Senate would write a law keeping them from writing books and making a profit from it. Call me a cynical bastard, but even if public pressure caused them to do something about the subject i'm sure they'd have a sweet little loophole written into it.

 

[SirStev0]

Why not? The money they make from publishers is probably a drop in the barrel compared to what they make from lobbyist and kickbacks.

 

[woolfe9999]

I'd find it hard to believe that the House and Senate would write a law keeping them from writing books and making a profit from it. Call me a cynical bastard, but even if public pressure caused them to do something about the subject i'm sure they'd have a sweet little loophole written into it.

Oh you're right. They'd never pass such a law. I was just remarking that it probably wouldn't be unconstitutional if they did.

 

[Fern]

look - Inhofe issues aside - and yes it's hard to resist picking on him - my issue is more of a big-picture thing with members of Congress. They are elected to a do a job - to represent the interests of the people that elected them. I'm appalled that insider-trading laws don't apply to them, and that they take advantage of their elected position in many ways, including writing books on things that they may potentially be involved in setting policy on.

Take Inhofe out of this - make it a democratic senator writing a book about how great unions are - I still have a problem with it.

1. Let's get this out of the way first: Bills have been passed in both the House and Senate enacting new rules preventing members of Congress from engaging in insider trading. (I think this is a different kind of insider trading, they are already subject to 'normal' insider trading rules.)

2. You claim a conflict of interest in allowing Congresspersons to write/sell books. I see no conflict of interest. Care to explain?

3. Congresspersons run around talking about their positions on various issues all the time. Put a microphone in front of any of them and they won't shut up. I see no difference between them verbalizing their positions or putting them in writing. So, I see nothing objectionable about them writing/publishing books.

Fern

 

[cybrsage]

Writing books is the least of your worries - unless an interest group buys large quantities.

The way right-wing think tanks buy thousands of right-wing figures' books to get them up on the 'best-seller' list.

I don't have the facts on hand about them doing so for Republican politicians, but suspect they do that too.

Their leaving office to well-paid positions waiting to thank them is a much bigger problem.

Just to check, you are aware that left wingers do this too, right?

 

[NeoV]

as I said earlier - replace inhofe with a Dem congressperson writing a book about how great Unions are - same problem with it

 

[JEDIYoda]

as I said earlier - replace inhofe with a Dem congressperson writing a book about how great Unions are - same problem with it

-- I guess he doesn`t care to explain -- that was no explanation...