If you don't want to be known as a backer of something then be quiet.Reader comment on: A Big Victory for Free Speech Submitted by Lyle (United States), Jan 21, 2010 18:57 It seems to me that if you truly back something you should be willing to have it be public. If you stand on a street corner and make a speech your identity is disclosed by standing there. If there are consequences to speaking out, well, thats the way it is, there is always a risk to every action. The ruling could well be used to require that a corporate add include a bit by the CEO like political ads do for candidates, that "We approved this add and believe what it says is true". If you are not willing to put up that way, you do not deserve to speak. Note: Comments are moderated by the editor and are subject to editing. The Future of Capitalism replies: Samuel Adams wrote under more than a dozen pen names. The Federalist papers were published under pen names, as were the "Farmer's Letters." There's a long tradition of anonymous political speech. I'm not saying no disclosure or that I agree with Justice Thomas, just that that tradition is worth weighing and taking into account when making laws or judgments about disclosure. Submit a comment on this article Other reader comments on this item
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