Appeals court upholds ban on opponent-bashing

OLYMPIA -- The city of Seattle can bar political candidates from criticizing their opponents in the city's voter pamphlet, a federal appeals court ruled Monday.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling overturns U.S. District Judge Robert Lasnik, who tossed out Seattle's ordinance as an unconstitutional restriction of free speech in 2001.

Grant Cogswell, an advocate for expanding the Seattle monorail who was challenging incumbent Richard McIver for a seat on the Seattle City Council, sued when his initial voter pamphlet statement was rejected because it criticized McIver's record.

"Seattle intended its voters pamphlet to introduce the candidates to the voters, and the restriction helps further this purpose by limiting candidates statements to self-discussion," Judge A. Wallace Tashima wrote for a unanimous three-judge panel of the appellate court.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/aplocal_story.asp?category=6420&slug=WA%20Opponent%20Bashing

I think all campaigning should be done that way. Only statements concerning one's self. No attacking others only stating your own resume and your own policy plans.