FEC may impose new rules on bloggers

[Melissa G]

Give the FEC some comments folks!


FEC may impose new rules on bloggers

BY DAWN WITHERS

Chicago Tribune


WASHINGTON - (KRT) - Web loggers, who pride themselves on freewheeling political activism, may soon face new federal rules on candidate endorsements, online fundraising and political ads - though bloggers who don't take money from political groups would not be affected.

Draft rules from the Federal Election Commission, which enforces campaign finance laws and is haltingly moving toward regulating how campaign money is spent on the Internet, would require that paid political advertisements on the Internet declare who funded the ad, much as political television spots do now.

Similar disclaimers would be placed on political Web sites, as well as on e-mails sent to people on purchased lists containing more than 500 addresses. The FEC is also considering whether to require web loggers, or bloggers, to disclose whether they get money from a campaign committee or a candidate, and to reveal whether they are being paid to write about certain candidates or solicit contributions on their behalf.

These rules would not affect citizens who don't take money from political action committees or parties.

The FEC is accepting public comments on the proposals until Friday, and hearings will be held June 28 and 29.

[napi21]

1. I don't see anything wrong with that! If you do, tell me what I'm missing

You have to remember, this rule would apply to BOTH SIDES! I think it's a great idea to force some of these slezebags out from under their rocks!

[Peace Patriot]

3. Yeah, that was my first hit on it, too, napi21. I suspect the Bushites...

...have a lot more paid bloggers than the leftists have, and it would be good to be able to pin some of the freepers worst crap on their employers--and to out them, to find out who's paying them. And to sort of who's getting paid as a political operative, and who isn't.

HOWEVER, this needs to be looked into by some good lawyers (ACLU??). Given that it's the Bush Cartel's FEC, we should presume, a priori, they're up to no good, and carefully review it.

Then there is the problem of enforcement. Will they enforce it against Bushites? Or just against leftist and Dem bloggers?

We no longer have a fair or just government--or one that is even trying to be. They are seeking every handle they can grab to control and subdue us. And they OFTEN twist theoretically good things toward evil ends. (Look what they did with post-2000 "election reform" in Congress--HAVA, the complete corruption and takeover of our election system!)

Thirdly, there is no question that blogger-raised money was critically important to the (winning!) Kerry campaign. We kept Kerry competitive with the Bush "Pioneer" billionaire money machine--an astonishing accomplishment. Bush's FEC would have much motivation to try to shut that leftist support down.

I am therefore highly suspicious of all this. It strikes me as hauntingly similar to the Bush Cartel "reform" of our election system.

[Melissa G]

5. they just might need to know our side is watching so they don't make any

stupid rules that unfairly target Dems.

[longship]

2. Sorry. They're not going to stop me.

I'll never stop speaking my mind, on blogs, on forums, anywhere I want.
It's called the First Amendment. I'll never, never, never stop.

[Melissa G]

4. This is one of those places they sneak things in..

Sure, It could be good.. But then they make a nasty provision tailored to hurt the Dem base.. Just something we should keep an eye on..kinda like election reform and making sure only registered people vote... the devil is in the details...weight of the paper the info must be submitted on...photo id's...etc..