GOP wants ads that criticize Bush pulled (Soft $$$ Ads)

AP | 3/05/04 | SHARON THEIMER

[kattracks]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican National Committee on Friday asked about 250 television stations to pull a liberal group's ads critical of President Bush.

The RNC sent the stations a letter Friday suggesting the outlets may be complicit in breaking campaign finance laws if they air the MoveOn.org Voter Fund ads. It asked them to decline to broadcast the ads.

The RNC argues that the group, financed by so-called "soft money," is spending it on ads to influence a federal election. The campaign finance law broadly bars the use of such corporate, union and unlimited donations to influence federal elections.

MoveOn began airing ads Thursday critical of Bush's policies. MoveOn founder Wes Boyd said the ads are legal, and added that the group isn't concerned by the RNC's letter. The ads were financed with unlimited donations from individuals — one form of soft money.

The ads were originally to air in 17 presidential battleground states over five days at a cost of $1.9 million. Boyd said the group decided Friday to spend $1 million more to run an ad criticizing Bush's economic policies for an additional week in several states.

In the letter, RNC chief counsel Jill Holtzman Vogel wrote, "As a broadcaster licensed by the Federal Communications Commission, you have a responsibility to the viewing public and to your licensing agency to refrain from complicity in any illegal activity, specifically in this case, violations of our nation's federal election laws."

Federal Election Commission spokesman Bob Biersack said the FEC could only determine whether there was anything amiss in the MoveOn ad buy by reviewing the details, something it typically would do if a complaint was filed against the group.

[kattracks]

I guess it's expecting too much from the AP to publish a headline that is more accurate, such as GOP Wants Possible Unlawful Ads Pulled.

[FairOpinion]

I am glad that the RNC is not just taking it lying down, but fighting back. It's about time!

[FairOpinion]

GOP taking action against ads breaking campaign laws.

[onyx]

I guess it's expecting too much from the AP to publish a headline that is more accurate, such as GOP Wants Possible Unlawful Ads Pulled.

Yes it is too much to expect.

[TheBattman]

The left wanted CFR, they should have to live by those rules. If the ads are not pulled, I would suggest that conservative groups across this country should immediately begin buying up air time and running our own ads.

That old bit that the gay-marriage leftists want to push - "equal protection" should keep them quiet.

[prognostigaator]

In the letter, RNC chief counsel Jill Holtzman Vogel wrote, "As a broadcaster licensed by the Federal Communications Commission, you have a responsibility to the viewing public and to your licensing agency to refrain from complicity in any illegal activity, specifically in this case, violations of our nation's federal election laws."

Besides we have your FBI files......

[machman]

The left wanted CFR, they should have to live by those rules.

They wanted those rules so they could hold republicans to them, they themselves had NO intention of following them. Stardard MO for the rats of course.

[sauropod]

Since 1/3 of MoveOn.org's members are foreigners, i would certainly think their ads are illegal based on how the money was raised.

[ladyinred]

Good for the GOP! I don't expect anyone to comply with the law on the left, but at least we are fighting back for a change.

[Grut]

I am glad that the RNC is not just taking it lying down, but fighting back.

This is not fighting back. Without an FEC complaint, the RNC's letters are just so much whining.

[FairOpinion]

The RNC did complain to the FEC, who has some draft rules to stop these ads, but the final votes won't happen until May.

[King Black Robe]

Yeah. It's their law -- for the most part -- yet somehow we are the ones trying to silence people. Give me a break. They wanted the law. They should live by it.

[jmstein7]

BUMP!

[prov1813man]

Yeah. It's their law -- for the most part -- yet somehow we are the ones trying to silence people. Give me a break. They wanted the law. They should live by it.

That's why the left is so happy to pass laws, only the lawful abide by them. It hamstrings us with no effect on them. Witness San Francisco.

[jmstein7]

Look at this.

They didn't file an FEC complaint, though.

[diotima]

They need a complaint to be filed.

[jmstein7]

And they have planted the "seeds" for a complaint with their legal letters to the stations.

[ontos-on]

You have to understand these people. They have attended schools, parties and other social situations all their lives which indicate to them that the established wisdom is that the democrats and left wing ideology are correct and expected to be observed if one wishes to advance in the world and/or retain thier standing and advancement. At some point they each decided to be on that side of the fence: to be comfortable with the establishment dogma--getting along.

[Owen]

It is frankly worse than that. Why do the Dems have a response ready for every GOP move? Those "outraged" families were pre-orchestrated and in place to shout when the ads started. They knew what was in the ads. Why is that? But not vice versa. The GOP distributed a flyer today to counter Kennedy. Who decided that was sufficient?

OTOH, it's March, and Rove et al have probably noticed what has happened the past 48 hrs and now know that's how the Dems will try to counter the money issue. They will go for free publicity every single day while Kerry is off fundraising.

The answer? Leak that the topic of a day will be one thing, and then hit another. The press will report it because they have to. The Dem response will be off key