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FEC decision would end witch hunt of Drudge [Implications for FR?]
Wash Examiner ^ | Feb 26, 2016 | Paul Bedard

Posted on 02/29/2016 5:24:50 AM PST by upchuck

The Federal Election Commission, which has toyed with regulating internet new sites that have a political edge, is being urged to extend what amounts to a "Drudge Report exemption" to a developing political and marketing news site.

Ethiq Inc. plans to help consumers and voters with their choices by steering specific news to them, but appears concerned that it could run afoul of the FEC, which under Democratic control mulled regulation of politically charged sites, especially conservative ones like Drudge.

In a memo to the FEC, Ethiq's lawyers said that the information from their site will be non-partisan, developed by reporters and taken from other news sites, and it requested a media exemption from regulations.

"Ethiq's content will be distributed in various forms, such as infographics displaying data from legislators' votes on different issues. Ethiq will also curate articles from various third party sources, much like the Drudge Report or Huffington Post," said the letter to the FEC revealed this week.


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Government
KEYWORDS: drudge; fec; freerepublic
Implication for FR?
1 posted on 02/29/2016 5:24:50 AM PST by upchuck
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To: upchuck
< "In a memo to the FEC, Ethiq's lawyers said that the information from their site will be non-partisan, developed by reporters and taken from other news sites, and it requested a media exemption from regulations."

Wait...what?! Is the FEC trying to be slick about intruding on the First Amendment here? You don't get an exemption when you're not required to get one in the first place. If this is what it appears to be, King Obama is trying to pull a fast one.

2 posted on 02/29/2016 6:06:31 AM PST by jsanders2001
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To: jsanders2001

Exactly. They’re setting a precedent that they can and will exercise control. People are required to go, hat in hand, to them to ask permission.

You don’t have to ask permission in order to exercise a right.


3 posted on 02/29/2016 6:20:51 AM PST by tanknetter
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To: tanknetter; jsanders2001

Under such a rule, Thomas Paine would have required permission to pen Common Sense.


4 posted on 02/29/2016 6:24:25 AM PST by abb ("News reporting is too important to be left to the journalists." Walter Abbott (1950 -))
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To: jsanders2001
If this is what it appears to be, King Obama is trying to pull a fast one.

The FEC's move has been rumored for some time.

I'd wager that the Ethiq, Inc. operation is a front for a bunch of libs who are trying to make themselves a test case.

5 posted on 02/29/2016 6:35:11 AM PST by okie01 (The Mainstream Media: IGNORANCE ON PARADE)
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To: abb

> Under such a rule, Thomas Paine would have required permission to pen Common Sense.

This Alinskytes premise needs to be rejected with utter contempt and malice. Under 0’s rule they’ve become emboldened and continually over-step, making up their own rules to see if anyone will stop them. Well it’s time to give the nerds another a stout wedgie...


6 posted on 02/29/2016 6:36:13 AM PST by jsanders2001
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To: okie01
> I'd wager that the Ethiq, Inc. operation is a front for a bunch of libs who are trying to make themselves a test case.

Exactly what I thought too when I saw that spelling. It has liberal written all over it. Never have I seen such deception as the liberal progressive movement has used during the last 7 + years, creating false entities to fool people to sway their votes. They've even created fake tea party Facebook pages to capture votes of the more gullible who lack discernment.

7 posted on 02/29/2016 6:40:42 AM PST by jsanders2001
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To: upchuck

The press enjoys certain freedoms to pursue government screwups. Our forefathers intended a free press to look out for “citizen” protection against a corrupt government. But of course they should not lie and that is the problem in America. You can’t get an unbiased report anywhere these days. One reason I support Trump is because he wants to punish the press for flat out libel!


8 posted on 02/29/2016 6:43:43 AM PST by New Jersey Realist (America: home of the free because of the brave)
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To: upchuck

Here it’s just non violent political free speech.


9 posted on 03/02/2016 2:40:42 PM PST by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God Bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: upchuck

“their site will be non-partisan, developed by reporters and taken from other news sites”

Who in their right mind believes this?

Even the liberals KNOW it is not true, and that is why they LOVE it.


10 posted on 03/03/2016 10:17:12 AM PST by unlearner (RIP America, 7/4/1776 - 6/26/2015, "Only God can judge us now." - Claus Von Stauffenberg / Valkyrie)
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To: jsanders2001
Is the FEC trying to be slick about intruding on the First Amendment here?

Of course! It's Obama's FEC, isn't it, by now? Everything the FEC does now, is by his bidding, and all he does all day is conspire.

11 posted on 03/07/2016 12:21:15 PM PST by lentulusgracchus ("If America was a house , the Left would root for the termites." - Greg Gutierrez)
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To: okie01

One more reason to elect Trump or Cruz... they can put a stop to democrat totalitarians.


12 posted on 03/09/2016 9:36:34 AM PST by GOPJ (Republican elites have turned into " race-baiting bigots" - feeding on PC mob evils.)
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