NRA seeks to buy media outlet to bypass campaign finance law

cleveland.com ^ | 12/07/03 | Sharon Theimer

[Destro]

NRA seeks to buy media outlet to bypass campaign finance law

12/07/03

Sharon Theimer

Associated Press

Washington- Hoping to spend as much as it wants on next year's elections, the National Rifle Association is looking to buy a television or radio station and declare that it should be treated as a news organization, exempt from spending limits in the campaign finance law.

"We're looking at bringing a court case that we're as legiti mate a media outlet as Disney or Viacom or Time-Warner," said the NRA's executive vice president, Wayne LaPierre.

The nation's gun lobby is talking with potential investors about an NRA broadcast outlet and is considering all possible funding sources, including gun manufacturers, LaPierre said.

If the NRA were to be considered a media organization, it would be free to say what it wanted about candidates at any time and spend corporate money to do so, such as for commercials.

The group, financed in part with corporate money, is now banned under the campaign finance law from running ads just before elections that mention federal candidates who will be appearing on the ballots.

The 4 million-member group has long been one of Washington's most powerful lobbies. It has spent millions of dollars over the years trying to influence elections toward candidates who oppose gun controls and support the position that Americans have an incontestable right to bear arms.

The NRA is one of the biggest magazine publishers in the United States and provides news over the Internet, LaPierre said. The group has close to a dozen publications, including the "American Rifleman" and "American Hunter" magazines.

News organizations are exempt from the federal restrictions. That allows them to cover the news, write editorials endorsing or opposing candidates and air interviews. The Federal Election Commission also has exempted programming that broadcasters are not paid to air, such as public service announcements, comedy monologues and talk shows that mention or feature federal candidates. Movies and TV shows also are exempt.

Like other corporations, media outlets cannot contribute money to federal campaigns or national political parties.

[Destro]

Charleton Heston movie blocks!!!

[Stopislamnow]

Would be nice to see Regional and National Shooting Matches in thier entirety.

Fire it up Wayne.

[nhoward14]

Awriiiiiiiiiiiiight!!!!!!!!!!

An NRA channel!

I hope we get to see shows like Huntin and Fishin with Jimbo and Ned.

OMG! That Democrat! It's comin right for us! BANG!

[Orangedog]

Remember National Empowerment Television? This will suffer the same fate.

[Fiddlstix]

Bang

[WOSG]

And what was that fate?

[TalBlack]

Given that we've reached a stage in America where Americans have to buy a madia outlet to legally speak out at election time I'd say that the failure of the experiment is coming faster than anybody has predicted and it doesn't seem to matter that a Republican is in the white house.

[Orangedog]

It didn't last long because none of the cable or satellite companies would carry it. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have NRA TV, but I don't think it will fly.

[GovernmentShrinker]

I'm not a big fan of the compromise-prone NRA, but this is a pretty cool move. I hope they pull it off.

[Orangedog]

...and it doesn't seem to matter that a Republican is in the white house.

It would be nice if that Republican wouldn't sign these things into law.

[dts32041]

Nope one station with internet feed and every member a corespondent.

Shoestring operation.

You don't have to be big to be a legit news organization, look at Matt Drudge, a one man operation, and perhaps the most feared men in the media.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I think you're on to something.

[CindyDawg]

NRA cable? HMM. How about FreeRepublic cable instead?

[pabianice]

Technically, anyone with a web site is a publisher, are they not? This is a natural, ready made network for such an NRA station, is it not?

[Freak Flag]

4 Million x $100= $400,000,000 . To heck with a cable outlet, let's look at buying a broadcast network . Cable channels only exist if the cable(or satellite) provider decides to carry it .

[Shooter 2.5]

I have a better idea.

What about ten dollars from every gun owner who isn't a member of a gun organization?

[CurlyDave]

The NRA already is a media company. They publish 12 magazines.

While I doubt that many broadcast stations, cable companies, or satellite owners would carry an NRA station, there are many ways to skin the cat.

One of the more interesting side effects of the CA recall election was the publication of a large format softbound book with pictures and a few words about Arnold. The book sold in supermarkets and the election people had no idea what to do about it. It wasn't really campaigning since customers bought it.

Look for a lot of pamphlets and booklets on various issues and candidates which are sold for a nominal price next election.

Advertising the books on TV would probably be OK, even if the ad had a summary of the message in the book.

[Amerigomag]

A reminder that this law only covers broadcast radio and television. Cable TV/Radio, satellite TV/Radio, the print media and all internet broadcasts are exempt from the law.

[Shooter 2.5]

What's the name of those 12 magazines?

I could only find seven.

[uncbob]

Thank you George Bush and a GOP controlled congress

Now the money donated by grass roots types to defeat the democrats had to be used in a court battle against CFR and it was all for nothing