FEC proposes plan to curb political groups (anti-Bush organizations)

USA Today ^ | March 4, 2004 | Jim Drinkard

[FairOpinion]

Federal election officials proposed new rules Thursday that could sharply curb the activities of private political groups intent on influencing this year's presidential election.

Although the action by the Federal Election Commission is not final, it drew objections from non-profit groups allied with Democrats who fear that continuing legal uncertainty will dampen their fundraising.

[Lazamataz]

The question now is not about the freedom of speech -- that's been left in the proverbial dust. The question now is, "How can I use the law to stop my opponent?."

I had to read this entire thread to find only one other person "gets it".

Sad.

[Lazamataz]

Does this not concern you? I never thought we would come to a point where speech is regulated.

Exactly.

But the former Soviet Union and America have been both working quite hard to trade places in the last 10 years.

[Bonaparte]

"Does this not concern you? I never thought we would come to a point where speech is regulated."

Ever hear of McCain-Feingold? You know, the legislation Bush signed and the USSC upheld? That bans freedom of political speech for the closing month of this year's presidential election -- except for the liberal media, which will be free to give the democrat candidate all the contributions-in-kind they want. Now you want the FEC to allow PAW and all the other DNC spin-offs to make an end-run around McCain-Feingold while the Republicans sit there with their hands tied and George Soros laughs all the way to John Kerry's inauguration?

[goldstategop]

No I want to see the Democrats strangled with the law they voted for. Now THAT would be poetic justice!!!

[Bonaparte]

It would be nice.

Hey, do you smell what I smell? Another democrat attempt to steal an election? Yes, I think that's what I smell.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

There not just dems any more ! If you think the communist partys in this country arent a threat just see what happens if Kerry is elected President

It amazes me my ancestors fought communism all over the world fought the suppresers and depresors of that vile snake called communism and yet the democrats and some republicans embrace it like a warm fuzzy blanket

http://www.cpusa.org/article/articleview/577/1/27/



[SNIP]

Our Role

1-Participate with labor and allies. A number of international unions have held large national conferences, listened to the Democratic presidential candidates, and are making plans to send political activist union members out to key states. Many other organizations are also gearing up. We should be deeply involved in pushing these efforts forward and building the broadest possible coalitions that can win. Especially at the local level where the full impact of the Bush tax cuts and cuts in human needs plays out.


2-Determine our own concentration races. The proposal has been put forth that the Mid-West region constitute a special concentration in the 2004 elections with the goal of emerging from the election struggle with a stronger political and organizational footing at the grass roots, clubs, recruiting, PWW readers, YCL. In addition we should consider possibly Florida and one other state in the South. Also special approaches for California, Illinois and New York have to be developed.

[Mo1]

These people needed to be slapped down LONG ago...

I didn't say they shouldn't ..

[Bogey78O]

'president of the civil rights group People for the American Way.'

Nice below the radar support. PfAW is not a civil rights group. It was created to attack the Bush administration.

[gdc61]

seems more like a start down the road to fascism. This week, speech, last week, guns. These are our rights, declared untouchable. I'm tired of our freedoms being juggled for PC. To see our senators flip their vote last week (for good or bad reason) chilled me to the bone. it seems all morales have been flushed down the toilet.

[Mark Felton]

chilling. Before the following phrase is banned by the FEC let me say this now:

IT IS TIME TO OVERTHROW THE DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN CRIME ORGANIZATIONS! We are now subjects of the parties, not citizens of the State.

Our first task is to teach a generation of effeminate males to be men.

[gdc61]

say i want to start a pro-gun/anti-PC org. and my rich uncle wants to give me 10 grand? Feds find out and i go to jail. yea thats freedom.

[Rensselaer]

Regulatory agencies are required to get public comment before putting a rule into effect, and allowing anything less than 30 days for comment creates an opening for legal challenge to the rule, unless it's an emergency type situation, i.e. national security, national disaster or the like. Then you've got to have time to address all the various comments - even if the agency ignores them (which most do), before enacting the rule they must explain why they are ignoring them.

Even if adopted in May, the rules won't take effect right away, because again, unless it is a national emergency of some kind, the rules can't take effect until at least 30 days after they are finally approved - the idea being that this gives Congress some time to repeal them if it really wants to.

So this is unlikely to have any effect before mid to late summer at the earliest.

[expatpat]

This is an end run around CFR. Now, you may not agree with CFR (I don't), but it is ridiculous to have the CFR law and yet not curb the loopholers.

[jmstein7]

BUMP for later!

[Onelifetogive]

it seems all morales have been flushed down the toilet.

[atomicpossum]

"Today, Carl Pope, executive director of the Sierra Club, said they would consider ignoring any FEC restrictions and proceed with campaign activities as planned."

Talk about stealing an election....

[Solson]

BS! This ruling is to curb 527's which have been purposely setup to circumvent the existing campaign finance laws.

It has very little to do with third parties. then again, anything in politics has very little to do with 3rd parties...

[Solson]

BS! This ruling is to curb 527's which have been purposely setup to circumvent the existing campaign finance laws.

It has very little to do with third parties. then again, anything in politics has very little to do with 3rd parties...

[Buckeye McFrog]

so bureaucrats "could effectively shut down the progressive movement and shut down criticism of the Bush administration and its policies,"

DELICIOUS IRONY ALERT!!!!!!!!

[Redbob]

"I never thought we would come to a point where speech is regulated."

Happened what, 28 years ago?, with the passage of the first "Campaign Finance Reform Law".
Whereya been?