Posted on 08/05/2004 6:58:36 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - A conservative group that complained about television ads for Michael Moore's anti-Bush documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11" now wants an exemption from campaign finance laws so it can advertise a book on John Kerry (news - web sites).
Citizens United contends the Federal Election Commission (news - web sites) should consider it part of the news media, and allow it to run election-time ads for a book called "The Many Faces of John Kerry: Why This Massachusetts Liberal is Wrong for America."
In a request released this week, the group argued it should be able to run ads for the book, written by its president David Bossie, and a documentary film on the Democratic presidential nominee and his running mate, John Edwards (news - web sites).
A new campaign finance law bans the use of corporate money for ads identifying presidential and congressional candidates within two months of the election. But an exemption to the law frees a wide range of media organizations from the ban.
In June, Citizens United asked the FEC to investigate whether ads for "Fahrenheit 9/11" violated the law's restrictions on ads close to presidential nominating conventions and the Nov. 2 election. The FEC voted late last month to throw out the complaint, while declining to decide whether the press exemption applied to the ads.
Citizens United argues it should qualify for the press exemption because it publishes and releases newsletters, position papers, documentaries and books. The group contends "Fahrenheit 9/11" is anti-Bush propaganda and doesn't qualify for the media exemption, however.
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On the Net:
FEC: http://www.fec.gov/
Try 60 minutes. They gave free advertising to a whole slew of Bush-hit books. I'm sure they'll give you a plug.
One expects a bummer crop of lawsuits over CFR restrictions very soon. Maybe this is what it take to get this monstrosity repealed or thrown out. I hope there are hunreds of organizations screaming and shouting day and night.
bummer= bumper (well maybe not)
ahhh, you know our courts all too well.. ;-) lol
Love the AP's smarmy attempt to peg this group as hypocritical. The new campaign finance laws are clear as mud and it should be perfectly acceptible to ask questions.
Question 1: Are ads for F911 cosidered campaign ads? Yes or no?
Question 2: Does the group qualify as a media outlet? Yes or no?
I really don't see any hypocrisy there. Just a request for rules clarification.
Democratic Presidential nominee Senator John Kerry (news - web sites) (L) plays a guitar with a band after a campaign event in Jefferson City, Missouri, August 5, 2004. Kerry and his running mate John Edwards (news - web sites) were on the first day of a campaign train trip taking them to several key Midwestern and western states with less than 100 days until the presidential election. REUTERS/Mike Segar US ELECTION
Women and children most affected
Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry (news - web sites) (L) waves along with his running mate John Edwards (news - web sites) and their wives Teresa Heinz Kerry (far L) and Elizabeth Edwards (R) from the rear of their campaign train in St. Louis, Missouri, August 5, 2004. Kerry promised Thursday a 'more effective, smarter' global war on terror that reaches out to allies and 'actually makes America safer.' With the alert level raised this week in Washington and New York, and national security a key issue in a tight White House race, Kerry also accused U.S. President George W. Bush (news - web sites) of overextending U.S. troops. REUTERS/Mike Segar US ELECTION
Under any objective reading of the rules, Air America should be barred from airing during the blackout period. Air America is not a real network. They are simply buying up several hours per day of air time on the cheapest stations they can find to run political infomercials. They are using the same business model as the infomercials that run on cable during the middle of the night. After the election is over, they will propbably pack up and go home.
BARF!!!!
Kerry looks like Ed Muskie .
I'll be damn. Kerry looks like "String Bean" of Hee Haw fame.
I'm dubbing him and his act..
Tex Hokum and the Hokum Smokum Band ;-)
Thanks to McCain-Feingold, bureaucrats now decide who does and doesn't have a right to free political speech. The astounding thing is that neither the President nor the Supreme Court has a problem with this.
LOL! Except Ron Popeil actually has a product that people are willing and able to buy.
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