[Iowa Granny]

As the "Constitutional Stud Muffin in Residence" could you please give us a few of the ins and outs of CFR?

Another Freeper asked me a bit ago if the Swift Boat Vets ads will have to come down after the convention. I couldn't give a definitive answer since I deal exclusively with state campaigns and have no need for knowledge of CFR.

We've all figured out that Bush/Cheney & Kerry/Edwards cannot accept money after their respective conventions.

Can soft money be donated to the Parties after the conventions?

Who can and cannot purchase advertising on behalf of an issue or a candidate?

We're counting on you as a final authority. Help us out.

[Congressman Billybob]

Dear Iowa,

I'll tell my wife right away that you referred to me as a "Constitutional stud muffin." I think she will beg to differ, just a bit.

Re: your questions: Soft money can still be given to the parties for allegedly non-partisan efforts such as "get out the vote" campaigns. Of course it is a wink and a nod that GOTV campaigns are non-partisan -- these are mostly Democratic efforts to turn out Democratic voters. Republican voters can go hang. (Republicans do the reverse.)

Anyone can still purchase "issue" advertising after 2 September. What has changed is that issue-oriented groups CANNOT run ads after that which refer to a "federal candidate" by name or by showing a picture. THAT is the abomination established by the Campaign Finance "Reform" Act.

Knock 'em dead in Iowa.

John / Billybob