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Bloggers push politics aside in fight against FEC
Minneapolis Star Tribune ^ | March 19, 2006 | John Reinan

Posted on 03/20/2006 2:44:50 AM PST by RWR8189

This might be the first time Freepers and Kossacks have agreed on anything. From the conservative website Free Republic to the liberal Daily Kos, Internet users of all ideologies are uniting in opposition to federal regulation of political blogs.

As early as this afternoon, the Federal Election Commission will publish regulations that, for the first time, could put limits on what bloggers can do and say in support of political candidates.

The FEC is trying to define the line between offering political opinions and operating as part of a political campaign. The full commission is expected to vote Thursday on the regulations.

Meanwhile, Congress is considering two separate bills aimed at a similar goal: clarifying the role of bloggers in delivering political messages and using the Internet as a fundraising tool.

At issue is the growing power of the Internet, which has allowed activists to promote candidates and raise money for them without the kind of rules that long have governed similar activities by political parties, individual campaigns and traditional contributors.

The Internet has been exempt from campaign finance regulations. Last year, however, a federal court ruled that the Internet could no longer be excluded.

(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Free Republic; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Minnesota
KEYWORDS: 109th; 1stamendment; 2006election; 2008election; blogs; campaignfinance; censorship; election2006; election2008; electionlaws; fec; firstamendment; fr; freepers; freerepublic; frinthenews; internet; redstarguardian; shutusdown; thoughtcrime; unconstitutional; website
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To: RWR8189

What's the difference between me posting "McCain sucks!" on a blog, or me handing out sheets of paper that say "McCain sucks!"?

The congress and the courts have created an unconstitutional mess that will take years to sort out.


21 posted on 03/20/2006 4:46:03 AM PST by sergeantdave (The business of business is none of the government's business)
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Comment #22 Removed by Moderator

To: RWR8189
This might be the first time Freepers and Kossacks have agreed on anything. From the conservative website Free Republic to the liberal Daily Kos, Internet users of all ideologies are uniting in opposition to federal regulation of political blogs.

Hint to Congress .. it could get ugly if you mess with our internet

23 posted on 03/20/2006 5:14:06 AM PST by Mo1 ("Stupidity is also a gift from God, but it should not be abused." Pope John Paul II)
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To: khreshnan
Yes, I do take exception to the idea I need to limit my contributions to my political party and its candidates. And I object to the idea that anything I say in an election year amounts to "coordination" with the party or the candidate because I support them or happen to agree with them. These among other provisions, do contravene the first Amendment and my dislike of the authors of CFR is not motivated solely by ad hominem attacks as you put it. My opposition to them stems from their subverting our principles of constitutional government for political aggrandizement. I opposed the ban because it would have granted rights to terrorists they do not deserve. Those who blow up innocent men, women and children are NOT deserving of humane treatment; they are hostili generi humanii and should be treated as such when they are encountered. There are lots of candidates better than McCain and someone who runs roughshod over the First Amendment is not qualified to safeguard a Free Republic. 'Nuff said.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

24 posted on 03/20/2006 5:21:57 AM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: khreshnan

Another reason W can be accused of being an absentee president. McC-F should've met his veto pen.


25 posted on 03/20/2006 5:31:19 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks (BTUs are my Beat.)
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To: RWR8189; kristinn; Jim Robinson

Is this going to be in the Federal Register?

I will be happy to write a response.


26 posted on 03/20/2006 5:33:12 AM PST by sauropod ("War is the Devil's way of teaching Americans geography" - Ambrose Bierce)
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To: bill1952

"Your Papers Please."


27 posted on 03/20/2006 5:33:59 AM PST by sauropod ("War is the Devil's way of teaching Americans geography" - Ambrose Bierce)
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Comment #28 Removed by Moderator

To: DustyMoment

You are quite correct.

We are watching the demise of the Republic. 'Pod.


29 posted on 03/20/2006 5:35:31 AM PST by sauropod ("War is the Devil's way of teaching Americans geography" - Ambrose Bierce)
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To: khreshnan

You've gotta be kidding.

McCain? Presidential material? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!


30 posted on 03/20/2006 5:37:47 AM PST by sauropod ("War is the Devil's way of teaching Americans geography" - Ambrose Bierce)
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To: RWR8189

A google search of "anonymous offshore hosting" gives plenty of places to host a blog where speech is still free.


31 posted on 03/20/2006 5:41:39 AM PST by theBuckwheat
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To: sauropod

Ooo, a McCain shill already. :D

Bet we'll get a lot of them over the next two years.


32 posted on 03/20/2006 5:52:09 AM PST by hellinahandcart
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To: khreshnan; hellinahandcart
The man is NOT a politician - he is a statesman.

Don’t forget to mention his natural humility, and aversion to the spotlight.

33 posted on 03/20/2006 6:04:56 AM PST by dighton
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To: dighton; sauropod

He shuns the spotlight every day of the week, and at least twice on Sundays.


34 posted on 03/20/2006 6:21:22 AM PST by hellinahandcart
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To: khreshnan

Pease leave this site.


35 posted on 03/20/2006 6:27:02 AM PST by chris1
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To: sauropod

Look when this fool joined FR!

McCain is the worst of the worst. He is the shill of shills, the moron of morons, the phony of phonies.

The best case in point, aside from CFR, is how he tried to ban MMA and the UFC. He is a shill for boxing and tried to get mixed martial arts ban for obvious reasons. Thank god it did not work.


36 posted on 03/20/2006 6:28:45 AM PST by chris1
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To: dighton

McCain will not get my vote, period.


37 posted on 03/20/2006 6:35:52 AM PST by chris1
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To: DustyMoment
The IRS enacted regulations at least a year ago to limit what churches could do during political campaigns and what could be said in either chirch bulletins or from the pulpit.

Big difference. Churches are charitable organizations and derive revenue from tax deductible donations. Political organizations, bloggers, etc. are supported with after tax dollars.

The government is subsidizing churches via tax breaks and they should not be allowed to influence the makeup of that government. Bloggers, etc. are not subsidized so the government should have no control over their freedom of speech.

38 posted on 03/20/2006 6:45:36 AM PST by 6ppc
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Here are my thoughts on the subject.

The problem will the McCain-Feingold bill in the first place is that it completely and totally runs afoul of the first ameendment.

We actuall had some goofball from an OKC suburb write a letter to the editor in the Oklahoman saying otherwise but he's been reading a different version of the U.S. Constitution than what it really is.

The idiot that wrote the majority opinion in favor of this law in the U.S. Supreme Court is the same one who think that foreign dictates should take the place of the U.S. Constitution.

The bill's proscriptions as it is written would essentially allow congress people to do some very malicious and harmful stuff prior to the elections since there would be no legal way for us to blow the whistle on them with this law.

Futher this bill as it's written would allow the Democrats to take both hosues of Congress and ultimately become the source of law in this country.

This would mean that instead of going after terroists aborad like President Bush is doing they would be coming after us. It case it hasn't occured to anyone the Democrats have decided that the danger to National Security isn't from Osama, Saddam or Al-Queda. It's from us, Republicans, christians and conservatives. You know, those of us blowing the whistle on the Democrats and their misdeeds.

And to say John McCain is "Presidential material" is a bit disengious. This fella holds a very hostile attitude towards Republicans, Christians and conservatives. There's an article where some 9/11 victims hd a run-in with him and they spoke out in opposition to his immigration bill and he completely and totally bawled them out.

Is this someone we want as Presdident of the United States? I wouldn't even vote for him as dog catcher. I'd just assume vote for Fido for President.

John McCain is an absolute embarrasment to the state of Arizona and anyone that would take up for him because the McCain-Feingold bill which you know and I know is going to result in the shutdown of FR really needs to have his or her head examined.
Regards....

39 posted on 03/20/2006 6:48:04 AM PST by E.G.C.
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To: 6ppc
Bloggers, etc. are not subsidized so the government should have no control over their freedom of speech.

Well, neither is anyone here. Still, the rules of CFR appply during election cycles. Plan on it.
40 posted on 03/20/2006 6:56:26 AM PST by DustyMoment (FloriDUH - proud inventors of pregnant/hanging chads and judicide!!)
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