The Federal Election Commission hit the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth with a $299,500 fine today for playing too fast with election rules. The Swift Boat Vets were a "527" organization, which has no limits on contributions, but were acting like federal political committees, the FEC charged. 527s are allowed to work for or against certain candidates, but if they have no other "major purpose," according to FEC spokesman Bob Biersack, then they should register as a committee. Source: http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002141.php
COMMENT: Thank goodness, unlike Germany, we have our FEC to protect our Free Speech rights when a candidate's supporters object that the truth hurts their candidate. Note the finess with which the FEC is able to construct its convoluted argument.
Perhaps our holier-than-thou types should be more concerned about First Amendment rights in this country. Martin Niemoller would be, but he was German.
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