Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

OBAMA'S FALLON APPEARANCE VIOLATED CAMPAIGN LAW
Breitbart.com ^ | 25 April 2012 | BEN SHAPIRO

Posted on 04/25/2012 3:46:18 PM PDT by Fractal Trader

Last night, President Obama appeared on Jimmy Fallon’s unwatchable show to “slow-jam the news.” By this, Fallon meant that Obama would read a campaign speech about student loans, Fallon would utter a few lines to back him up every so often, and his lead band singer would warble in support of Obama’s propaganda.

Only one problem, aside from the fact that this was possibly the worst “comedy” segment in the history of mankind: it violated campaign finance law.

The equal time rule states that if a licensee permits a person “who is a legally qualified candidate for any public office to use a broadcasting station, he shall afford equal opportunities to all other such candidates for that office in the use of such broadcasting station.”

There are exceptions to the rule: appearances on (1) a bona fide newscast, (2) a bona fide news interview, (3) a bona fide news documentary, or (4) on-the-spot coverage of bona fide news events.

Only the second provision could be construed as saving NBC from giving Mitt Romney equal time. But this was not a bona fide news interview. In fact, it wasn’t an interview at all – no questions were asked, no answers were given. It was literally Obama reading a campaign speech over a guitar, a horn, a keyboard, and some drums.

Not only was this appearance in violation of equal time law, it was clearly an in-kind contribution by NBC to the Obama campaign. As the Federal Elections Commission states, “A donation of services is … considered an in-kind contribution.” Under applicable law, contribution of broadcast time is considered such a service. This was a campaign commercial for Obama, and the Obama campaign was not charged for it.

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


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-45 next last
Interesting....
1 posted on 04/25/2012 3:46:24 PM PDT by Fractal Trader
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Fractal Trader

Laws? Who cares about laws when your King!


2 posted on 04/25/2012 3:48:29 PM PDT by unixfox (Abolish Slavery, Repeal The 16th Amendment!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Fractal Trader

Of course, the law does not apply if “Obama is not a legally qualified candidate”!


3 posted on 04/25/2012 3:48:53 PM PDT by rollin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Fractal Trader

Never fear, he’ll just scribble out a new Executive Order of pardon himself. Move along, nothing to see.


4 posted on 04/25/2012 3:49:14 PM PDT by bgill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #5 Removed by Moderator

To: Fractal Trader

I’m not sure about Romney but I’d love to see the others show up.


6 posted on 04/25/2012 3:49:43 PM PDT by AU72
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Fractal Trader
:: a person “who is a legally qualified candidate ::

I think I see an "out" for Obamugabe...

7 posted on 04/25/2012 3:51:04 PM PDT by Cletus.D.Yokel (Catastrophic Anthropogenic Climate Alterations - The acronym explains the science.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Fractal Trader

Wonder if the band played the same song as when Sarah Palin showed up.


8 posted on 04/25/2012 3:51:43 PM PDT by red-dawg
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Fractal Trader
How is it a "violation?" It seems to me that all NBC has to do is give Romney equal time. It's only a violation if NBC refuses to give Romney equal time, isn't it?

-PJ

9 posted on 04/25/2012 3:52:12 PM PDT by Political Junkie Too (If you can vote for President, then your children can run for President.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Fractal Trader

He will simply “deem” it legal...


10 posted on 04/25/2012 3:54:39 PM PDT by neodad (USS Vincennes (CG-49) Freedom's Fortress)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Fractal Trader

the media who will not report anything about this will suddenly say how smart he is the way he ducked the law.....most of his supporters can’t spell campaign


11 posted on 04/25/2012 3:54:52 PM PDT by Doogle (((USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated)))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cletus.D.Yokel

You just know all the investigate journalists are going to be all over this. They will call it Fallongate and a huge scandal will arise. People will be frog marched to jail for this.

What’s that, hussein is a democrat? Never mind.


12 posted on 04/25/2012 3:55:36 PM PDT by shelterguy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Fractal Trader

If Americans would shut off their televisions and keep them off, we would be light years closer to salvaging this country.

Shoot, if conservatives would just do it.


13 posted on 04/25/2012 3:55:53 PM PDT by EternalVigilance (The Dems have 'Hope & Change.' All the Romney Republicans have is 'We sure Hope he's Changed.')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Fractal Trader

Wake me up when Obie does something that’s NOT illegal.


14 posted on 04/25/2012 3:57:53 PM PDT by Mygirlsmom (The only thing liberals favor manufacturing here is fake outrage.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jet Jaguar; NorwegianViking; ExTexasRedhead; HollyB; FromLori; EricTheRed_VocalMinority; ...

The list, Ping

Let me know if you would like to be on or off the ping list

http://www.nachumlist.com/


15 posted on 04/25/2012 3:58:32 PM PDT by Nachum (The complete Obama list at www.nachumlist.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Fractal Trader
The equal time rule states that if a licensee permits a person “who is a legally qualified candidate for any public office to use a broadcasting station, he shall afford equal opportunities to all other such candidates for that office in the use of such broadcasting station.”

Unless you have the correct amount of melanin. IE harpO.

16 posted on 04/25/2012 4:00:43 PM PDT by rawcatslyentist ("Behold, I am against you, O arrogant one," Jeremiah 50:31)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: unixfox
Laws? Who cares about laws when your King

It's good to be da king...

17 posted on 04/25/2012 4:01:39 PM PDT by freedumb2003 ('RETRO' Abortions = performed on 84th trimester individuals who think killing babies is a "right.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Fractal Trader

1 He violated Campaign Finance Law

2 He appeared on Jimmy Fallon’s show

I believe the punishment should fit the crime - in this case it does.


18 posted on 04/25/2012 4:01:49 PM PDT by I cannot think of a name (NE)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Fractal Trader; mickie
Did Obama officially declare himself a candidate yet....and in writing with the proper authorities?

If so, when and where did he do this?

Leni

19 posted on 04/25/2012 4:04:38 PM PDT by MinuteGal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Fractal Trader
I'm sure the Justice department, under Eric Holder, will uphold our campaign laws, and guarantee us the station will give Mitt Romney fair and equal time as well.

(Yeah. That's definitely sarcasm. I mean, c'mon! I said "Justice" and "Eric Holder" in the same sentence.)

20 posted on 04/25/2012 4:04:57 PM PDT by concerned about politics ("Get thee behind me, Liberal")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-45 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson