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Dem’s Try to Use FCC to Censor Anti-Obamacare Ads
Townhall.com ^ | February 24, 2014 | Michael Reagan

Posted on 02/24/2014 7:51:58 AM PST by Kaslin

What do Democrats do when a hard-hitting anti-Obamacare ad threatens the electoral prospects of a Democrat Congressman? Well… You unleash the lawyers. With any luck, you might even be able to use the weight of the FCC to muscle local stations into denying the ad any air time. Because, obviously, using government regulatory agencies to strong arm broadcasters into censoring political advertisements, is a tactic in total compliance with the intent of the First Amendment.

Julia Boonstra is currently suffering from Leukemia. And, until the implementation of Obamacare, she had insurance coverage that provided her with desired benefits. In fact, she was happy. Her condition was improving. Her treatments were working, and she was not driving herself into bankruptcy fighting a horrendous form of cancer… Then came Obamacare.

As is explained in the Americans for Prosperity (AFP) ad – aimed at Democrat Gary Peters – Julia was among the millions of Americans who saw their insurance evaporate as Obamacare implementation lumbered forward. And while she’s been able to retain the same doctor as before, her new Obamacare insurance has left her with an unpredictable schedule of out-of-pocket costs. In short: She liked her plan – she wasn’t able to keep her plan – and now she’s stuck with inadequate insurance that threatens her financial stability. Julia is now worse off (financially and physically) thanks to the President’s boondoggled web of regulation known affectionately as “Obamacare.”

But why allow little things (like Julia, the cancer survivor, losing her preferred healthcare) to interfere with the election of Democrats? Michigan Democrats, who support Gary Peters, have filed paperwork to get the ad pulled from the air. They’ve even threatened to have the FCC pull the broadcast licenses of any station that decides to air the ad.

Lawyers for the Democrat Representative have claimed that the ad is “misleading” and “deceptive”; and therefore could violate broadcaster’s obligation to the FCC and general public. Yep… Michigan Dems are willing to use the FCC to censor a cancer victim… Oh, but it gets better:

The lawyer’s basis for claiming the ad is “deceptive” and “misleading” is a Washington Post article on Julia’s story. (Ya know, the same Washington Post that said Obamacare would be a boost to the economy, and would not lead to reduced work hours... Clearly the WaPo needs to fact check their own stuff before tearing apart AFP.)

In the ad, Julia claims that she lost her health coverage due to Obamacare… Well, she did. She also claims that her out of pocket costs have since skyrocketed, because… Well… They have. And she also claims that this is a direct result of Obamacare… Yeah. Because it is.

The Washington Post, however, decided to give Julia’s story 2 Pinocchio’s (indicating it was “misleading”) because in the end she might not end up with any greater amount of financial hardship….

Of course, what the Washington Post (and Michigan Democrats) seem to be missing is that Julia was lied to by advocates of Obamacare. She doesn’t like her new insurance. (And who would? It has unpredictable monthly costs, as opposed to her old plan that was set at an affordable – and comprehensive – monthly amount.) She liked her old plan. But, because some Democrats in DC decided that this new plan would be better for Julia, that’s what she’s stuck with.

Something as personal, and private, as the purchasing of health insurance is no longer in her control. Her choices, her preferences, her personal interests are no longer important. Obamacare is an affront to liberty on the most basic level. Suddenly, Julia found that her concerns were no longer important. The only thing that mattered was what Obamacare said she could, or could not, have in regards to healthcare.

And, as if stripping a Leukemia patient of their preferred healthcare system wasn’t enough, Democrats in Michigan are now looking to silence her story. The fundamental message conveyed by Julia’s Obamacare-induced drama is being censored by the same nannycrats who forced her into a sub-par insurance plan in the first place. (Oh, and before any Democrat says “but this new plan will actually be better for her”: Maybe that’s a decision she should be allowed to make for herself.) Heck, they even threatened to get the FCC involved – which isn’t that farfetched in a world where the IRS targets only conservative 501(c)4’s for audits.

So… Now the Democrats are going to go around threatening to strip broadcasters of their FCC license if they air ads that Democrats consider to be “misleading”? Don’t such authoritarian dreams of control give any other Americans a chill? Think of the irony: Democrats in Michigan are unleashing lawyers to censor the backlash created by Democrat lies.

And that may be the most poignant point to be made: The only reason Julia is part of an AFP ad (as opposed to happily living her life in anonymity) is because the President, Democrats, and Representative Gary Peters, lied when they said she could keep her plan if she liked it

In other words: Democrats are hoping to pull the ad – because it makes a perfectly valid point.

Here's the ad... Now judge for yourself:

Julie's Story: It's Time to Listen


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Editorial; Government; US: Michigan
KEYWORDS: americans4prosperity; antiobamacaredads; corruption; fcc; garypeters; kochbrothers; michigan; obamacare; obamacareads

1 posted on 02/24/2014 7:51:58 AM PST by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

Democrats are in real trouble here in Michigan and they’re getting desperate.


2 posted on 02/24/2014 7:55:03 AM PST by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: Kaslin

It matters not. Mission accomplished.

Station owners will dutifully drop the ad, rather than tangle with the Federal Leviathan.


3 posted on 02/24/2014 7:55:37 AM PST by Buckeye McFrog
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To: Kaslin

Forward, comrades!


4 posted on 02/24/2014 7:55:57 AM PST by Army Air Corps (Four Fried Chickens and a Coke)
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To: Kaslin

Seems to be what is said at the end of the letter.


5 posted on 02/24/2014 7:58:15 AM PST by sickoflibs (Obama : 'Any path to US citizenship for illegals HERE is a special path to it ')
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To: Kaslin
Why isn't John Boner out there threatening to defund The FCC?

Oh. Right. Because he wants to shut us up, too.

6 posted on 02/24/2014 7:59:14 AM PST by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all -- Texas Eagle)
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To: Kaslin
Gary Peters:

Running his own War on Woman.

Plus he is on record as a advocate of Death Panels.

7 posted on 02/24/2014 8:00:30 AM PST by Paladin2
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To: cripplecreek

Yes they are. Maybe the new ad should be about them using the FCC to kill the old ad. Democrats are allergic to the truth and are willing to break the law to stifle it.


8 posted on 02/24/2014 8:02:27 AM PST by Mich Patriot (PITCH BLACK is the new "transparent")
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To: Kaslin

What is truly amazing is the fact that they still believe they control all forms of communication, seemed to have forgotten about the internet and how things go viral.


9 posted on 02/24/2014 8:06:58 AM PST by pennboricua
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To: FReepers

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Support FR, Donate Monthly If You Can

Less Than 10.5K To Go And The Freepathon Is Over!


10 posted on 02/24/2014 8:07:46 AM PST by DJ MacWoW (The Fed Gov is not one ring to rule them all)
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To: Kaslin

***Lawyers*** for the Democrat Representative have claimed that the ad is ***“misleading” and “deceptive***.

WHAT A HOOT


11 posted on 02/24/2014 8:35:10 AM PST by Vaduz
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To: Vaduz

Can anybody tell me how the stations responded to the Lawyers threats?


12 posted on 02/24/2014 8:54:09 AM PST by Old Retired Army Guy
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To: cripplecreek

Democrats in Michigan used to bank on the Detroit vote to push them across the finish line. Now that Detroit is practically a Ghost Town, they have lost that edge.


13 posted on 02/24/2014 8:55:43 AM PST by Old Retired Army Guy
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To: Old Retired Army Guy

Even better is the fact that republicans are starting to filter into Detroit. The city should be a natural money maker based on the fact that it’s the second busiest freight crossing on the continent but the democrats use it as their personal ATM.

Get that crossing back under the control of the GOP and the city will thrive. Which explains why Obama is withholding the $250 million required to prepare our side of the river for the bridge Canada is building.


14 posted on 02/24/2014 9:03:06 AM PST by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: Vaduz

***Lawyers*** for the Democrat Representative have claimed that the ad is ***“misleading” and “deceptive***.

I don’t care, the libs have been putting on misleading and deceptive ads about GORE-BULL warming for years...


15 posted on 02/24/2014 1:05:20 PM PST by GraceG
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To: Kaslin
[Article] Julia is now worse off (financially and physically) thanks to the President’s boondoggled web of regulation known affectionately as “Obamacare.”

To make an omelet, you have to break some eggs. -- Joseph Stalin

She's an acceptable loss.

16 posted on 02/24/2014 5:04:04 PM PST by lentulusgracchus
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To: GraceG

The GORE-BULL warming scam has made him millions and others want on the band wagon.


17 posted on 02/26/2014 7:53:20 AM PST by Vaduz
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To: Old Retired Army Guy

They fold because they if they want to renew their license.


18 posted on 02/26/2014 7:58:13 AM PST by Vaduz
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