[FairOpinion]

This is preposterous!!!!

[WOSG]

It is preposterous. This party has been actively engaged in political action and electioneering. They are not above the law!!

Absurd that COMMIES have MORE RIGHTS than PATRIOTS!

[Texas_Jarhead]

un-freakin-believable

I'm gonna give these aholes a huge peace of my mind

[Terriergal]

HEAR HEAR! Preposterous is too kind.

[hoosierham]

Isn't it illegal to advocate violent overthrow of the Constitutional gov't ?

Why wasn't Bush I and Clinton prosecuting these scum instead of harassing 2nd Admendment groups ?

No SPECIAL rights for anyone !!!

[Illbay]

Ridiculous. They have free speech, but their opponents don't, is that what they're saying?

[SandRat]

Take the FEC and the scum they are supporting to court for violating the 14th amendment. Remember that the FEC was created by the Dems so that ought to tell you whose side the Dems are on and it is not ours.

[Carry_Okie]

I wonder if the American Nazi Party enjoys similar protection? I'd doubt it, but it's possible.

This appears to be a equal protection violation. How is anyone to know if there is rackteering involved in SWP operations if a responsible party can't do discovery of their contribution records? Just because they don't elect public officials doesn't mean that they can't exert corrupting influence.

It isn't the job of the Federal government to provide special protection from crimes unless such crimes are proven to exist. If they have a beef about harassment from private parties, they can sue.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

If "fear of harassment" is enough, shouldn't the Board of Elections in Ithaca allow Republicans donors to remain anonymous?

Seriously, this is insane. If you live in Boehlert's district or Walsh's I would suggest you send them an email on this.

[iconoclast]

Calm down ... all will be well when we get a conservative, constitutionally centered party.

[Tamzee]

Unbelievable... So there is no tracking where the money comes from to support the SWP and there is no tracking which candidates they help support. It gives absolute clearance for hostile foreign governments to financially influence American politics totally under the radar.

[MonroeDNA]

Communists getting special legal protection here in the US.

Can you light up your ping list?

[Rensselaer]

Note again that this is something the Socialist Workers have won in court -twice!. I suppose the FEC could refuse to renew it, but it just means they'd get sued again.

Personally, I hope they get it. I believe that every American should have the right to make anonymous political contributions. Look at FREEP - we work to FREEP polls, organize rallies, etc., and most of us, like me, are doing it all anonymously. Why should giving money be any different? The Federalist papers were published anonymously. Nobody knows who contributed to Abe Lincoln or John Adams or Thomas Jefferson. Congress should change the law so that everybody has these rights.

Meanwhile, if we have to start with the socialists, so be it, and blame the courts which have granted only them this exemption in the past, and congress which keeps the law for everyone else, rather than the FEC, which is just doing what the law and courts require. In the meantime, maybe some other group should ask for the same treatment - why not Republicans in Ithaca, or the Libertarian Party, or pro-life groups that often face harassment? I get so tired of the knee-jerk ranting on these pages (well, maybe not too tired - I keep reading and posting.) Maybe we can use this instead of fuming about it.

[farmfriend]

The Socialist Workers Party advocates a Marxist revolution to overthrow the U.S. government.

Heavens no, we don't want to know who the people are who want to overthough the government, do we? After all, if we knew who they were, homeland security might go after them.

[Kay Ludlow]

Thanks for posting this. So people in other parties are subject to public exposure for who they support, but those advocating overthrow of our freely elected government aren't?

I can't believe that FEC lawyers, paid for with my taxes, are agreeing with them! They should at least have to pay for their own lawyers to argue their side.

This really explains to me why I've seen the socialist party involved in many things that surprised me, especially the last fifteen years. Since donors don't have to be made public, they are probably rolling in $$$ from Hollywood and foundations. I know they are heavily involved in the environmental movement, pushing all those draconian regulations that are designed to change our way of life. Not to mention their sponsorship of those protests that just happen to turn violent...

I forwarded this article to my US Representatives office, asking why we have to pay for the lawyers to argue their case.