MoveOn Balks at Proposed FEC Rules Changes by Scaring Nonprofits (FEC Email Needs FReeping! NOW!)

Talon News ^ | April 2, 2004 | Jimmy Moore

[ElephantMan]

SPARTANBURG, SC (Talon News) -- Liberal anti-Bush online political activist group MoveOn.org sent a warning message to its members this week regarding the upcoming ruling by the Federal Election Commission about the legality of so-called 527 groups accepting soft campaign contributions to run political ads.

"The Republican National Committee is pressing the Federal Election Commission to issue new rules that would cripple groups that dare to communicate with the public in any way critical of President Bush or members of Congress," MoveOn.org charged in an e-mail to supporters.

In the e-mail, MoveOn.org attempts to scare "conservative, progressive, labor, religious, secular, social service, charitable, educational, civic participation, [and] issue-oriented" groups into believing the rule changes will be detrimental to their cause by alleging that the ruling will prevent them from speaking out on issues.

However, the Republican National Committee, along with President George W. Bush's reelection campaign, has filed a complaint with the FEC over the connection of specific 527 groups like MoveOn.org and the campaign of likely Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kerry.

Jill Holtzman Vogel, chief counsel for the RNC, said evidence of coordination between MoveOn.org and other Democratic-supporting 527 groups and the Kerry campaign in violation of the new campaign finance law could not be clearer.

"Senator Kerry, who supported the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act, is now the beneficiary of the single largest conspiracy to violate campaign finance laws in history," she explained in issuing the complaint to the FEC.

In fact, the Massachusetts senator explained when he voted for the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law that he supported it because he wanted "to eliminate altogether the capacity of soft money to play the role that it does in our politics."

Yet, MoveOn.org is now operating illegally as an extension of the Kerry campaign because they accept soft money from corporations and unions, which represents an evasion of the ban on large, unregulated contributions in the new campaign finance law, critics argue.

For example, MoveOn.org has been giving Kerry plenty of free campaign ads by running a relentless schedule of political attack ads against Bush for months using donations from liberal billionaires such as George Soros and others.

Nevertheless, MoveOn.org tells its supporters that any action conducted by the FEC regarding donations to various MoveOn.org fundraising efforts will not be traced back to the specific donors.

Blaming unnamed "operatives" in the nation's capitol for "displaying a terrifying disregard for the values of free speech and openness which underlie our democracy," MoveOn.org states the FEC complaint by the RNC and the Bush campaign is a blatant attempt to squelch attacks against Bush.

"Essentially, they are willing to pay any price to stop criticism of Bush," the e-mail continued.

MoveOn.org is encouraging its members to send the FEC public comments along with the sender's full name, e-mail address, and mailing address to Acting Assistant General Counsel Mai T. Dinh by April 9 at politicalcommitteestatus@fec.gov.

In fact, MoveOn.org has requested to see a copy of the messages sent to the FEC.

"We'd love to see a copy of your public comment," MoveOn.org explains, although the group did not indicate whether it wants to receive comments that would support the new rules changes.

Nevertheless, the leftist political group writes, "Please e-mail us a copy [of your comments to the FEC] at FECcomment@moveon.org."

The e-mail lists the names and telephone numbers of the e-mail recipient's two U.S. senators as well as the recipient's U.S. congressman.

Charging the Bush administration with orchestrating an "unholy alliance" with the FEC, MoveOn.org announced the formation of the FEC Working Group to identify "examples of specific consequence for nonprofit groups."

"It's outrageous," MoveOn.org opines.

Nonprofit groups, MoveOn.org warns, who advocate positions for or against congressmen or the president's positions on the issues would be deemed as political groups and be subjected to the laws imposed on them.

"Such changes would cripple the ability of groups to raise and spend funds in pursuit of their mission and could be so ruinous that organizations would be forced to back away from meaningful conversations about public policies that affect millions of Americans," MoveOn.org states.

Groups that would be affected, MoveOn.org adds, include 501(c)(4) advocacy groups, 501(c)(3) charitable groups, labor unions, trade associations, environmental groups, 501 (c)(6) groups, and 527 political action committee groups, such as MoveOn.org.

Also included in the list of affected organizations, according to MoveOn.org, are religious groups that pass out voting record pamphlets, voter registration groups, pro-life groups spreading communication about a lawmaker's position on abortion and civil rights groups.

A public hearing by the FEC is scheduled to take place on April 14-15. A final decision on the rules changes will be made by mid-May and would go into effect by July.

MoveOn.org states the changes could be made retroactive to January 2003.

"It's clear that these rules would immediately silence thousands of groups, of all types, who have raised questions and criticisms of any kind about the Bush Administration, its record and its policies," MoveOn.org concludes, alleging this is nothing more than an election year ploy by the Bush campaign to silence his critics.

If the new rules changes are allowed to go into effect, groups like MoveOn.org will no longer be allowed to use soft campaign contributions to attack the president or any other elected official.

Copyright © 2004 Talon News -- All rights reserved

[ElephantMan]

Urgent ~ FReep The FEC ~ Stop MoveOn.org!

FEC Email: politicalcommitteestatus@fec.gov

Let the FEC know that you are opposed to MoveOn.org's blatant support of the John Kerry campaign and urge them to implement the rule changes they are considering and no longer allow MoveOn.org to use soft campaign contributions to attack the president or any other elected official--and to make the change retroactive to January 1, 2004.

MoveOn.org: FECcomment@moveon.org (For you trouble makers who want to CC MoveOn.org and let them know what you sent to the FEC!)

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[jcb8199]

bookmark for later....

[MeSpikeLibs]

It is about time the Republican party is growing a Back bone, I am sick of these Liberals passing laws and we are the only ones who follow it. Of course this will go to some liberal activist judge who will eventually throw it out. The campaign finance law is joke and I am still sick over the fact the supreme court didn't overturn it. Actually, It should have never had to make it there.

[antiRepublicrat]

The Republican National Committee is pressing the Federal Election Commission to issue new rules that would cripple groups that dare to communicate with the public in any way critical of President Bush or members of Congress

And they're right. CFR was mean to keep the current power structure intact while giving the people the impression that they're doing something about corruption. Now that the Libs are getting bit by it, maybe they'll fight to have it repealed.

[ElephantMan]

Here's my letter to the FEC (cc'd to MoveOn.org of course):

Dear Mai T. Dinh:

I am deeply concerned about the flagrant violation of both the letter and spirit of the recently passed campaign finance rules by certain, specific 527 organizations, in particular, MoveOn.org.

MoveOn.org has raised mammoth sums of so-called soft money. In some instances, individual donors have contributed sums far in excess of the $2000.00 campaign contribution limit. In one case, 17 million dollars was contributed by on individual, a partisan activist on the public record as saying that their primary focus in life is to "defeat President Bush."

This is an extremely dangerous circumvention of long standing campaign contribution limits, which, truthfully, I would be in favor of lifting all together, for all participants in exchange for requiring total transparency. If the public knew who gave how much to who, that would be fine with me. That, however, is not how the rules are currently written and, as such, enforcement of the rules must be consistent for all parties and individuals.

In addition to being obviously apparent to anyone who is exposed to the illegal commercials, there is a growing body of convincing evidence that the John Kerry campaign is working closely with MoveOn.org--a blatant violation of the rules. I would encourage the FEC to vigorously pursue this evidence in a timely fashion and impose the appropriate sanctions, fines and punishments as warranted.

I would also encourage the committee to clarify the rules, instate or reinstate them as appropriate, and move in an expedient fashion to cause MoveOn.org and other specific organizations found violating the rules to cease and desist immediately and sanction them as the committee deems appropriate.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

[not-alone]

bump

[ElephantMan]

I am still sick over the fact the supreme court didn't overturn it. Actually, It should have never had to make it there

I know, I never felt so helpless as when that decision was handed down. A serious encroachment to the First Ammendment had taken place and the court of last resort, the jurists we depend on to protect our rights as enumerated in the Constitution, failed us. Miserably.

I wonder to this day, since they are charged to protect the Constitution and there is no question that free speech was abridged by that decision--is there not anything we can do?

Sick as well...

[cvq3842]

Amen to that!

I didn't favor the law at all. What a sick, hypocritical joke that MoveOn is squirming now just because the law many of their members wanted might apply to them!

If no one wants to have to play by the rules anymore, we might as well just pack it in.

Very discouraging.

[EQAndyBuzz]

Anyone get the impression that Stalin has relatives on the FEC?

[bayourod]

Don't worry. What MoveOn and the other groups are doing is clearly illegal. If Republicans tried to do the same, we would be mercilessly burned by the press. There would be calls for Bush's resignation, impeachment, special prosecutors etc..

But once the FEC and Courts say that what they are doing is not illegal, then the Republicans are free to do the same thing. And we can easily out spend them. One more trap the Democrats are walking into. IMO

[JDoutrider]

BTTT!

[talleyman]

Bump! (Will freep later- thanks!)

[Sender]

I sent a (hopefully) well-reasoned letter to the FEC saying I believe MoveOn and the other anti-Bush 527's amount to a de facto campaign fund for Kerry and a clear violation of the intent of CFR. I copied MoveOn too for their enjoyment.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

No matter what the ruling, this will bite the Rats. The Rats do not get $1,000 and under contributions from families and business-owners like the Republicans do - they get their funds from wealthy liberal individuals and special-interest groups.

CFR is actually turning out to be a good thing.

[ServesURight]

But once the FEC and Courts say that what they are doing is not illegal

What if the FEC rules that it's in fact illegal? Then what happens?

[BlkConserv]

What if the FEC rules that it's in fact illegal? Then what happens?

Team Kerry would have to buy his own ads from his own pockets.

[MrB]

Geez, CFR was great when it was only going to hurt Republicans, wasn't it?

Now that the rules are being enforced on the leftists, it's a "free speech" issue.

Hey, moveon, you tipped your hand when you released your ad about Kerry's tax plan BEFORE THE KERRY CAMPAIGN DID.

This is illegal. But it doesn't matter, leftists are ENTITLED to break the law because their cause is so just.

[MrB]

What if the FEC rules that it's in fact illegal?

Rule against a leftist org? Yeah, right.

[CalKat]

I wonder if the RNC included the conservative groups which run similar ads in their FEC complaint.