`(3) ELECTIONEERING COMMUNICATION- For purposes of this subsection--
`(A) IN GENERAL- (i) The term `electioneering communication' means any broadcast, cable, or satellite communication which--
`(I) refers to a clearly identified candidate for Federal office;
`(II) is made within--
`(aa) 60 days before a general, special, or runoff election for the office sought by the candidate; or `(bb) 30 days before a primary or preference election, or a convention or caucus of a political party that has authority to nominate a candidate, for the office sought by the candidate; and
`(III) in the case of a communication which refers to a candidate for an office other than President or Vice President, is targeted to the relevant electorate.
`(ii) If clause (i) is held to be constitutionally insufficient by final judicial decision to support the regulation provided herein, then the term `electioneering communication' means any broadcast, cable, or satellite communication which promotes or supports a candidate for that office, or attacks or opposes a candidate for that office (regardless of whether the communication expressly advocates a vote for or against a candidate) and which also is suggestive of no plausible meaning other than an exhortation to vote for or against a specific candidate. Nothing in this subparagraph shall be construed to affect the interpretation or application of section 100.22(b) of title 11, Code of Federal Regulations.
`(B) EXCEPTIONS- The term `electioneering communication' does not include--
`(i) a communication appearing in a news story, commentary, or editorial distributed through the facilities of any broadcasting station, unless such facilities are owned or controlled by any political party, political committee, or candidate;
`(ii) a communication which constitutes an expenditure or an independent expenditure under this Act;
`(iii) a communication which constitutes a candidate debate or forum conducted pursuant to regulations adopted by the Commission, or which solely promotes such a debate or forum and is made by or on behalf of the person sponsoring the debate or forum; or
`(iv) any other communication exempted under such regulations as the Commission may promulgate (consistent with the requirements of this paragraph) to ensure the appropriate implementation of this paragraph, except that under any such regulation a communication may not be exempted if it meets the requirements of this paragraph and is described in section 301(20)(A)(iii).
Maybe I misunderstood that, Texasforever,
but it seems to say that in addition to the 60 day restriction,
there is also a 30 day restriction on the preliminary elections.
I am not allowed to run an ad that mentions my candidate by name,
and I can't run ads only in the area effected by the election.
In other words, I can only run ads that support a political party, not my man,
and I have to pay for that generalized party propaganda over a large area,
not in the region I'm interested in.
I don't consider that freedom, Texasforever.
What does that mean?
An ad can't be paid for, unless it's counted as a expenditure??
An expenditure is a cost.
Is the whole bill null and void if I claim that I spent money on the ad I paid for?