FEC & Blogs
Written by Mark Harris on March 31st, 2005Well I attended the panel discussion put on by the Advisory Committee to the Internet Caucus. It confirmed all my fears, and assauged none of my doubts.
The panelists were Chairman Scott Thomas of the FEC, Mike Krempasky of Red State, and John Morris of the Center for Democracy and Technology. The moderator was Michael Cornfield of the Pew Internet & American Life Project.
The one major concern that this whole panel raised for me is that no one, not even the FEC Chairman really had a grasp on what exactly the proposed rules will do. The rule proposal is set to come out in the Federal Register around April 4th, and then there will be a 60 day window for comment on them. Chairman Thomas seemed to be generally interested and concerned in the process, and I believe he has good intentions in this, but if he doesn’t even know what effect these rules will have then we must all be very concerned.
Mike Krempasky did a good job pointing out a lot of the murky areas that are likely to pop up due to the implications of the law. I think in the end the only real solution to the problem is the repeal of McCain-Feingold (a terribly unconstitutional bill that should have never been signed… but I digress), but that is unlikely to happen. As such, Chairman Thomas repeatedly stated that begining on the 4th the FEC would be looking for written comment from as many qualified peopel as possible. I would encourage all bloggers to participate. More details as they come in.
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The Press Exemption is Backwards
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Since corporations do not worship God, can we agree the 1st Amendment of the Bill of Rights was written to protect the rights of people?
Then it follows that freedom of the press is a right of people and newspapers only enjoy the right because they employ people.
Therefore the New York Times has a right to print a newspaper because a citizen has the right to print a handbill.
The 1st Amendment is not a loophole in federal campaign law! Federal Campaign Law is a violation of 1st Amendment rights!
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Again, another attack on our freedom of speech… Now if the views were of the FEC socialists/tyrannical vane their would be no regulation.
“Tyranny seldom announces itself. … In fact, a tyranny may exist without an individual tyrant. A whole government, even a democratically elected one, may be tyrannical.” Joseph Sobran (1946- ) Columnist
ballotaccessinc@yahoo.com
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