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Congress Could Vote Tomorrow On Internet Exemption
Gun Owners of America ^ | Wed, 15 Mar 2006 15:35:31 | GOA

Posted on 03/16/2006 8:32:01 PM PST by gnarledmaw

U.S. House Will Vote Soon on Whether to Ditch John McCain's Internet Regulations

Gun Owners of America E-Mail Alert
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102,
Springfield, VA 22151 Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408
http://www.gunowners.org

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

The U.S. House of Representatives will vote, as early as Thursday, on legislation introduced by Texas Congressmen Jeb Hensarling and Ron Paul. This bill (H.R. 1606) will exempt the Internet from regulation under federal "electioneering" laws.

Unless the Hensarling-Paul bill is successful, many major blogs and web sites could be shut down for 60 days before any general election -- and for 30 days prior to any primary -- making it much more difficult for groups like Gun Owners of America to criticize anti-gun candidates.

How did we arrive at such a dismal state?

You may remember that, a half-decade ago, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) pushed a McCain-Feingold bill which, as enacted, prohibits organizations from engaging in major "broadcast communications" which even mention a candidate in a favorable or unfavorable light within 60 days of a general election (30 days of a primary).

Senate Republicans rolled over -- and George Bush signed the bill -- based on the assumption that the Supreme Court would surely save them from their unconstitutional legislation. But, in McConnell v. Federal Election Commission, 540 U.S. 93 (2003), the Supreme Court, by a five-to-four decision, upheld McCain-Feingold, almost in its entirely.

To its enormous credit, the conservative Federal Election Commission (FEC), in the wake of the McConnell case, moved to narrowly interpret the statute -- exempting the Internet entirely from McCain-Feingold. But in Shays v. Federal Election Commission, 337 F.Supp.2d 28 (D.C., 20004), a federal judge ordered the FEC to regulate the Internet.

The FEC is doing everything in its power to minimize the impact of the Shays ruling.

But, there is certainly a danger that, if Hensarling and Paul are unsuccessful in exempting the Internet from FEC regulation, many major blogs and web sites will be construed to be engaged in "electioneering communications" because they praise or criticize candidates. And, if this happens, they could be shut down for 60 days prior to an election -- or, at least, subject to a "gag rule" on what they are allowed to say.

ACTION: Contact your congressman. Ask him to vote for H.R. 1606, a bill to exempt the Internet from McCain-Feingold. Time is short, so please CALL rather than e-mail your representative. (You can use the sample text below to help direct your comments.) The toll-free number to call your representative is 877-762-8762. If you can't get through, the Capitol Switchboard number is 202-225-3121.

----- Sample phone text -----

The U.S. House of Representatives will soon vote on H.R. 1606, a bill by introduced by Texas Congressmen Jeb Hensarling and Ron Paul to exempt the Internet from regulation under federal "electioneering" laws.

Unless the Hensarling-Paul bill is successful, many major blogs and web sites could be shut down for 60 days before any general election -- and for 30 days prior to any primary.

Please support H.R. 1606.


TOPICS: Heated Discussion
KEYWORDS: 109th; 1stamendment; banglist; billofrights; bloggers; cfr; constitutionlist; fec; feingold; firstamendment; freespeech; govwatch; internet; libertarians; mccain; mccainfeingold; mccainthepain; rinowatch; weblogs
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To: freepatriot32
Holding you head high & voting Libertarian is better then holding your nose and voting republican

Good way to keep the lunatic fringe from voting democrat. :)

41 posted on 03/17/2006 12:17:55 AM PST by Echo Talon
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To: TBP
The Nazi, Fascist, Liberal, Socialist, Communist People's Democratic Party (did I leave anything out?) have been paying very close attention to the on-goings inside China and their attempts to silence descenders using the Internet. The technology is there, it's simply a matter of having the right cronies inside the bureaucracy to go after us.
42 posted on 03/17/2006 12:20:04 AM PST by Lancer_N3502A
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To: Echo Talon

lol yeah and its a hell of a lot better then staying home on election day.I hope it works this year :-)


43 posted on 03/17/2006 12:20:12 AM PST by freepatriot32 (Holding you head high & voting Libertarian is better then holding your nose and voting republican)
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To: gnarledmaw

Bump


44 posted on 03/17/2006 5:16:54 AM PST by RJL
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To: gnarledmaw
"a federal judge"

Read: 'totalitarian socialist shill'

45 posted on 03/17/2006 5:56:19 AM PST by CowboyJay (Rough Riders! Tancredo '08)
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To: al_again
"And your problem with his profile is what?"

IF you had to ask - my explaining wouldn't matter!

- - - - - - - - -

"I'd recommend that you state your points rather than sling personal insults. If you disagree with what he has posted - say so and why!"

AND, I'd recommend that you go find a 'rolling donut' to have flying sexual experience with!

46 posted on 03/17/2006 7:04:58 AM PST by harpu ( "...it's better to be hated for who you are than loved for someone you're not!")
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To: TBP

See #46...


47 posted on 03/17/2006 7:06:25 AM PST by harpu ( "...it's better to be hated for who you are than loved for someone you're not!")
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To: harpu

I have the impression that this sort of behaviour, rude, boorish, childish and petty as it is, is against the host's rules. I could be mistaken, but I hardly think so. Just because you've been here almost as long as I have does not exempt you from the rules and you know it. It was a polite and civil request but you chose to make one of the most assinine responses I have seen in quite a while.

..."I'd recommend that you state your points rather than sling personal insults. If you disagree with what he has posted - say so and why!"

AND, I'd recommend that you go find a 'rolling donut' to have flying sexual experience with!...


48 posted on 03/17/2006 7:57:31 PM PST by dcwusmc (The government is supposed to fit the Constitution, NOT the Constitution fit the government!)
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To: dcwusmc
"I have the impression that this sort of behaviour, rude, boorish, childish and petty as it is, is against the host's rules...I could be mistaken, but I hardly think so. Just because you've been here almost as long as I have does not exempt you from the rules and you know it...It was a polite and civil request but you chose to make one of the most assinine responses I have seen in quite a while."

You know, I certainly appreciate your taking the time to express your 'impressions' and 'thoughts' about my response to ANOTHER's response to me BUT - I don't really give a "rat's backside" about what you think or how you feel.

My response THEN is what it is - to that fool from Florida, and it is what is NOW - to your response also.

Now, you just go have yourself a 'lovely day'.

49 posted on 03/18/2006 5:30:34 AM PST by harpu ( "...it's better to be hated for who you are than loved for someone you're not!")
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To: harpu

OK, Doc. So you were a Corpsman...which means I have to cut you some slack... but politeness counts for something when you slap someone down...

Semper fi


50 posted on 03/18/2006 1:42:45 PM PST by dcwusmc (The government is supposed to fit the Constitution, NOT the Constitution fit the government!)
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To: harpu

OK, Doc. So you were a Corpsman...which means I have to cut you some slack... but politeness counts for something when you slap someone down...

Oh... and welcome home, bro. (HMH-462 Phu Bai, RVN, '69)

Semper fi


51 posted on 03/18/2006 1:43:53 PM PST by dcwusmc (The government is supposed to fit the Constitution, NOT the Constitution fit the government!)
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To: dcwusmc
"Oh... and welcome home, bro. (HMH-462 Phu Bai, RVN, '69)" BACK2YA

BTW...You, nor anyone else needs to cut me any slack for what I've been, done, said or feel.

52 posted on 03/18/2006 1:52:49 PM PST by harpu ( "...it's better to be hated for who you are than loved for someone you're not!")
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To: Hank Rearden
The Founders would be cleaning their weapons over crap like this.

Agreed.

53 posted on 03/19/2006 9:20:49 PM PST by beyond the sea (The definition of a 'Targeted Tax Cut' is ........................ you ain't gettin' it)
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To: Hank Rearden

"But, there is certainly a danger that, if Hensarling and Paul are unsuccessful in exempting the Internet from FEC regulation, many major blogs and web sites will be construed to be engaged in "electioneering communications" because they praise or criticize candidates. And, if this happens, they could be shut down for 60 days prior to an election -- or, at least, subject to a "gag rule" on what they are allowed to say."


54 posted on 03/19/2006 9:26:13 PM PST by beyond the sea (The definition of a 'Targeted Tax Cut' is ........................ you ain't gettin' it)
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To: beyond the sea

If that scenario came to pass, and Washington D.C. coincidentally burned to the ground the next day, I don't think I'd shed a tear.


55 posted on 03/19/2006 9:30:05 PM PST by Hank Rearden (Never allow anyone who could only get a government "job" attempt to tell you how to run your life.)
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To: harpu; Hank Rearden
From Hank Rearden's profile, so you'll know who you're dealing with...

Looks to me like his page makes all the sense in a good world.

In other words, save your keystrokes...this POS is just that - a POS.

You might want to look in a mirror.

56 posted on 03/19/2006 9:35:39 PM PST by beyond the sea (The definition of a 'Targeted Tax Cut' is ........................ you ain't gettin' it)
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To: Echo Talon; harpu; Hank Rearden
yea i know, I don't understand why he's here.

He's pprobably here to get everyone in government to do the right thing. Simple.

He's just telling the truth...... and you know how that Nicholson quote goes.

57 posted on 03/19/2006 9:39:16 PM PST by beyond the sea (The definition of a 'Targeted Tax Cut' is ........................ you ain't gettin' it)
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To: beyond the sea

I think his sights need adjusting.


58 posted on 03/19/2006 9:42:53 PM PST by Echo Talon
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To: Echo Talon; Hank Rearden
You showed your wisdom over your consistently wrong football observations the past months.

****

His sight is excellent.

59 posted on 03/19/2006 9:49:16 PM PST by beyond the sea (The definition of a 'Targeted Tax Cut' is ........................ you ain't gettin' it)
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To: beyond the sea

what is my wrong football observations?


60 posted on 03/19/2006 9:57:35 PM PST by Echo Talon
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