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.
Weren't you one of the one's making a big stink for a week about the officiating in the Super Bowl? If I'm mistaken on that, let me know. I've been wrong before ................... but for sure, Hank Rearden is right about government.
Brilliant reply................. at least you are consistent.
By the way, a discussion over government is never old......... three days or not.
yes, I was upset about the officiating in the SB just like about EVERY commentator on ESPN and NFL network.
maybe you think they officials were outstanding in that game thats your opinion but i bet more people disagree with you. I remember seeing a poll and like 70% or more of the people thought the refs screwed the game up.
I don't mind having a discussion but the constant harping with no solutions is another. Also, it's nice to keep things in perspective, he's like "Republicans are the worst thing in the world" , what is the alternative? Libertarian Gay marriage and
legalized Drugs/Marijuana?
I just saw a poll that said that 78% of Americans think that the economy stinks.
Maybe they polled the same folks.
it was a poll from a football site, so....
That isn't true -- he does not think that "Republicans are the worst thing in the world" as you write. He has repeatedly said that. He's just sounding an alarm that needs to be heard loud and clear. He really is doing the right thing.
This Republican Party has failed the people.
Of course the Dems. are much worse and should never be elected to anything, but this country is in deep trouble, and the Republican party did the country few favors in the past years.
Did you see who would be in charge of the Ways and Means Committee if the Dems. get elected? (think of all the other committees)
Yoi!
Many fans reacted negatively as well; a February 7 online ESPN poll found that, with 103,167 votes cast, 61.7% of voters felt that “officiating mistakes affected the outcome of Super Bowl XL”.
But DC just undergoing spontaneous combustion now that wouldn't bug me at all.
L
That's good..............
I was a stand-in for a bad actor, Jan Michael Vincent. ;-)
I'm going to sleep.
Take it easy.
Well, thanks ET, that's a mark of good character and I'm sorry if I inadvertently ruffled your feathers. If I did it intentionally, though, that's a different story. ;-)
I'm just one of those cranks, or a thick-skinned POS if you prefer, who have an abiding love for the great experiment started in 1776 or thereabouts, am for severe limitations on government as per the Constitution, and am really, really pissed off at how Americans have let all that go over the last 100 years or so. Liberty per se doesn't seem to have any value at all to most people, and that seems to include most Republicans. As you have probably gathered, I'm not a big fan of the inhabitants of our government, top to bottom.
It's all pretty sad, really. Why do we need a new law to restore the free speech we were supposedly guaranteed all along?
Things are screwed up. I fear that only a complete collapse will change things; it's not going to happen gradually.
I hammer Republicans because they've betrayed their voters; just because I don't waste my time much hammering the useless, irredeemable 'Rats doesn't mean I don't loath them.
Hell yes, I'm cranky - it helps burn off the caffeine.
Wasn't he in that cool show about the helicopter? :)
"If you think it's hard to meet new people, try picking up the wrong golf ball."
LOL
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