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.
He was a typical California guy, great suntan, strong healthy body, with a beautiful girl friend a a couple of German Shepherds. Robert Mitchum was the greatest to be around on that movie.
;-)
oh, I thought you were joking about woking in the movies. :)
Ah yes, great words of wisdom from one of Specter's constituents! Gotta put this worldly wisdom in my treasure chest of knowledge.
AND, looking in the mirror..."it's better to be hated for who you are than loved for someone you're not!"
BUT thanks for sharing, ding dong - NOT!
LOL. You illustrate your level of intelligence by blaming someone for the state in which they live.
Little to none.
YEP, you, as a Pennsylanian, get to wear Senator Arlen Specter's reputation - like a crown of thorns.
....... and I thought all FReepers were smart.
I am not calling you an idiot, but you are certainly speaking like an idiot.
p.s. Pennsylanian -- what's that?
Santorum's too?
Can you say; "C_A_S_E_Y"?; Then you'll have a 'robe of disgust' to go with your 'crown of thorns'!
LOL! You are nuts.
Oh yeah, excellent defense of your 'state's politics'! I'll bet you 'didn't have sex with that woman...' either, and the rest of you life is governed by what the meaning of "is" is at the appropriate time.
Face it, you're in Pennsylvania and you've got Specter doing his near perfect impression of a demonRAT and Casey on his way to help drive another nail in Pennsylvania's political credibility.
Better you than me!
You ARE an idiot............... you are not just speaking as an idiot.
Me.......... being an ex-professional athlete would like to deal with your sorry, nasty, foolish crap you speak as we used to do. We used to deal with your crap directly.
You, unfortunately are saved by the distance of the web.
You are an ASS!
(Yes, I know this is smoky backroom.)
Is that you, Tonya? Looking to break some more knees are ya!?!
;-)
Nancy Kerrigan.
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