FEC Attack on Bloggers: Fighting Back

Sergey Watch ^ | 03/04/2005 | sergey1973

[sergey1973]

Dear US Political Bloggers and any other civic minded folks.

As you likely have heard already, Federal Election Commission seeks to stifle free speech on the Internet under the guise of Campaign Finance Reform . I am one of many folks who are fighting back this idiotic and amoral measure. I already emailed my representative and I urge you to do the same. Feel free to use my email below if you like. You can find and write to your representative or senator using www.house.gov and www.senate.gov. However, if (Heaven Forbid !) this McCain-Feingold restrictions will spread to the Internet, there are perfectly legitimate ways to fight it back.Instapundit, LoneStarTimes and a number of other bloggers, journalists, activists, etc are doing something about this already. I am definitely not going to put up with this stupid, amoral, and tyrannical law.

Here is my email:

Dear Rep/Sen. {Name}

I am asking you to stand up to the proposed Federal Election Commission measure that will spread McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform restrictions to the political activity on the Internet, such as Internet Blogging. The proposed measure may jeopardize a number of political activities other than cash donations that are currently conducted on the Internet. For instance, posting a link to a candidate campaign website or e-mailing canditate Press-Release to the mailing list may be considered a "Political Contribution" under the law and the courts will have a right to impose fines on the Bloggers if these "contributions" will be "exceeding" the limit. This absurd measure in effect infringes upon the First Ammendement rights protecting the political speech and legitimate political activities. If proposed Campaign Finance Reform Internet restrictions take place, any political activity on the Internet will become a subject to unconstitutional restrictions and arbitrary court rulings. Please help defeat this unconstitutional measure !

Sincerely,

{Your Name}

[Revel]

It turns out that Apple is not doing us any favors. They apear to be going through with a lawsuit that will Un privatize the confidential idenitys of every one posting on the internet. Including independent journalists.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4319715.stm

Maybe it is time to put some PREASURE on APPLE. Buy PC.

[gidget7]

They can't unprivatize identities, that would end paying bills online, and put safety of the general public at risk. Not only identity theft, but personal attack, violence, everything.

[sergey1973]

Unfortunately, this story is beyond my competency. I don't think it is legal to post any legitimately confidential information about businesses (like launching new products)--is it ? If journalists do that, however, they are protected--right ? Well--this is quite an ethical/legal question. I'm not a lawyer/ethicist to give a good answer on this--sorry ! However, for FEC plans to do is definitely infringement on the 1st Ammendement. I'm pretty sure.