Posted on 3/25/2006, 9:44:56 PM by West Coast Conservative
The Federal Election Commission last night released proposed new rules that leave almost all Internet political activity unregulated except for the purchase of campaign ads on Web sites.
"My key goal in this rule-making has been to make sure that the commission establish clear rules to exempt individuals who engage in online politics from campaign finance laws," said Chairman Michael E. Toner, a Republican.
"We tried to craft a regulation that would allow the maximum amount of freedom for people as possible," said Commissioner Ellen L. Weintraub, a Democrat.
Most bloggers, individual Web users, and such Web sites as Drudge Report and Salon.com are exempted from regulation and will be free to support and attack federal candidates, much as newspapers are allowed.
For the most part, leading advocates of the blogger community welcomed the proposed rules.
"As a whole, these are rules that I think those who have been fighting regulations are going to be cheering," said Richard L. Hasen, a professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, who runs the Election Law blog. The rules provide "broad exemptions for most political activity on the Internet, and expand the media exemption to the Internet," he said.
Hasen and others noted that as technology advances, the regulations will have to be modified.
In particular, Hasen said, "as the Internet and TV converge, the FEC or Congress will eventually need to rethink these rules to see if they make sense."
"Generally, it's in line with what I think bloggers ask for," said Jerome Armstrong, the founder of the liberal blog MyDD, an adviser to the Howard Dean for president campaign in 2004 and currently an adviser to former Virginia governor Mark R. Warner's political action committee. "They give bloggers the media exemption."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
We still need a law. The FEC, McCain, Feingold and a future fascist President like Hillary cannot be trusted to maintain this approach.
Well wasn't that gracious of them, trying to allow the maximum amount of freedom? I'm sure for these [FreeRepublic's rules of decency have required the next four words be redacted] government so-and-so's it was quite a challenge trying to allow freedom.
I still can't figure what political activity cries out for regulation.
McCain and hClinton will have to try another approach to get a gatekeeper for the Internet.
Both saw the damage it inflicted on Kerry's campaign. Neither want that to happen to them.
Don't be surprised to see an attempt to create some Internet Control Commission in the near future. Imagine how much hClinton would love for someone like Jamie Gorelick to be in charge of it. [The Clintons do owe Gorelick bigtime for her deflecting the 9-11 Commission results away from the Clintons.]
True, But chatter on Jim Rob's website?
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
their goal, along with Kerry, if to get the Internet under the control of the UN - and the UN already has it's ducks in a row to tax the Internet....
Just saw a great poll result on Fox - Heretofore, the poles have been how Hitlery will be the runaway candidate. That,however, is only for the democratic primary. This poll show that against either McChicken of Rudy - it's about 52 to 38 with her on the low side. Betcha she's hub-bubbing with her strategists as we speak......
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
"McCain and hClinton will have to try another approach to get a gatekeeper for the Internet."
IMO, we're now untouchable. (Until '08 or so, anyway.)
The last thing the FEC, McCain, Witchilly or any so-called progressive inside the Beltway wants now is the slightest excuse to revisit ANY provision or regulation involved with McF. They've managed to get FR, DU, Kos and half the bloggers on earth up in arms (and on the same side, no less) by that little bit of noodling around by the FEC, and if they passed a law or restrictive regulation, the whole bunch of us would have them before the good Justice Roberts in half a heartbeat.
Want to place any bets on how long McF would last before THIS court, with or without restrictions on internet free speech?
I must admit that I haven't been following this issue very closely.The proposal doesn't appear that it will affect sites like FR or FrontpageMag.com,but the cynic in me says this could just be a means of regulators/polititians getting a foot in the door.Am i over reacting?
Add note: Should we start a Legal Fund just in case? Or just ask for lawyers on the net to do this Pro Bono?
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
Hey, look at that. It's a camel's nose in our tent.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
btt
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
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