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G.O.P. Is Taking Aim at Advocacy Groups
NY Times ^ | March 31, 2006 | CARL HULSE and SHERYL GAY STOLBERG

Posted on 03/31/2006 2:03:21 PM PST by neverdem

WASHINGTON, March 30 — To many Republicans, the liberal activist organization MoveOn.org is a political boogeyman that they hope to chase off with new restrictions on so-called 527 groups.

But the pursuit may turn out to be fruitless. Like other major groups planning to inject themselves aggressively into the midterm elections through advertisements, voter drives and issue fights, MoveOn.org has already figured out what it thinks is a better, and less controversial, way to spend its millions. Its 527 — named for a section of the tax code — is being put on ice.

"Our 527 is dormant," said Eli Pariser, executive director of MoveOn.org. He said his group would predominantly operate as a conventional political action committee, allowing it to more freely mix explicit political support and issue advocacy in a way that Mr. Pariser described as "squeaky clean."

MoveOn.org might be moving on from its 527, but Congress is not. Two years after 527's burst onto the political scene, gaining notoriety by raising unlimited amounts from private donors, Congressional Republicans are moving to rein in the groups — just in time for the November midterm elections. Leading Democrats are threatening a fight.

In the House, the Republican leadership intends to bring a plan to impose new restrictions on 527 groups to the floor next week to spur action in the Senate, where Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, a champion of the campaign finance bill that bears his name, is offering similar legislation.

"I think this leaves a gaping loophole in the McCain..."

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: District of Columbia
KEYWORDS: clubforgrowth; firstamendment; mccainfeingold; moveonorg; politicaladvertising
But Mr. Boehner's Democratic counterpart, Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, denounced the effort, saying that Republicans could draw unlimited money from wealthy corporations and trade associations that used their own nonprofit arms to wage issue campaigns.

Give me a brake!

1 posted on 03/31/2006 2:03:22 PM PST by neverdem
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To: neverdem

Just wait. It won't be long before our favorite Constitution basher, McCain, comes along and tries to put a muzzle on Internet free speech. McCain, of course, has one audience, the MSM. And anything that interferes with that audience, e.g. the New Media, he will be after it.

Watch out McCain...you can run, but you cannot hide.


2 posted on 03/31/2006 2:08:30 PM PST by EagleUSA
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To: neverdem
More objective reporting from
3 posted on 03/31/2006 2:15:12 PM PST by pabianice
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To: pabianice
More objective reporting

Actually, I think its more informative than WaPo's version, FEC Ordered to Rethink '527' Rules , especially concerning all the machinations with the tax code.

4 posted on 03/31/2006 2:26:08 PM PST by neverdem (May you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows that you're dead.)
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To: neverdem
REPEAL MCCAIN-FINEGOLD-BUSH
5 posted on 03/31/2006 2:29:08 PM PST by SUSSA
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To: neverdem

Republicans are just as power hungry as the Dems and will attempt to use government to their advantage.

By reducing the power of government, no group could use it to their advantage, but this they both will not do.


6 posted on 03/31/2006 2:40:04 PM PST by traviskicks (http://www.neoperspectives.com/israel_palestine_conflict.htm)
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To: pabianice
http://www.washtimes.com/national/ Wash Times nada

http://www.nysun.com/section/2 NY Sun nada

7 posted on 03/31/2006 2:43:57 PM PST by neverdem (May you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows that you're dead.)
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To: neverdem

How would this effect the Swift boat vets? If they are getting hog tied than I am not for this.


8 posted on 03/31/2006 3:00:41 PM PST by napscoordinator
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To: neverdem
Give me a brake!

disc or drum?

9 posted on 03/31/2006 3:11:22 PM PST by PsyOp (The commonwealth is theirs who hold the arms.... - Aristotle.)
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To: neverdem
The GOP should encourage MoveOn, possibly even start donating to them. Every single candidate they have back at all levels of elected office has LOST!

MoveOn has yet to get a single victory!

10 posted on 03/31/2006 3:11:59 PM PST by Phantom Lord (Fall on to your knees for the Phantom Lord)
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To: neverdem
Republicans could draw unlimited money from wealthy corporations

Corporations can't contribute to candidates.

11 posted on 03/31/2006 6:49:44 PM PST by LouD
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