FEC Says Group Can't Use Media Exemption (The Right Loses One!)

[Khephra]

FEC Says Group Can't Use Media Exemption

SHARON THEIMER

Associated Press


WASHINGTON - A conservative group isn't entitled to a media exemption that would have let it run election-time ads promoting a book that criticizes Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, election officials ruled Thursday.

snip..........

The law bans the use of corporate money for ads that clearly identify a federal candidate, air in places where the candidate is on the ballot, and appear within one month of the primary and two months of the general election. It exempts news stories, commentaries or editorials aired on television or radio unless the outlets are owned by political groups, parties or candidates.

Citizens United, which is incorporated, argued it should be able to use the media exemption to run election-time ads for a book called "The Many Faces of John Kerry: Why This Massachusetts Liberal is Wrong for America."

The group wants to run ads for the book, written by its president, David Bossie, and a documentary film on the Democratic candidate and his running mate, John Edwards.

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/special_packages/election2004/9620086.htm

[ClintonTyree]

1. Since when..................

has the right played by the rules and followed the letter of the law? I know, in a perfect world they wouldn't have a chance, but I'm sure they'll get them on the air somehow, these are REPUBLICANS remember?

[Doctor Smith]

2. I'm sorry, but there is something terribly wrong, when

certain groups have free speech rights, and others don't, and the government gets to decide who does and who doesn't.

[Robbien]

3. This is true

I hate all these campaign media ads on television, but you are right. This campaign law stinks when it is viewed in light of free speech rights.

One by one they are chipping away at all our personal freedoms.

[mistertrickster]

4. I have to respectfully disagree--we're not talking about free speech

per se. You can always stand on the street corner and yell if you want to. This web-site is not going to get shut down before the election. You are protected by the first amendment from prosecution for attacking a politician's character for instance.

What is in question is the use of broadcast media, who are only allowed to use frequency bandwidth by gov't fiat.

This is important to regulate: otherwise, the right of a free press would belong only to the man WHO OWNS ONE. (Even more so than it is now.)

This isn't a free speech issue as much as a fair speech issue in my mind.

[thecrow]

5. What about GOP-related sites

that promote this book?

[Doctor Smith]

6. The point is that the government gets to decide

which is a legitimate news organization, and which is not; which editorials are legitimate, and which are not. This is very dangerous.

[depakid]

7. The government has always had that power!

it comes from the fact that it requires a license to broadcast on the PUBLIC airwaves. Technically, the government could take action to shut down CBS tomorrow if it violated FCC rules....

Can't do that to newspapers- only broadcasters.