Comments on: FEC to Clamp Down on Blogging?

By: Cao's Blog

Cao's Blog — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 09:31:44 +0000

impending doom: FEC's plans 4 crackdown on political blogging
It is clear that there are clouds forming on the horizon in the case of bloggers being regulated as an extension of McCain Feingold. Time to start writing and calling your representatives, folks....

By: Whither The Fool?

Whither The Fool? — Sat, 05 Mar 2005 06:45:14 +0000

They Might Not Have To "Stop" The Swarm If They Call A Few High-Profile Bugs Captain's Quarters and Red States seem to feel that the sheer number of individuals making up the blogosphere will make it difficult for the Federal government to control political speech under CFR. But that's not what recent history indicates....

By: What Attitude Problem?

What Attitude Problem? — Fri, 04 Mar 2005 18:57:58 +0000

Attention all bloggers! The sky is not falling! I repeat: The sky is not falling! Mar 4, 2005 -- Setting the Record Straight: There is No FEC Threat to the Internet Statement of the Campaign Legal Center Washington, D.C. --

By: JurisPundit

JurisPundit — Fri, 04 Mar 2005 03:26:10 +0000

The Wonders of McCain-Feingold

In the end, our only hope for recourse is that Congress steps up and redefines the law to exclude the internet. Otherwise virtually every aspect of political blogging could be called into question. Links to political campaign sites? Regulated. Repost...

By: Artfldgr

Artfldgr — Thu, 03 Mar 2005 21:47:47 +0000

so what they are saying is that if i like a candidate and i buy a shirt i should claim it towards a political campaign? or if a paint a sign that says down with goofus, doest that get credited to gallant?

this wont amount to much once a supreme court or such gets it, and a lower court at that. there is a grave distinction between a personal opinion op ed kind of thing, and being literally part of a campaign.

when they resolve the kinds of things i brought up at the start of this, then they will follow through wit blogs.

you guys think you can win but the power is not with the people any more. with such nigly piggly things as due process falling out of vogue it will end up being one of those automatic kind of things, like traffic tickets. you can write, you can protest, but you still have to pay the fine or suffer the consequences in the interim.

this is a direct free speech issue.. and if they cant stop a woman from showing photos of her breasts to underage children because they are unintended recipients, i guess because of free speech i doubt they will be able to stop "i hate goofus" commentary...

By: Tom Royce

Tom Royce — Thu, 03 Mar 2005 21:07:40 +0000

It will be a wonderful demonstration of the power of the blogsphere if they try to enforce this provision.
Our own Orange Revolution...

Maybe the Battle of the Bits and Bytes

By: Scared Monkeys

Scared Monkeys — Thu, 03 Mar 2005 21:05:10 +0000

Is blogging going to be regulated by FEC?
This is not necessarily a call to arms, however, we all should keep it on our radar screen. RedState.org has this quote from CNET on regulating political speech on the internet.

In just a few months, he warns, bloggers and news organizations could ...

By: SoloD

SoloD — Thu, 03 Mar 2005 20:52:33 +0000

I think that Mr. Smith's comments are wishful thinking by a stern opponent of McCain-Feingold. Try to imagine the administrative nightmare that his proposal (can we even call it that?) would mean. The FEC has trouble enough tracking momney, now they are going to track hyperlinks?

Me thinks mischief is afoot!

By: IR

IR — Thu, 03 Mar 2005 20:15:00 +0000

Dr. Joyner...I can't help chuckling at the irony of a "Russ Feingold for President" advertisement dutifully blinking to the right while I type...

Of course, it was Feingold & McCain who filed suit to secure the ability to regulate internet free speech via a Clinton appointed Federal Judge. And, as expected, the matter comes down to a partisan issue of which Bradley Smith is unable to attribute to current events despite an even break of 3 and 3 on the FEC.

Personally, I think that the first politician to come out strongly against this latest twist of McCain-Feingold is going to improve their demographics exponentially on both sides of the John Q. Public aisle...while the MSM attempts to prop up the Federal Court's decision based on the threat to their own well being.

Getting some popcorn...should be a good show.

By: QandO

QandO — Thu, 03 Mar 2005 19:51:17 +0000

Campaign Finance Reform Comes to Blogging

To my mind, that means that if CNet gets an exemption, so does QandO, even if, at the end of the day, our original comment is all opinion, while our news content is syndicated. At least, that's what our lawyers will argue when the FEC comes after us...

By: Yippee-Ki-Yay!

Yippee-Ki-Yay! — Thu, 03 Mar 2005 17:22:32 +0000

Speaking of McCain-Feingold
Citizen journalists everywhere are murmuring menacingly about this.

Torches? Check. Pitchforks? Check. I'm ready. The FEC can kiss my ass.

[h/t: Outside the Beltway.]

By: McGehee

McGehee — Thu, 03 Mar 2005 17:18:13 +0000

How can they even think of regulating the Internet? WE BROUGHT DOWN DAN RATHER AND EASON JORDAN! WE ARE THE REVOLUTION! WE ARE DEMOCRACY! NOT ONLY WILL WE NOT BE REGULATED, BUT YOU WILL GIVE US pie!

By: Pajama Hadin

Pajama Hadin — Thu, 03 Mar 2005 16:38:11 +0000

The Coming Crackdown on Blogging
Bradley Smith says that the freewheeling days of political blogging and online punditry are over.

In just a few months, he warns, bloggers and news organizations could risk the wrath of the federal government if they improperly link to a campa...

By: The Wide Awakes » Impending Doom: The FEC’s Plans 4 Crackdown on Political Blogging

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

[...] w people are involved.” What does that sound like to YOU? More from TruePravda, Outside the Beltway, Redstate.org , The Power of Many, Michelle Malkin (roundup), more from Michel [...]