DailyKos and RedState Lobby Congress on Blogger Freedom

For the second time in four months, Daily Kos’ Markos Moulitsas Zuniga and RedState’s Mike Krempasky have united to urge Congress to pass H.R. 1606, the Online Freedom of Speech Act.

Presuming that this meeting of matter and anti-matter do not have the destructive effects seen in science fiction movies, this is a good thing. While Left and Right will never agree on too many issues, free speech is among the self-evident, inalienable rights that has united Americans since the beginning.

Indeed, that so many in Congress are willing to throw it overboard in exchange for ephemeral “reforms” of the election system is baffling and, frankly, un-American. The latter is not an epithet I throw around lightly.

Update: A press release informs that:

The Committee on House Administration (CHA) by unanimous voice vote Thursday approved legislation that would free bloggers and other Internet communicators from possible regulation by the Federal Elections Commission (FEC).

Chairman Vernon J. Ehlers, R-Mich., said the Online Freedom of Speech Act (H.R. 1606) was necessary to “allow bloggers and other online activists to express their views on the Internet without fear of running afoul of our campaign finance laws.”

Excellent news! TownHall’s Tim Chapman has more.

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James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.