Dems on FEC move to regulate Internet campaigns, blogs, Drudge

Somebody's getting real nervous about some kinds of political "campaigning" on the internet especially.

Some members of the Federal Election Commission are pressing for regulations that would limit such free speech.

Political campaigning in any form is not harmful and hurts nobody.

Jealousy however, can be emotionally devastating.

Election.Jitters

In a surprise move late Friday, a key Democrat on the Federal Election Commission called for burdensome new rules on Internet-based campaigning, prompting the Republican chairman to warn that Democrats want to regulate online political sites and even news media like the Drudge Report.

Democratic FEC Vice Chair Ann M. Ravel announced plans to begin the process to win regulations on Internet-based campaigns and videos, currently free from most of the FEC’s rules. “A reexamination of the commission’s approach to the internet and other emerging technologies is long over due,” she said.

The power play followed a deadlocked 3-3 vote on whether an Ohio anti-President Obama Internet campaign featuring two videos violated FEC rules when it did not report its finances or offer a disclosure on the ads. The ads were placed for free on YouTube and were not paid advertising.

Dems on FEC move to regulate Internet campaigns, blogs, Drudge

Who Has the "Final" Say in this Issue ?

Vote with Your Heart this Nov 4th !!

The Dems are getting nervous. They know they're going to lose in November and trying to pass laws to hamstring anything the Republicans do in the future. Republicans were supposed to take defeat gracefully when they were beat, but the Dems are whining before the votes are even in.

Just another nail in the coffin of free speech and thought.. Screw them and the horse they road in on.. Sounds like something Pee-low-see and group would come up with !

This isn't a Democrat/Republican issue; it is an issue of liberty. The First Amendment alludes to the technologies that allow each of us to express our speech. In the time of writing, the printing-press was the premier tool to disseminate speech and as it is today, the internet is our "printing-press". To assume that the Government has any authority to regulate it in terms of speech, regardless if it is political in nature, is asking to revert back to the mid 1800s.

originally posted by: ownbestenemy
This isn't a Democrat/Republican issue; it is an issue of liberty.

Agreed,
Wonder why the Democrats are the ones who always want to tell us what we are allowed to say.

a reply to: xuenchen

Why wasn't the "pen and paper" ever placed under such scrutiny?! It still is a prevalent and profound method of disseminating speech; so are public performances. I mean, let us regulate it all. No one is allowed to speak politically unless it is within the confines of the State.