Bloggers have been blogging about the Federal Election Commission for months, worried about whether the bureaucracy planned to regulate political activity on the Internet (blogs included) under the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform law. But according to the Chicago Tribune, there’s nothing for me to worry about:
Web loggers, who pride themselves on freewheeling political activism, might face new federal rules on candidate endorsements, online fundraising and political ads, though bloggers who don’t take money from political groups would not be affected…The FEC also is considering whether to require Web loggers, called bloggers, to disclose whether they get money from a campaign committee or a candidate and to reveal whether they are being paid to write about certain candidates or solicit contributions on their behalf.
(Emphasis added)
I don’t plan on taking money from political groups, so I guess I won’t be affected by the rules.
The collective blogosphere may serve my head on a platter for saying this, but if you take money from political groups to blog, you should be subject to the regulations. I think the so-called campaign finance reform law violates the First Amendment, but just like hate crime laws, it must be applied equally. Bloggers are not exempt.
Hey, watch the neck! 
(Hat tip: Lexie)
Related posts:
- Federal Election Commission vs. Freedom of Speech
- Bloggers United Against the FEC – Online Coalition
- FEC v. The Loud and Unruly
- Liberal and Conservative Bloggers United
Update: Just to be clear, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being paid by a political organization or candidate to blog. It’s called “a job.” But you should disclose the fact.
Update II: Red asks, “Should blogs trust the FEC?”
