Comments on: FEC vs. Bloggers Hoopla Overhyped?

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 08 Jun 2005 00:14:57 +0000

I think the FEC is okay on this one. Political bloggers that get paid are really agents of the body that’s paying for them, and if those bodies are regulated, so should be their agents.

I don’t think it abridges free speech for the following reason: If I’m writing about whatever I want and getting paid by the GOP (or DNC) I feel like people should know that. I can still write whatever I want, with no fear of the government cracking down on me. If the GOP is telling me what to write, my readers should know that too.

By: The Political Teen

The Political Teen — Sat, 04 Jun 2005 19:09:04 +0000

…I thought this was something major .. but thanks to La Shawn Barber (who examined the situation), we have learned that this will only effect…

By: Opinion Times

Opinion Times — Thu, 02 Jun 2005 19:05:11 +0000

FEC v. Bloggers: Regulation Under Current Law Appr

La Shawn Barber stepped out on a limb by saying that bloggers who are paid by political organizations should be regulated per recommended FEC guidelines. I agree with her. The current campaign finance law would apply in such circumstance.

But McCa…

By: JIm Pfaff

JIm Pfaff — Thu, 02 Jun 2005 18:50:34 +0000

LaShawn, you are correct. We should all be held to the same standards. But we do need to see the Campaign Finance laws changed dramatically. My solution: unrestricted, unlimited personal cash and in-kind contributions with full disclosure with criminal penalties for those convicted of breaking the disclosure laws with malice.

By: Greg

Greg — Thu, 02 Jun 2005 14:38:21 +0000

“I think the so-called campaign finance reform law violates the First Amendment, but just like hate crime laws, it must be applied equally.”

If the campaign finance reform law violates the first amendment, it should not be applied at all! Why are you so willing to give up ground to an unconstitutional law, simply because it won’t affect you?

By: Andy

Andy — Thu, 02 Jun 2005 04:23:33 +0000

I’ll have to agree with Frank regarding McCain. He’s pretty thin-skinned like LBJ. But Frank, do you think McCain might be looking over his shoulder at his Goldwaterite constituents? That ought be good for a laugh if he gambled it all and lost at his next election, heh

By: Frank Zavisca

Frank Zavisca — Thu, 02 Jun 2005 03:55:12 +0000

La Shawn:

You should be worried.

There are those control freaks like John McCain who would go so far as to consider YOUR TIME as a form of POLITICAL CONTRIBUTION if you speak in favor of a candidate – even if you are not being paid. Look over your shoulder – people like McCain do not want ANY political speech that is not filtered by their Party.

By: Matt Margolis

Matt Margolis — Thu, 02 Jun 2005 03:18:28 +0000

La Shawn blogs about whether the FEC vs. Bloggers situation has been overhyped… I didn’t want to [...]

By: Mwalimu Daudi

Mwalimu Daudi — Thu, 02 Jun 2005 02:26:13 +0000

I don’t know La Shawn. Campaign finance “reform” is a body of law unblemished by success so far, at least in achieving its stated objective of reducing the influence of big money. I would be careful of the Chicago Tribune and the FEC on this one.

By: Mad Mikey

Mad Mikey — Wed, 01 Jun 2005 23:26:06 +0000

You mean there’s money to be had!?! I guess I missed that e-mail….

By: stephen johnson

stephen johnson — Wed, 01 Jun 2005 22:04:33 +0000

If you want to play in the political sandbox, wherein reside PR machines with far greater resources than we have, be prepared to play by the same rules.

Is it fair? Dunno. But I do know this; people are paid princely sums hourly to engineer political campaigns and they aren’t about to give up their gravy train to every Tom, Dick and Harry with a laptop.

I don’t know why anyone thought there would be another result.

By: Baklava

Baklava — Wed, 01 Jun 2005 21:41:36 +0000

While I don’t agree with the opinion, I respect it.

I don’t think people’s right to free speech should be abridged or cut-off just because it was paid for by an organization/union/company/party/activist group/person/entity/set of groups

While free wheelers are free wheeling, why can’t people trying to get their message out say what they have to say to? Maybe I misunderstand?

By: stephen johnson

stephen johnson — Wed, 01 Jun 2005 21:02:03 +0000

Some folk’s were looking forward to their checks… now, doesn’t look so good. Armstrong Williams anyone. Who?!?!?

By: Mark La Roi

Mark La Roi — Wed, 01 Jun 2005 20:14:22 +0000

Take the money, follow the rules. It’s what we expect of everybody else so it’s only fair.

By: SCSIwuzzy

SCSIwuzzy — Wed, 01 Jun 2005 20:10:57 +0000

LB,
I am with you. There should be disclosure, when money changes hands, and if the money comes from a regulated source, so be it.
But then, I think certain lefty blogs should have in big letters on their mastheads “A Division of Soros Political Engingeering, LLC”…