Thanks to Republicans in Congress, political bloggers may get an exemption from campaign finance laws. (Also see Beltway Blogroll)
This issue has been on the table for a couple of years. We bloggers have been pleading our case since last year. Brief background:
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is considering extending the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 to the Internet. With the complicity of our own George Bush, Congress violated the First Amendment by making law limiting certain groups from campaigning for political candidates in the months leading up to an election and limiting “soft money†contributions, although Congress is expressly prohibited from “…abridging the freedom of speech, or…the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government.â€
In essence, bloggers would be regulated by the government. A favorable post about a particular candidate could be classified as political advertising. A link to the politician’s site could be considered a campaign contribution. You can imagine the chilling effect this would have on the blogosphere. As you know, political speech is exactly the kind intended for First Amendment protection.
The political blogosphere is very partisan, but a threat to our First Amendment rights has brought liberal and conservative bloggers together. So what’s up with liberal politicians?
As “tolerant” and open-minded as many liberals claim to be, they are afraid of actual free speech. What they support is thought police-like control over speech deemed offensive to their left-leaning and sometimes ungodly sensibilities.
Conservatives and people of faith have been putting up with liberal domination of mainstream media (MSM) for years. Conservatives turned to AM radio and talk show hosts like Rush Limbaugh, who saw an existing market, filled a niche, and now dominates that market.
Liberal Air America, a pitiful excuse for a radio network, tried to cater to a market that didn’t exist, was recently embroiled in a scandal (stealing money from poor black kids in New York), and despite the early hype from friends in high MSM places, still couldn’t get advertisers. (Liberals aren’t doing too well in the think tank market, either.)
[Note: Michelle Malkin and Brian Maloney covered the Air America/Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club scandal extensively, but they don't have categories for their blog posts. 
Update: Amy of Gentle Whisper did what I was too lazy busy to do. Thanks! ]
Unlike liberal National Public Radio, supported by taxpayers, Air America at least tried to do it the capitalist’s way. They get kudos for that.
Memo to Dems in Congress who support censorship: this is America.
Love it or leave it, libs.
(Hat tip: PajamaHadin. Also see RedState’s FEC section. Blogger Mike Krempasky has testified before Congress about this issue. Bill Frist blogs about freedom. )
Related posts:
- LBC on CNN
- Bloggers United Against the FEC – Online Coalition
- FEC v. The Loud and Unruly
- FEC v. Bloggers Hoopla Overhyped?
Update II: I still want to know about your experiences as members of the virtual “Army of Davids.” Thanks for the comments and e-mail so far.
Update III: E-mail from Don Seymour, Jr., Congressman John Boehner’s press secretary:
House Prepares for Action on “Blogger Bill” — Online Freedom of Speech Act (H.R. 1606)
In case you were unaware … just wanted to give you all a heads up that House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) has scheduled consideration of the Online Freedom of Speech Act (likely on Wednesday), legislation that would free bloggers and other Internet communicators from Federal Elections Commission (FEC) regulation. The bill was introduced by Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX). Because the FEC is preparing to issue new regulations governing political speech over the Internet, this is an important bill that will allow bloggers to express their views on the Internet without fear of running afoul of our campaign finance laws.
