Campaign Finance Reform to Extend to Internet?

FEC to extend campaign-finance to Web
Commissioner warns of threat to blogs, online punditry

Campaign Finance Reform (McCain-FeinGold) is at it again.

The Federal Election Commission is beginning the process of extending its controversial 2002 campaign finance law to the Internet, potentially threatening political blogging and online punditry, a member of the panel warns

Bradley Smith, one of six commissioners, told CNET that in just a few months, bloggers and news organizations could risk the wrath of the federal government for improperly linking to a campaign's website.

"This is an incredible thicket," Smith said. "If someone else doesn't take action, for instance in Congress, we're running a real possibility of serious Internet regulation. It's going to be bizarre."

Even forwarding a political candidate's press release to a mailing list, depending on the details, could be punished by fines, Smith said.

Alia Vibe: Sooo.... all those college and K-12 teachers who are Always railing for the Democrat candidate and issues will also be caught by this new FEC ruling? Does this mean they MUST have signs in their classrooms "linking" to their candidate's or issue's campaign?

See here also: The coming crackdown on blogging.

Bradley Smith should know. He's one of the six commissioners at the Federal Election Commission, which is beginning the perilous process of extending a controversial 2002 campaign finance law to the Internet.

And there's more:

Michelle Malkin's got a number of links posted on this subject.

You know, it would require "spiders" and lots of snoopy creepers to determine whether or not someone's email was "political advocacy". Dittos, blogs and websites.

No doubts, there are other parts of McCain-Feingold -- yet to be releashed. Let's see, McCain says he wants to see local TV/Radio stations be FORCED to air (at their own cost) "chump change" candidates. So, in this case, does this mean that the Stations has to give the appearance of "supporting" the candidate? And therefore pay a charge?

Will those bloggers and emailer who are supporting a "chump change" candidate be FREED from this newer-proposed fees via McCain-Feingold?

See U.N. to control use of Internet?

And I also refer you to mine in re the WEF/Davos Conference, and New America: Public Interest Obligations Proposed Processing Guidelines and Common Cause: Media and Democracy Program and Campaign Finance Reform and the Minority Issue and SideArms of Campaign Finance Reform - Emerge