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

[CherryPanda]

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 medialike 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 WashingtonExaminer.com

Am I the only one who sees that as another attempt to control the freedom of speech? Yeah, I understand, there are the regulations that limit the election campaigns, but there’s the Internet zone where people can express their opinions freely. What if the next step – to forbid talking about the candidates when the election campaign is over?

 

[Dan Stubbs]

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 medialike 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 WashingtonExaminer.com

Am I the only one who sees that as another attempt to control the freedom of speech? Yeah, I understand, there are the regulations that limit the election campaigns, but there’s the Internet zone where people can express their opinions freely. What if the next step – to forbid talking about the candidates when the election campaign is over?

Well they have been working on this for a long time. I really wonder if they will shut down facebook since they are pro democrat as the owner has indicated.