The Blogosphere, it's like Obi-Wan
By krempasky Posted in FEC — Comments (11) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
"If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you could possibly imagine"
One of the more distressing issues in the recent FEC controversey is the notion of a "media exemption" from regulation - and how the government might craft rules to determine who is, and who is not "media." I'll readily admit I'm not terribly comfortable with bureaucrats providing papers or stamps of approval for bloggers.
But along comes Dan Patrick of the LoneStarTimes.
LoneStarTimes.com is affiliated with KSEV 700 AM, an independently owned talk-radio station in Houston, TX.As such, we believe that we enjoy the "broadcast exemption" that prohibits the federal government from regulating our speech in the manner they are proposing for "mere" citizen bloggers.
While we still need to talk to some sharp lawyers and nail down the details, if these restrictions come to pass, KSEV and LST are committed to working out a legally sound way in which individual bloggers– of every ideological persuasion and partisan affiliation– can somehow register with us and be credentialed as a press representative of KSEV and LST.
Like Raoul Wallenberg handing out passports, we will start issuing press credentials to any blogger that asks for one.
Well done. Very, very well done. It doesn't obviate the need to push the FEC and Congress - not one bit, but it sure ought to give the regulators a little bit of pause.
They are going to have one heck of a brawl.
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The Blogosphere, it's like Obi-Wan 11 Comments (0 topical, 11 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
Alternatively, create for a me a situation in which the 'radio stunt' doesn't present a real legal tangle for the FEC?
As for seriousness - you have no. idea. where. you. are.
Talking about a site where Kwisatz Haderach references are not out of place. I believe I once referred to going on someone "like Omega Supreme on the Decepticons."
There is no such thing as a situation too serious to merit a Star Wars reference.
Gee I wonder who would use that term? Just a bunch of dorks, I suppose.
create for a me a situation in which the 'radio stunt' doesn't present a real legal tangle for the FEC
You live in a country where it is against the law, under certain circumstances, to criticize a political candidate by name. Do you really think there are any "legal tangles" that the FEC can not overcome?
I suspect we share the same core views on this subject. My disagreement is with the notion that "clever" moves like the one discussed here will make any difference.
The problem is that the American people have (apparently) bought into the notion that the Federal government has a role in regulating the fairness of political speech. Even more troubling is that the SCOTUS concurred.
In the face of that, do you really think the acts of some talk radio station in Texas matter?
Methinks you don't watch Much NRANews
That's right. I take it you do?
What is the NRA saying on this?
The point was - the NRA bought/set-up, etc. a media outlet to present just this kind of problem to the FEC.
I agree. In fact, it seems to me that La Pierre has been positioning the NRA as a media source for several years for precisely the reason you describe.
But I still disagree with the tactic, or more specifically, I disagree with the notion that the tactic will have the effect that we desire.
The abhorrent notion of Federal regulation of political speech has to be killed dead, dead, dead.
Nothing more than a cheap radio stunt to garner some buzz. And frankly, the "Obi-Wan" reference is geeky and beneath the seriousness of this situation.