Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Saving Our Free Political Speech on the Internet
Congress is attempting to regulate our free political speech on the internet! We MUST rise to stop this attempt. But there is a bill pending that would make our political speech protected, just as the Founders of this country intended. But it isn't going to happen by osmosis. WE must raise our voices.
This from RedState Blog, who is helping to spearhead this issue from the center right in the blogoshere.
Friends,
We've been working for a long time on HR 1606 - The Online Freedom of Speech Act. It will come up for a vote on the floor of the House TOMORROW but as you read this - the campaign regulation community is hard at work - working the halls of Congress, lying about not only our bill - but "their" bill as well. And as far as their intentions go - well, I think it's fair to say that when it comes to THEM bragging about protecting free speech - they are not to be trusted.
Of all the work you've done on this issue - no day is more important that today. Start with this list. Call the Republicans that wobbled last time 1606 was on the floor. And don't stop there.
Here are the relevant points:
• HR 1606 is a simple bill that simply puts into law the existing status quo. It preserves the system under which we operated for the 2004 elections - WHEN THERE WAS NO CORRUPTION OR SCANDAL. It's supported by bloggers left and right.
• HR 4900 (also known as the CDT proposal) is NOT an acceptable alternative to HR 1606. It's attractive, and while complicated it has a lot to like - and we can look at it after we pass 1606 - but this is the bottom line: if HR 1606 is not passed TOMORROW, the FEC will issue regulations for politics on the internet.
• The reformers regulators merely want to delay the process while the Commission will be forced to issue regulations.
• This is a TINY, TINY law. It does NOT open up a gaping loophole - and you can support BCRA and still believe that this little tiny section of American politics ought to be free.
Seriously folks - it's gameday. Get on the horn.
We are at the first stages of attack on the internet. If we sit back and do nothing we are guilty of at least not sticking up for ourselves. Despite what many might think of the supposed futility of getting involved in government, it is a canard to which we cannot afford to subscribe.
Call your reps, folks. Tell them to support this bill!
-Warner Todd Huston
# posted by Publius @ 3/15/2006 05:16:00 PM 
Comments:
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I don't get it.
What exactly do these bills accomplish and whay are they required?
I feel seriously uninformed about all of this. What exactly is 'Someone' trying to do to'Us'?
As far as I can tell,anything goes on the internet.
What exactly do these bills accomplish and whay are they required?
I feel seriously uninformed about all of this. What exactly is 'Someone' trying to do to'Us'?
As far as I can tell,anything goes on the internet.
# posted by 
: 3/16/2006 04:13:00 PM
: 3/16/2006 04:13:00 PM
r.langbecker,
Here is my last Op Ed on the issue...
http://www.publiusforum.com/hustonlobbybill.html
In short, McCain wants to turn ANYONE who discusses politics on the web into a lobbyist under the law.
This means that bloggers would be open to:
-be listed on a government data base
-have to file quarterly tax statements to "prove" he did or did not get money to have his opnion on the blog
-would NOT be able to discuss politics and elections 60 days prior to an election
-would be liable under McCain-Fiengold laws
-would be open for any futher regulation now that he is officially a "lobbyist"
In other words, bloggers would be regulated by congress instead of free to speak. This is wholly against the Constitution.
The bill that is being mentioned in this psot you just replied to would make bloggers and others exempt from such restrictions.
Post a Comment
Here is my last Op Ed on the issue...
http://www.publiusforum.com/hustonlobbybill.html
In short, McCain wants to turn ANYONE who discusses politics on the web into a lobbyist under the law.
This means that bloggers would be open to:
-be listed on a government data base
-have to file quarterly tax statements to "prove" he did or did not get money to have his opnion on the blog
-would NOT be able to discuss politics and elections 60 days prior to an election
-would be liable under McCain-Fiengold laws
-would be open for any futher regulation now that he is officially a "lobbyist"
In other words, bloggers would be regulated by congress instead of free to speak. This is wholly against the Constitution.
The bill that is being mentioned in this psot you just replied to would make bloggers and others exempt from such restrictions.
# posted by : 3/16/2006 04:44:00 PM
: 3/16/2006 04:44:00 PM << Home
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