"THOUGHT POLICE" THURSDAY SETBACK
DEMOCRAT UNITY UPDATE--WE KNEW OUR BELOVED SISTER BLOG WAS FOLLOWING THIS STORY SO WE POSTED THIS INFORMATION TO THE RELEVANT THREAD--IT TOOK THEM ABOUT TWENTY MINUTES TO WHACK IT
"THOUGHT POLICE" THURSDAY SETBACK
A special thanks to our friends from the "Inside Dope" for watching this
Translated into English, this means that our Beloved Sister Blog will still be free to decide who the "real democrats" are, even when they're on a federal ballot. It also makes it unlikely that a swat team will soon be kicking in the door of UMRBlogs sumptuous, high tech World Headquarters here in the UMRB anytime soon--although I'm pretty sure Gonzo's already tapping my phone.
Prominent bloggers and others have fought to ensure that Federal campaign finance regulations and restrictions weren't applied too broadly to internet communications. This ruling ensures that blogs and individuals continue to have the same freedom as newspapers and other media as they should.
The Federal Election Commission decided Monday that the nation's new campaign finance law will not apply to most political activity on the Internet. In a 6-0 vote, the commission decided to regulate only paid political ads placed on another person's Web site. The decision means that bloggers and online publications will not be covered by provisions of the new election law. Internet bloggers and individuals will therefore be able to use the Internet to attack or support federal candidates without running afoul of campaign spending and contribution limits. "It's a win, win, win," Commissioner Ellen L. Weintraub said, adding that the rule would satisfy concerns of campaigns, individuals and the Internet community about whether the campaign finance law applies to Internet political activity....The law was never intended to regulate private citizen communication on the Internet," said Commission Vice Chairman Robert D. Lenhard. "I believe that we have achieved that goal today." Commissioners said the new rule also specifically changes several other FEC regulations to make it clear that Internet activity, such as blogging, e-mail communications and online publications, is not covered by the campaign law. For example, the rule says individuals can use union or corporate computers or other electronic devices for political activity, as long they do it on their own time and are not coerced to engage in such activity by the union or corporation. Bloggers would be entitled to the same exemption from the campaign finance law that newspapers and other traditional forms of media receive. "There will be no second class citizens among members of the media," Toner said.
The Federal Election Commission decided Monday that the nation's new campaign finance law will not apply to most political activity on the Internet. In a 6-0 vote, the commission decided to regulate only paid political ads placed on another person's Web site. The decision means that bloggers and online publications will not be covered by provisions of the new election law. Internet bloggers and individuals will therefore be able to use the Internet to attack or support federal candidates without running afoul of campaign spending and contribution limits. "It's a win, win, win," Commissioner Ellen L. Weintraub said, adding that the rule would satisfy concerns of campaigns, individuals and the Internet community about whether the campaign finance law applies to Internet political activity....The law was never intended to regulate private citizen communication on the Internet," said Commission Vice Chairman Robert D. Lenhard. "I believe that we have achieved that goal today." Commissioners said the new rule also specifically changes several other FEC regulations to make it clear that Internet activity, such as blogging, e-mail communications and online publications, is not covered by the campaign law. For example, the rule says individuals can use union or corporate computers or other electronic devices for political activity, as long they do it on their own time and are not coerced to engage in such activity by the union or corporation. Bloggers would be entitled to the same exemption from the campaign finance law that newspapers and other traditional forms of media receive. "There will be no second class citizens among members of the media," Toner said.
posted by UMRBlog @ 06:16
3 comments
3 Comments:
....getting tired of the "girls" over at the "underwear" picking and choosing what goes on their site. Seems like more than 50% of the posts get removed. If thats the way they want to operate, why don't the moderate the commets ???
Anon 0941,
They are our Beloved Sister Blog (BSS) and we here at UMRB World Headquarters love them all. There are a couple of explanations for their current behavior, which I think will improve soon.
First, they began blogging in the throes of a hotly contested primary. Most of their crowd had no experience with local DEMOCRAT primaries of the hotly contested variety (they were experienced in Quincy fourth ward Republican races). They gave in to the natural inclination to censor all thoughts contrary to theirs, which they did liberally. One of the purposes of a liberal education is supposed to be learning the value of synthesizing competing ideas. The primary's over now and they are older and wiser. I think they will feel less need to be a narrow band site as time goes on.
Second, in any context, this free speech stuff is not as easy as it sounds. I have great misgivings about where our BSS has drawn the line but I do admit line-drawing anywhere is tough stuff. Even just on foul language, how man "damns" or "hells" to DQ? No question, their currently doing it badly and unfairly. Recently they had a personal attack post. The person attacked responded point by point with no obscenities. They whacked the response and left the personal attack. Even some of their own homies objected to that. Still, I think they'll get it soon. They're pretty decent folks and at least one of them is reasonably well educated. For right now, it's like a kids' tree house. Only certain schools of tought are allowed.
Ah, now on to your question. Why not moderate up front? Well, for a while they shut comments off (right before the election). Then for a while they made it "membership only" comment (I wrote about that one). I think they're still casting about for a fair method.
To be fair to them, the software/site combination they use is the same as mine. The moderation choices are not too marvelous and for every moderation level you use, you give up something in exchange. In Order to use the modest moderation I use, I give up immediate IPO identification.
They'll get it right. Currently, they're just not prepared to allow free expression. The other problem is that some of the insiders over there are just angry at me personally. If they get even a hint you agree with me on something or are even considering being my friend, you are a guaranteed whackee. That will pass too.
No matter, they are still our Beloved Sister Blog and they are always welcome to come and play here in our treehouse.
There are folks over there who have played strong roles in progressive causes over the years and we're all learning this Information Age Stuff together. Let's don't be too hard on our BSB.
Thank you for coming by.
Well, Anon 0941,
I may be starting to see things your way.
The information in this thread was so vital I added it as a comment over on the parallel thread of our Beloved Sister Blog. Choosing to remain ignorant that this issue had been resolved, they whacked it.
My helpful post was up for about twenty minutes.
So first, you were righter than I was. Second, I was wrong about the thought police being at bay. They are alive and active, they just hide under a democrat umbrella instead of Gonzo's. That is sad and embarassing. Finally, I guess if you want to get openness to all responsible views from progressives in Western Illinois, ya gotta come here. Our BSB fears any views from outside it's tree house of cool kids.
Terribly disappointing. Maybe it will get better.
Thanks for coming by.
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