Democrats Ruin Good Thing
Thursday, November 03, 2005
(SNN Washington) Yesterday, Democrats defeated a bill aimed at amending U.S. election laws to immunize bloggers from campaign finance regulations. The vote tally in the House of Representatives, 225 to 182, was not enough to send the Online Freedom of Speech Act to the Senate.
225 to 182, was not enough to send the Online Freedom of Speech Act to the Senate.
The vote broke close to party lines. Three quarters of Democrats voted against the reform bill. "I'm horribly disappointed that this important measure failed to pass," said Rep. Mark Kennedy, R-Minn. "This bill was designed to protect the free-speech rights of Americans whose only alleged crime is wanting to use the Internet to express their opinions."
However, Rep. Lloyd Doggett, a Texas Democrat, said that if the bill were approved, the public would have "no idea whether Internet campaign ads are being financed by secret soft money."
Not passing this bill completely undermines American Democracy.
Not passing this bill completely undermines American Democracy. It is a horrible blow to the First Amendment. The guarantee of freedom of speech makes it clear that bloggers can accept thousands of dollars from corporations to blog for politicians. We have been taught again and again that you can not sincerely argue a point unless paid at least $90,000. Because this law did not pass, many bloggers will not become rich through paid punditry.
There is still a narrow margin of time until the Federal Election Committee finalizes their methods for extending campaign finance laws to the internet after which the only way to get thousand of dollars of soft money will be to work for Rupert Murdock. Until this is done, we will be waiting for your call Mr. DeLay.
