"Panel Dismisses 'Fahrenheit 9/11' Complaint"
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=5890742
For those of you not following along at home, a conservative advocacy group petitioned the FEC (Federal Election Commission) to ban advertisments for Fahrenheit 9-11 60 days before an election. Well, the FEC has now passed-down its decision: "no evidence that the movie's ads had broken the law"
I think Seinfeld said it best: "Thats a shame"
Just a side-note and background commentary from yours truly. On March 27, 2002, Dubya signed the McCain/Feingold campaign finance reform bill. Conservative groups (and libertarian groups, I might add) opposed this legislation on the basis that if violated Freedom of Speech.
Now I wouldnt go that far, but I did see some major flaws in this legislation and was opposed to it. Yes, Nate Gerards hereby affirms that he sided with some conservatives (gasp!). But hear me out.
I knew Three things:
A.) Liberal Democrats, Leftists, Progressives, and even Greens routinely make money (gasp!), and routinely donate portions of said money to non-candidate political campaigns that would be restricted under this new legislation. Dont believe me? Look at The Sierra Club, Amnesty International, Human Rights watch, NARAL, NOW, and the ACLU. Sure, these are "issue-advocacy groups" but lets not kid ourselves - they're not about to run ads favorable to Bush & Co. (and GOD BLESS 'em for that!). This year, we'll see groups like moveon.org, The Media Fund, Joint Victory 2004, and America Coming Togethertaking-in upwards of 80 million smackos!
B.) Liberal Democrats, Leftists, Progressives, and most Greens are notorious for disagreeing about the color of the sky. We agree on more things then we disagree, but we put so much emphasis on our disagreements that we allow the opposition to splinter us. But we all have one thing in common: When we individually feel strongly about an issue, we donate money to that cause. And indirectly, this money does alter and affect the political process. McCain/Feingold would have a negative affect on our collective power.
C.) More often than not, this is not a multimillion dollar "big corporation" thing. This is usually me donating 10 bucks to moveon.org, times millions of others doing the same thing! Thats called GRASS ROOTS
Actually, "The Pendulum" was so named because of just such a dilemma. I am a firm believer the Law of Unintended Consequences AKA "The road to hell is paved with good intentions". Liberals and Conservatives alike often pass legislation that sounds good & thinking they will benefit or that it will negatively affect the other party. Net result? More often than not, "The Pendulum swings both ways", and we get screwed.
Patriot Act - Perfect example. Do you honestly think that Conservatives would trust the Patriot Act in the hands of John Kerry? Answer: about as much as we trust it in the hands of John "Women's private medical records in the hands of a Pro-life Pentacostal nut-case" Ashcroft.
So dont fear the Benjamins, fellow Progressives. Make your money, love your advocacy, spend your money on your favorite advocacy.
