Political talk isn't cheap, according to ruling
via Of the Mind this article is extremely disturbing:
Talk-radio hosts regularly discuss candidates and ballot issues, often with a particular point of view in favor of one or opposed to another. Do those comments constitute a financial contribution to a campaign? Thurston County Superior Court Judge Chris Wickham thinks they do. In a ruling issued Friday, Wickham said the comments and activities by KVI-AM (570) hosts Kirby Wilbur and John Carlson on behalf of the Initiative 912 campaign are in-kind contributions that must be reported to the Public Disclosure Commission.Campaign finance reform is, and always will be, fundamentally opposed to the principles of free speech. You cannot have both, you must pick one or the other. Politicians would of course prefer to get rid of that nasty, and unpredictable free speech and make sure that only the approved messages go to the people. There is bi-partisan support on that.
posted by Dave Justus | 7/08/2005 08:42:00 AM
2 Comments:
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I would hope that this ruling sparks a movement to get the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act heard before the SCOTUS and rightfully declared unconsitutional.
I suppose this judge believes that Madison should have declared the cost of printing the Federalist Papers to King George. What's next? Outlawing soapboxes? And, just because the question needs asked of the liberal side of the aisle -- what does that make Air America, exactly?
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