Rumors Going Round
Far more than rumors, Cnet News, has an article entitled The coming crackdown on blogging, which will devastate political opinion on blogger websites.
This detriment to the rights of citizens to express their opinions, is one of the many consequences of the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002. It is as well, an assault on the First Amendment to the Constitution and the freedom of speech. Captain’s Quarters has a great letter that should be copied and pasted into an E-Mail to both of your Senators from your home state. You may do so with the Captain’s permission, leaving out his introduction and add your own, as well as changing the names. Townhall has a page where you can get the e-mail address, phone numbers, fax numbers, etc. of your Senators and Congressmen.
The PCB posted here, concerning the importance of the blogs in the 2004 elections. It was the blogoshpere who kept the liberal biased Main Stream Media (MSM for short) from controlling and dominating that election. The blogosphere identified the bogus story from Dan Rather and CBS concerning the fake documents now known as “Memogate”, which has caused the resignations of several personnel from CBS including Dan Rather.
The Lone Star Times.com has published a pledge to “HELP DEFEND BLOGOSPHERE FROM MCCAIN-FEINGOLD. The reasons for this pledge are outlined in the following:
“The devastating consequences of such a move might well mean that bloggers,
* Could be fined by the federal government for linking to a candidate’s website;
* Might face sanctions for forwarding (via email) or extensively quoting a candidate’s literature;
* Would be faced with the chilling prospect of either hiring a high-priced lawyer to vet all political commentary and linking, or (more likely) would simply avoid speaking out on political issues altogether.That such restrictions are even being contemplated by our government is outrageous.
We will fight any attempt to impose them.”
Lonestartimes.com is affiliated with KSEV 700 AM, talk radio in Houston, TX. They are offering the possibility for bloggers to become a press representative of KSEV and lonestartime.com. Please read their article linked above.
If you are beginning to ask yourself, “What effect this might have on me personally”, and perhaps thinking, “Oh well, this is a problem only for the bloggers”, think again. The very e-mail that you send to your family and friends which contains language or a link promoting a candidate running for election could conceivably be regulated under this law.
Here are links to contact Senator Christopher (Kit) Bond, and Senator Jim Talent.
This issue strikes at the very heart and foundation upon which this country was founded. Don’t bury your heads in the sand thinking this will go away, or someone else will take care of it. It is your responsiblility to raise your voice in this issue.
Raise your voice and let it be heard, while you still can.
March 5th, 2005 at 5:10 am
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