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Fahrenheit 9/11â ban?
Michael Moore may be prevented from advertising his controversial new movie, âFahrenheit 9/11,â on television or radio after July 30 if the Federal Election Commission (FEC) today accepts the legal advice of its general counsel.
At the same time, a Republican-allied 527 soft-money group is preparing to file a complaint against Mooreâs film with the FEC for violating campaign-finance law. In a draft advisory opinion placed on the FECâs agenda for todayâs meeting, the agencyâs general counsel states that political documentary filmmakers may not air television or radio ads referring to federal candidates within 30 days of a primary election or 60 days of a general election. The opinion is generated under the new McCain-Feingold campaign-finance law, which prohibits corporate-funded ads that identify a federal candidate before a primary or general election.
| Betcha it's not enforced in this case, though... |
The proscription is broadly defined. Section 100.29 of the federal election regulations defines restricted corporate-funded ads as those that identify a candidate by his âname, nickname, photograph or drawingâ or make it âotherwise apparent through an unambiguous reference.â Should the six members of the FEC vote to approve the counselâs opinion, it could put a serious crimp on Mooreâs promotion efforts. The flavor of the movie was encapsulated by a recent review in The Boston Globe as âthe case against George W. Bush, a fat compendium of previously reported crimes, errors, sins, and grievances delivered in the directorâs patented tone of vaudevillian social outrage.â Since the FEC considers the Republican presidential convention scheduled to begin Aug. 30 a national political primary in which Bush is a candidate, Moore and other politically oriented filmmakers could not air any ad mentioning Bush after July 30. That could make advertising for the film after July difficult since it is all about the Bush administration and what Moore regards as its mishandling of the war on terrorism and the decision to invade Iraq.After the convention, ads for political films that mention Bush or any other federal candidate would be subject to the restrictions on all corporate communications within 60 days of the Nov. 2 general election.that âFahrenheit 9/11â violates federal election law, arguing that âMoore has publicly indicated his goal is to impact this election season.â
Bossie had planned to file a complaint with the FEC yesterday but postponed action because his lawyers want to review it at the last minute, said Summer Stitz, a spokeswoman for Bossieâs group.âI donât think much of Michael Moore or his two-hour political advertisement â thatâs all it is,â Bossie said. âHe uses all of these words to make it look like he makes documentaries, but itâs the furthest thing from the truth. Documentaries tend to be fact-based.â
Posted by: Deacon Blues 2004-06-24 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=36340 |
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