Yo! Go Feds! Give it to the commie rodent!
TV ads for filmmaker Michael Moore’s Bush-bashing ``Fahrenheit 9/11’’ should be barred from the airwaves after July 30 because they are political commercials, a top federal legal opinion says. A draft opinion by the Federal Election Commission’s general counsel states that the Moore movie ads should come under the campaign law provision blocking companies and unions from advertising for or against political candidates 30 days before a primary election. July 31 would mark 30 days before the Republican National Convention, when the GOP will formally choose President Bush [related, bio] as its nominee.
Moore’s film, which casts President Bush in a harsh light, opened nationwide yesterday. A conservative group, Citizens United, filed a complaint with the FEC alleging that Moore and the companies involved in the marketing and distribution of the film are violating the law. ``We are insisting the law be applied equally to all who are involved in campaigns and elections,’’ said David Bossie, president of Citizens United. Moore said he ``absolutely’’ will fight the complaint as a violation of his First Amendment rights. ``For them to try and remove my ads from television because I want people to come see my movie - it is a blatant attempt on the part of a right wing, Republican-sponsored group to stop people from seeing my movie,’’ he said at a press conference. Moore added that he is not a member of the National Socialist Democratic Party and has not endorsed Sen. John F. Kerry, although he has repeatedly called for Bush to leave office. The FEC could take months to issue a ruling.
| I'd expect something around next February... |
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