August 24, 2008
Did Barack Obama approve this message?
I was on the beach yesterday in Sandy Hook, New Jersey when one of those ad planes flew by pulling a message behind it. It read "John McCain wants to put oil rigs out here, do you?" I couldn't grab a photo in time, unfortunately. Doesn't the lack of attribution for the ad, not to mention that it's plainly a lie, go against some campaign finance rules? We do still have campaign finance rules, right?
Posted by Karol at August 24, 2008 04:50 PM | TrackBackTechnorati Tags: Campaign+finance+rules John+McCain Barack+Obama
If it isn't coordinated with the campaign, what is illegal about it? Issue advertising is legal. Isn't that the lesson from Swift Boat?
Posted by: Charles at August 24, 2008 09:20 PMNext time, just shoot it down.
Posted by: harrison at August 24, 2008 09:41 PMMost of the rules -- the bulk of Mccain-Feingold for instance -- apply only to TV and radio ads (and maybe internet too -- can't remember) -- in any event, it's not just democrats
Posted by: Alceste at August 24, 2008 09:43 PMWe still think free speech is a good thing, right?
Posted by: Nobody Knows I'm a Sock Puppet at August 25, 2008 12:08 AMOh yes, there are rules. However, since the Clintons could launder Chinese espionage money, D's are pretty much free to do anything without consequence. It is their way.
Posted by: Casca at August 25, 2008 10:22 AMIssue advertising is legal. Isn't that the lesson from Swift Boat?
How was Swift Boat issue advertising? John Kerry said the men on his Swift Boat supported him and used this as a rationale for the rest of us to support him. The men on his boat said hell no, they want the other guy.
the bulk of Mccain-Feingold for instance -- apply only to TV and radio ads (and maybe internet too -- can't remember)
We still think free speech is a good thing, right?
I think McCain-Feingold is completely ridiculous but as it exists whether I want it to or not, I think all advertising should be held to its standard.
I'm pretty sure that the ads never said "Vote for Bush" - the issue was Kerry's character.
In any event, Alceste's link didn't work for me but I assume that he linked to this to prove that non-coordinated ads don't have to be appproved by the campaign. Even though I think the Ayers ad in question are nonsense, I'm not sure what Obama's grounds for forcing the ad off the air are. Drawing bullshit conclusions from ambiguous information is what all political advertising is.
Posted by: Charles at August 25, 2008 11:52 PMOnce you mention a candidate, either for or against, it's no loner an "issue ad".
Posted by: Sean at August 28, 2008 03:16 AM
