Blogger Protection Act of 2008

By lesliecarbone Posted in Blogosphere — Comments (4) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

Two years after liberal Republican John McCain teamed up with liberal Democrat Russ Feingold to eviserate the First Amendment, a federal court ordered the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to begin regulating expression on the Internet. Two years after that, the FEC passed a rule exempting blogs and their authors from this exercise of federal overreach. But a regulatory agency's rule is only as strong as the commitment to its principles of the presidential administration in power. And with the impending disaster of a McCain, Obama, or Clinton Administration, the Constitution faces at least four more years in the wilderness.

H.R. 5699, the Blogger Protection Act of 2008, would specifically shield uncompensated bloggers from campaign laws when they post about candidates or link to campaign Web sites. One of the sponsors of the bill, Rep. Denny Rehberg, explains the reasons behind it in a guest post on my SamSphere sister blog mtpolitics.net. While one wonders why a statute would be accorded higher regard than the Bill of Rights, the Blogger Protection Act is a well-intended effort to increase the wall guard around small zones of expression facing attack from federal overlords.

This is really funny by daithi

The Constitution guarantees the right to free speech. Yet congress passes legislation that restricts "political speech", our President signs the legislation, and the Supreme Court upholds the legislation. Lastly, the Senator that championed this legislation is selected as the standard bearer of the Republican party.

And here we are debating if we should pass laws to protect political speech on the interent. You have got to be kidding me.

I fell like I am living in the twilight zone.
______________________________
"The truth is not for all men, but only for those who seek it."
-Ayn Rand

Reply To This — User Info — #1

Oh the irony of it all! by From ME to you

THUD (sound of jaw dropping in utter disbelief)

Reply To This — User Info — #2

A Listing of Sponsors/Co-Sponsors? by Hammer2008

It'd be great to check off against a list of sponsors/co-sponsors of this bill. Does one exists? I'll bring it up at the June 20, 2008 debate 'tween Hon. Dr. Paul Broun and his challenger.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Republicans believe every day is the 4th of July, but the Democrats believe every day is April 15."
--Ronald Reagan

Reply To This — User Info — #3

List of Co-sponsors by simpson316

Sponsored by Rep Hensarling, Jeb [TX-5] (introduced 4/3/2008)

43 Co-sponsors:
Rep Akin, W. Todd [MO-2] - 4/3/2008
Rep Bachmann, Michele [MN-6] - 4/23/2008
Rep Barrett, J. Gresham [SC-3] - 4/3/2008
Rep Bartlett, Roscoe G. [MD-6] - 4/3/2008
Rep Bishop, Rob [UT-1] - 4/3/2008
Rep Blackburn, Marsha [TN-7] - 4/3/2008
Rep Blunt, Roy [MO-7] - 4/9/2008
Rep Brady, Kevin [TX-8] - 4/3/2008
Rep Broun, Paul C. [GA-10] - 4/3/2008
Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] - 4/23/2008
Rep Campbell, John [CA-48] - 4/3/2008
Rep Cannon, Chris [UT-3] - 4/3/2008
Rep Cantor, Eric [VA-7] - 4/3/2008
Rep Davis, David [TN-1] - 4/3/2008
Rep Fallin, Mary [OK-5] - 4/3/2008
Rep Feeney, Tom [FL-24] - 4/3/2008
Rep Flake, Jeff [AZ-6] - 4/3/2008
Rep Fortuno, Luis G. [PR] - 4/3/2008
Rep Foxx, Virginia [NC-5] - 4/3/2008
Rep Franks, Trent [AZ-2] - 4/3/2008
Rep Gingrey, Phil [GA-11] - 4/3/2008
Rep Hoekstra, Peter [MI-2] - 4/3/2008
Rep Issa, Darrell E. [CA-49] - 4/23/2008
Rep Kline, John [MN-2] - 4/3/2008
Rep Lamborn, Doug [CO-5] - 4/3/2008
Rep Marchant, Kenny [TX-24] - 4/3/2008
Rep McCarthy, Kevin [CA-22] - 4/3/2008
Rep Musgrave, Marilyn N. [CO-4] - 4/3/2008
Rep Myrick, Sue Wilkins [NC-9] - 4/23/2008
Rep Neugebauer, Randy [TX-19] - 4/3/2008
Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] - 4/3/2008
Rep Pence, Mike [IN-6] - 4/3/2008
Rep Pitts, Joseph R. [PA-16] - 4/23/2008
Rep Rehberg, Dennis R. [MT] - 4/22/2008
Rep Rohrabacher, Dana [CA-46] - 4/9/2008
Rep Royce, Edward R. [CA-40] - 4/9/2008
Rep Ryan, Paul [WI-1] - 4/3/2008
Rep Sessions, Pete [TX-32] - 4/3/2008
Rep Shadegg, John B. [AZ-3] - 4/3/2008
Rep Tancredo, Thomas G. [CO-6] - 4/3/2008
Rep Walberg, Timothy [MI-7] - 4/3/2008
Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] - 4/3/2008
Rep Wittman, Robert J. [VA-1] - 4/3/2008

Now also found at The Minority Report

Reply To This — User Info — #4

Redstate