November 01, 2005

BCRA, Bloggers, And Poetry

We were struggling to write a concise post about the House's consideration of the so-called "Internet exemption" to federal campaign finance laws.

Tomorrow, the Online Freedom of Speech Act, HR 1606, comes to the floor. Rep. Marty Meehan and Rep. Chris Shays and their allies oppose it; they say it's far too broad and would open a loophole for corporations and labor unions to contribute to federal candidates.

Proponents say it's a necessary step to prevent the Federal Election Commission from writing disasterous regulations against bloggers. And that it does nothing to upset the balance struck by the current laws.

Today, Allison Hayward, a well-respected Republican campaign finance lawyer and former FEC official, contributed some verse to a listserve for campaign finance professionals. With her permission, we're reprinting it here. It's called "Paid Ads and Spam."

Paid Ads and Spam

Paid Ads and Spam, Paid Ads and Spam
We do not like Paid Ads and Spam

Do you like them on your phone?
Would you Skype them all alone?

Would you like them on your desk?
Read them! Hear them! They're a pest.

If TV now comes through DSL
Paid ads and spam are now pure hell

Without disclaimers, some aver
Reform will end, find new career!

Paid ads and spam,
paid ads and spam.

Are they all that communicate?
Or does "expenditure" relate?

And what about "coordinate"?
That rule's still open, at least of late

And for those that allocate
'tis all confusion, not to abate.

Exempt the Internet, does BCRA die?
Hardly - quite less than meets the eye.

Paid Ads and Spam, paid ads and spam
Lets just get paid ads and spam.

Posted at 04:59 PM

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