FEC Proposed Rules

The FEC has put out a PDF with proposed rules.

Most of it has to do with restricting the actions of blogs paid to blog by the candidates or their parties. This I have no problem with.

But they say, in weak wording, that they are not going to go after individual blogs.

The Commission notes that the proposed change to the definition of ‘‘public communication’’ would not affect content placed by an individual on his or her own Web site, blog, or email. Because republishing campaign materials on one’s own Web site, blog, or e-mail would not be a public communication, it would not be a contribution to the candidate under 11 CFR 109.21. The Commission notes that

Senator Russ Feingold, one of BCRA’s sponsors, stated recently that ‘‘linking campaign Web sites, quoting from, or republishing campaign materials and even providing a link for donations to a candidate, if done without compensation, should not cause a blogger to be deemed to have made a contribution to a campaign or trigger
reporting requirements.’’24 Should the Commission amend 11 CFR 109.21(c)(2 to exempt all dissemination, distribution, or republication of campaign materials on the Internet generally, or keep the reference in the regulation to ‘‘public communication’’?

note that the italicized part is a question and not a statement.

In other words, they are not sure that they should leave private blogs alone if those blogs republish things from campaign sites or that favor one candidate.

Beware the gov't functionary who sounds "vaguely reasonable" yet leaves such wiggle room in his statements.