I need a lawyer, please.

[IdaBriggs]

I am under the impression that the "Rush Limbaugh" and "Sean Hannity" radio shows are in blatant violation of the Campaign Finance Laws; specifically, that "value" -- i.e., "free advertising and/or advocacy" -- is being "given" to a candidate, which includes the value of the air time and the salary of the advocates, and is being illegally coordinated (with Rush specifically saying on air that he is a campaign advisor) on both the national level, and at the local AM radio station level in a "double dipping" type of fashion.

I need a lawyer to double check my interpretation of this data and make sure I'm not missing anything.

Then I need to find out what has to happen to shut down this illegal campaign activity especially during the last thirty days before the election.

I believe the value of the "on air" product can be determined by use of the advertising rates.

Bottom line: 3 hours of Rush and 3 hours of Sean (among other "all Bush programs"), all advocating for one candidate, seems like a direct violation of the law by someone (station owners?) to me. "Free speech" is a lovely concept, but this is "paid speech" and therefore, I'm thinking "illegal."

[SheilaT]

1. There used to be a

rule requiring broadcast media give equal time to various political candidates, and that was done away with several presidential cycles ago.

Considering such shows as Rush Limbaugh's and Sean Hannity's to be largely an advertisement for the Republican party is an interesting concept, but I seriously doubt you could make a legal case for that. Stations are free to charge whatever rates they want for any and all advertising, and are not required to give equal time to all sides.

In fact, trying to shut them down would be precisely the kind of thing the first amendment was designed for:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

8. There still is a law- SOTU address gets opp. party response.

the law applies to actual elected officials. Don't know where the surrogates like Pimpbaugh fall in there.

[AP]

2. It's good to be worried about this, but you have weapon to fight it:

Phone bank and precinct walk. It's a powerful way to circumvent the power of the media.

[IdaBriggs]

5. Already doing my part, thank you.

And it is because of these things that I am aware of the effect the multi-hour advertisements are having on my fellow voters. I want to shut them down so we can actually start getting some education going.

For example, one of their victims, in response to my saying: "Its hard to prove a negative. When did you stop beating your wife?" said I was making a personal attack in order to avoid having to present facts to back up my argument. Please keep in mind I had provided three references to white house transcripts, fifty-four separate references to FACTS, and got told I didn't know what I was talking about because John Kerry is a traitor to America.

These guys must be stopped. :)

[Hello_Kitty]

3. I DO have a problem with Flush being broadcast to troops

Stationed overseas with no counterbalance. They are a captive audience for his partisan propaganda.

[Democrat 4 Ever]

4. Think you would be out of luck

trying to get the FCC to act on this issue. Especially since Colin Powell's son,Micheal, is now head of that agency - thanks to an appointment by BushCo.

It is no accident that all media outlets are owned by large corporations who give the GOT lots of money, that deregulation happens along just in time to help this election cycle and that the Fairness Doctrine is conveniently ignored.

Just more evidence that BushCo is doing everything possible to steal another election.

[DesEtoiles]

6. start at www.fec.gov

Click on "Citizens"

then click on "Legal Materials"

then click on "Brochures" - gives a general overview of campaign finance law in everyday English

they also have a toll-free number to call

[LocalGuy]

7. It was called the "Fairness Doctrine"

and it was scuttled by the Reagan Administration when they de-regulated the media. I recently wrote to FCC Commissioner Adelstein (a Daschle-ite) bemoaning the the lack of fairness in the media today. Here's the FCC link to him.
<http://www.fcc.gov/commissioners/adelstein/biography.html>