[EL] ELB news and commentary 6/17/11

Fri Jun 17 06:32:20 PDT 2011

Nice piece on the Facebook matter.

An interesting thing to note about this internet disclaimer matter is that
the disclaimer statute does not extend to internet communications.  Perhaps
someone in Congress thought having candidates and committees speaking
unimpeded to citizens in a cost-effective, evolving and democratizing
medium, like what would become Facebook, was a good thing.

Some at the Commission thought they knew better while writing the disclaimer
regs: I won't mention any names.  The lesson here, as in the Facebook
matter, apparently, is one of unintended consequences: Heaven preserve us
from the goo-goos... of both political parties.

Here is the disclaimer statute (which I have no reason to think has been
amended):

2 U.S.C. 441d.

(a) Whenever a political committee makes a disbursement for the purpose of
financing any communication through any broadcasting station, newspaper,
magazine, outdoor advertising facility, mailing, or any other type of
general public political advertising... such communication [shall include a
disclaimer].

The *inclusio unis est exclusio alterius* canon means that if "World Wide
Web" is not in the long list, it is not covered.

The *ejusdem generis* canon means that tacking on "or any other type of
general public advertising" does not sweep in known and distinct media like
the "World Wide Web."

But Congressmen are stodgy, right?  Certainly they would have included the
World Wide Web if only they were hip enough to think of it.

Except that three paragraphs down from paragraph (a), above, Congress said
that in those media where disclaimers *are* required they must include a:

(3) ... telephone number or World Wide Web address

Steve Hoersting

On Fri, Jun 17, 2011 at 1:42 AM, Rick Hasen <rhasen at law.uci.edu> wrote:

> **
>  “John Edwards Sought Millions From Heiress as Feds Closed In – ABC News
> Exclusive” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=19300>
> Posted on June 16, 2011 <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=19300> by Rick
> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
> See, he’s not a candidate anymore and he still wants<http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/john-edwards-sought-millions-heiress-rachel-bunny-mellon/story?id=13861284>Mellon’s millions!  Maybe he wants to show the earlier money was not
> a contribution <http://www.slate.com/id/2296188/>.
>  [image: Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D19300&title=%E2%80%9CJohn%20Edwards%20Sought%20Millions%20From%20Heiress%20as%20Feds%20Closed%20In%20%E2%80%93%20ABC%20News%20Exclusive%E2%80%9D&description=%0A>
>   Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>,
> chicanery <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=12>, John Edwards<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=17>
> | Comments Off
>   “Bookmark alert! New redistricting home page and scorecard”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=19297>
> Posted on June 16, 2011 <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=19297> by Rick
> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
> The Fix announces
> <http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/bookmark-alert-new-redistricting-home-page-and-scorecard/2011/06/16/AGsMyVXH_blog.html>three
> redistricting-related pages.
>  [image: Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D19297&title=%E2%80%9CBookmark%20alert%21%20New%20redistricting%20home%20page%20and%20scorecard%E2%80%9D&description=%0A>
>   Posted in redistricting <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=6> | Comments
> Off
>   “Md. robo-calls: Ehrlich aide, consultant accused of trying to suppress
> black vote” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=19294>
> Posted on June 16, 2011 <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=19294> by Rick
> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
> *WaPo* reports<http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/md-robo-calls-ehrlich-aide-consultant-accused-of-trying-to-suppress-black-vote/2011/06/16/AGCnv1XH_story.html>
> .
>  [image: Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D19294&title=%E2%80%9CMd.%20robo-calls%3A%20Ehrlich%20aide%2C%20consultant%20accused%20of%20trying%20to%20suppress%20black%20vote%E2%80%9D&description=%0A>
>   Posted in chicanery <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=12>, electon
> administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18> | Comments Off
>   “Real Truth About Obama Challenge Rejected, Disclosure Requirements
> Upheld” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=19291>
> Posted on June 16, 2011 <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=19291> by Rick
> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
> For a change, an FEC regulation gets upheld<http://www.campaignlegalcenter.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1377:june-16-2011-real-truth-about-obama-challenge-rejected-disclosure-requirements-upheld&catid=63:legal-center-press-releases&Itemid=61>
> :
>
> Today, the U.S. district court for the Eastern District of Virginia upheld
> FEC rules that serve to establish federal political committee status and the
> scope of federal disclosure requirements in *Real Truth About Obama (RTAO)
> v. FEC*.  The plaintiff RTAO challenged the much-contested “subpart (b)”
> definition of “expressly advocating” (11 C.F.R. § 100.22(b)), as well as the
> FEC’s methodology for determining when a group has campaign activity as its
> “major purpose,” an important step in the larger determination of political
> committee status.
>
> .
>  [image: Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D19291&title=%E2%80%9CReal%20Truth%20About%20Obama%20Challenge%20Rejected%2C%20Disclosure%20Requirements%20Upheld%E2%80%9D&description=%0A>
>   Posted in Uncategorized <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=1> | Comments
> Off
>   Jeff Patch on the FEC and Facebook’s Request for an Exemption from
> Disclosure Rules <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=19286>
> Posted on June 16, 2011 <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=19286> by Rick
> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
> Here <http://dailycaller.com/2011/06/16/a-setback-for-online-ad-freedom/>,
> at the *Daily Caller*.
>  [image: Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D19286&title=Jeff%20Patch%20on%20the%20FEC%20and%20Facebook%E2%80%99s%20Request%20for%20an%20Exemption%20from%20Disclosure%20Rules&description=%0A>
>   Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> | Comments
> Off
>   “The People’s Business: Disclosure of Political Spending by Government
> Contractors” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=19283>
> Posted on June 16, 2011 <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=19283> by Rick
> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
> Elizabeth Kennedy and Adam Skaggs have written this report<http://www.brennancenter.org/content/resource/the_peoples_business_disclosure_of_political_spending_by_government_contrac/>for the Brennan Center.  Morehere<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/adam-skaggs/the-peoples-business_b_878291.html>
> .
>  [image: Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D19283&title=%E2%80%9CThe%20People%E2%80%99s%20Business%3A%20Disclosure%20of%20Political%20Spending%20by%20Government%20Contractors%E2%80%9D&description=%0A>
>   Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> | Comments
> Off
>   “TV stations more concerned about money than truth in advertising”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=19280>
> Posted on June 16, 2011 <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=19280> by Rick
> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
> Meredith McGehee writes<http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/campaign/166923-tv-stations-more-concerned-about-money-than-truth-in-advertising>for
> *The Hill*‘s Congress blog.
>  [image: Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D19280&title=%E2%80%9CTV%20stations%20more%20concerned%20about%20money%20than%20truth%20in%20advertising%E2%80%9D&description=%0A>
>   Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> | Comments
> Off
>   “More procedural hurdles for the appeal of Judge Cacheris’ Citizens
> United ruling” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=19277>
> Posted on June 16, 2011 <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=19277> by Rick
> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
> Paul Prados blogs<http://northernvirginialawyer.blogspot.com/2011/06/more-procedural-hurdles-for-appeal-of.html>on
> *Danielczyk*.
>  [image: Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D19277&title=%E2%80%9CMore%20procedural%20hurdles%20for%20the%20appeal%20of%20Judge%20Cacheris%E2%80%99%20Citizens%20United%20ruling%E2%80%9D&description=%0A>
>   Posted in Uncategorized <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=1> | Comments
> Off
>   “Takoma Park, Maryland Tests Online Absentee Voting”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=19275>
> Posted on June 16, 2011 <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=19275> by Rick
> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
> That’s the lead story in this week’s Electionline Weekly<http://electionline.pmailus.com/pmailweb/ct?d=RQTIuwJqAAEAAAMYAAUorA>
> .
>  [image: Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D19275&title=%E2%80%9CTakoma%20Park%2C%20Maryland%20Tests%20Online%20Absentee%20Voting%E2%80%9D&description=%0A>
>   Posted in electon administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18> | Comments
> Off
>   “FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION ANNOUNCES NEW GENERAL COUNSEL ANTHONY
> HERMAN” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=19271>
> Posted on June 16, 2011 <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=19271> by Rick
> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
> See this press release<http://www.fec.gov/press/press2011/20110616newgc.shtml>
> .
>  [image: Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D19271&title=%E2%80%9CFEDERAL%20ELECTION%20COMMISSION%20ANNOUNCES%20NEW%20GENERAL%20COUNSEL%20ANTHONY%20HERMAN%E2%80%9D&description=%0A>
>   Posted in federal election commission<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=24>
> | Comments Off
>   “FEC Green-Lights fund-raising Group for Corn Growers”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=19268>
> Posted on June 16, 2011 <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=19268> by Rick
> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
> Jeff Patch has written this article<http://theiowarepublican.com/home/2011/06/16/fec-green-lights-fund-raising-group-for-corn-growers/>for the
> *Iowa Republican.*
>  [image: Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D19268&title=%E2%80%9CFEC%20Green-Lights%20fund-raising%20Group%20for%20Corn%20Growers%E2%80%9D&description=%0A>
>   Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>, federal
> election commission <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=24> | Comments Off
>   ACORN: Federal Funding and Monitoring<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=19266>
> Posted on June 16, 2011 <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=19266> by Rick
> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
> GAO has released this report <http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d11484.pdf>.
> From the executive summary:
>
> Of 22 investigations and cases of election and voter registration fraud and
> wage violations involving ACORN or potentially related organizations from
> fiscal years 2005 through 2009, most were closed without prosecution. One of
> the eight cases and investigations identified by the Department of Justice
> resulted in guilty pleas by eight defendants to voter registration fraud and
> seven were closed without action due to insufficient, or a lack of,
> evidence. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) reported five closed
> matters; for one, the FEC reached a conciliation agreement with a penalty.
> Another matter was dismissed, and FEC found no reason to believe the
> violations occurred for three matters. The Department of Labor identified
> eight wage and hour disputes, plus one delinquent reporting of required
> documentation, all of which resulted in an organization complying or
> agreeing to take corrective measures to comply with the applicable
> requirements.
>
>  [image: Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D19266&title=ACORN%3A%20Federal%20Funding%20and%20Monitoring&description=%0A>
>   Posted in electon administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18> | Comments
> Off
>   Read the FEC Republican Commissioners’ Statement on the CU Rulemaking<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=19263>
> Posted on June 16, 2011 <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=19263> by Rick
> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
> Here<http://www.fec.gov/members/statements/CitizensUnitedRuleMakingStatement_20110615.pdf>
> .
>  [image: Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D19263&title=Read%20the%20FEC%20Republican%20Commissioners%E2%80%99%20Statement%20on%20the%20CU%20Rulemaking&description=%0A>
>   Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>, federal
> election commission <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=24> | Comments Off
>   Danielczyk to Be Appealed <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=19256>
> Posted on June 16, 2011 <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=19256> by Rick
> Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>
>
> Lyle reports<http://www.scotusblog.com/2011/06/u-s-to-appeal-campaign-case/>.
> No opinion today in *McComish.*
>
> I’ll be out all day.  More posts late tonight.
>  [image: Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D19256&title=Danielczyk%20to%20Be%20Appealed&description=%0A>
>   Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> | Comments
> Of
>  --
> Rick Hasen
> Visiting Professor
> UC Irvine School of Law
> 401 E. Peltason Dr., Suite 1000
> Irvine, CA 92697-8000
> 949.824.3072 - office
> 949.824.0495 - fax
> rhasen at law.uci.edu
> http://law.uci.edu/faculty/page1_r_hasen.html
>
> William H. Hannon Distinguished Professor of Law
> Loyola Law School
> http://www.lls.edu/academics/faculty/hasen.html
> http://electionlawblog.org
>
> _______________________________________________
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>

-- 
Steve Hoersting
CENTER FOR COMPETITIVE POLITICS
124 West Street South
Suite 201
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
SHoersting at campaignfreedom.org
www.campaignfreedom.org
(703) 894-6800 phone
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