No matter how you feel about Moore, this can’t be a good thing can it?

Supposing the film can’t be advertised after July 30 though, it would not be that hard to simply re-cut another set of ads with no mention of Bush. Position it more as an anti-war film, or show Rumsfeld/Powell/Tenet clips instead of the president.

The media-frenzy surrounding this latest controversy could (ironically) cause a heightened awareness of the film—with or without TV/Radio advertising after the deadline.

ok, ep2k

Posted by: elvispresley2k at June 24, 2004 01:45 PM

No matter how you might feel about Moore, this can’t be a good thing can it?

Supposing the ads can’t be shown, it wouldn’t be that hard to re-cut another set with no mention of Bush. Position it as an anti-war film or just show clips of Powell, Rumsfeld, Tenet, etc. instead.

Ironically the meda-frenzy of this controversy may cause a greater awareness of the film than any radio/tv advertisements.

ok, ep2k

Posted by: elvispresley2k at June 24, 2004 01:48 PM

argh. dupes. sorry.
ep2k

Posted by: elvispresley2k at June 24, 2004 01:50 PM

Did I not say Bush should ask for equal time?

Posted by: Brian at June 24, 2004 01:59 PM

I’m a Canadian, and even after trying to get more information on the laws mentioned in the article, I’m still confused. I’m under the impression that there is a whole class of professional political commentators on US TV & radio who name and opine on politicians all the time, and represent a big part of the entertainment industry. They will be talking through to November and beyond. Isn’t Moore part of this fraternity?

Posted by: Ian at June 24, 2004 02:03 PM

Far be it from me to come to the defense of Michael Moore’s detestable slanders, but this seems to me to point more towards a flaw with McCain-Feingold than with Moore.

Posted by: dwc at June 24, 2004 02:07 PM

This is a DOA issue; I doubt the movie will still be playing anywhere outside NY and Berkeley by July 30th…

Posted by: Mona B. at June 24, 2004 02:19 PM

From your keyboard to God’s ears, Mona.

Posted by: Dave Himrich at June 24, 2004 02:48 PM

Mon,

I thought the same thing, but it still shows what a bad law McCain-Feingold is. I hope it is a wake up call and it is repealed. I wish Feingold would follow Herb Kohl’s lead a go back to sleep.

Posted by: jones at June 24, 2004 03:31 PM

Mona that is, Mona

Posted by: jones at June 24, 2004 03:32 PM

Ian, 527 & other campaign finance law is ridiculously complex, so I can understand the confusion.

The distinction in this case is that no corporation is allowed to advertise for or against, unambiguously, a particular candidate in the time frames mentioned. So, TV pundits, not being an advertisement, are a little different. Same ideas transmitted, slightly different fora.

As previous commenters point out though, it would probably be easy for Moore to comply by changing his ads. The FEC is allowing MoveOn to run anti-Bush ads, and it’s debatable whether or not they can under their tax status.

Posted by: Nathan Hamm at June 24, 2004 03:32 PM

Many within the FEC were bitterly opposed to McCain Fiengold. Some of the concern was around the issue of enforcement: what’s a political ad after all?

Isn’t is possible that this entire flap is being generated by factions within the FEC to illustrate a fatal flaw in this really dreadful law?

Posted by: skip at June 24, 2004 03:39 PM

What dwc said. It’s probably good that this issue comes up sooner rather than later, though.

Posted by: Bostonian at June 24, 2004 04:02 PM

There is so much wrong with McCain-Feingold that this is just a minor, albeit very public, issue. The whole thing is an absolute infringement on political free speech.

Posted by: TL at June 24, 2004 06:03 PM

If you read Michael Moore you will find that he states the fact that generally Republicans say what they’re going to do
and then they do it. He goes on to say the Democrats generally tell you what you want to hear and then do something else.

Some of his other points are bleary.

Posted by: augurwell at June 25, 2004 02:34 AM

..the whole campaign finance debacle is a joke on both sides;the money being funneled in is not even being slowed down…seems I remember the no.1 talk show host saying it would not.So again..”EVEN ON DRUGS RUSH WAS RIGHT”..scap the bill make the tv-radio networks-and (((PRINT))){page for page}..give exact time; use taxpayer(I know but hell they all ready get it anyway;matching funds after the convention)funds.Then the public might take a more serious look at it…

Posted by: Rob..NC at June 25, 2004 08:39 AM

..I cant believe I didnt mention the”net” but alas how can ya realy control it anyway…

Posted by: Rob..NC at June 25, 2004 08:44 AM

This will send Moore’s paranoia-meter off the dial.

Posted by: popd at June 25, 2004 10:11 AM

Posted by popd at June 25, 2004 10:11 AM
This will send Moore’s paranoia-meter off the dial.

If we are REALLY lucky, given his obvious proclivity& adherence to physical fitness/health as he has towards fact…he’ll have a shit-fit induced aneurysm, immediately followed by a myocardial infarction the size of a double-whopper with cheese.

BEST CASE scenario, it happens on national TV with my VCR running so I can watch it over & over.

Posted by: American_Defender at June 25, 2004 01:10 PM

Better yet American; have someone tell Moore if he RUNS down to the local golf course, he might catch George W teeing off and commenting on his movie! I figure after about 100 yards that myocardial infarction should take hold. BTW peoples, Feingold was the only anti-vote against the Patriot Act…it was 98-1 in the Senate. That should tell you how much he would help the campaign finance situation.

Posted by: dickD at June 25, 2004 05:07 PM

We just need to make it a requirement for broadcast livenses that you provide some significant of time, free of charge, to politicians. (evenly divided among whatever parties are large enough to recieve federal matching funds) Require some portion of that (also equally distributed among parties) to be during prime time.

Let them give something for the right to broadcast on publicly owned airwaves.

Posted by: CCR at June 25, 2004 06:08 PM

This just goes to show that the Libertarians are right: campaign finance laws abridge free speech, period.

Once more, everybody, this time with feeling:

CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW…

:jackson

Posted by: jackson zed at June 27, 2004 05:25 PM