How is the Ron Paul USA Today ad legal?

[JS4Pat]

Don't worry, it is legal. Freedom of speech. You know the First Amendment.

I had to file an FEC form. I had to disclose my name and contact info. I had to put disclaimers on the adv.

It might be legal but that is certainly not true freedom!

Why should you have to file a FEDERAL form and disclose your name and contact info to the feds?

 

[JS4Pat]

By the way - THANK YOU Llepard!

 

[dircha]

I've been looking at the laws as best as I can at RonPaulMax.com.

is the Ron Paul USA Today ad legal? How is it legal? I thought that an individual could not donate more than $2300 in labor or cash to a campaign.

Given that I don't like the official Ron Paul TV ads, can an individual who has a lot of money just buy a lot of airtime or newspaper space and run ads for Ron Paul that way? That seems like a huge loophole.

I'm sure there's a very simple reason why this is legal. Please let me know and what this means for promoting Ron Paul, pronto.

Yes, it is entirely legal! Of course I would advise you to contact your lawyer, but it is my understanding of the regulations that there is no limit to the amount of his or her own money an individual can spend on ads endorsing a candidate for federal office so long as 1) it is not done in coordination with the official campaign (in which case it would be an in-kind contribution), 2) it is not done within 30 days of a primary or caucus nominating contest, 3) it is not done within 60 days of a general election.

This is the way it is intended to work.

 

[krackato]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Question #2
Can a bunch of Rich guys get together and buy ad time on television for ads or an infomercial about Ron Paul? Is this legal? Yes or No?

In that case, shouldn't we all be focusing on Rich Guys with money who don't like the war and want the income tax eliminated for all?

BTW, I realize the huge problem this creates if a a few billionaires like Hillary, Giuliani, or just plain want war because they're the CEO or primary shareholder in a weapons producing company. This is one of those big questions of democracy.

Theoretically Money can buy Votes, therefore, theoretically the rich can buy the election which is of course the exact opposite of the will of the people.

Down the rabbit hole I go....

 

[TheEvilDetector]

Yes, it is entirely legal! Of course I would advise you to contact your lawyer, but it is my understanding of the regulations that there is no limit to the amount of his or her own money an individual can spend on ads endorsing a candidate for federal office so long as 1) it is not done in coordination with the official campaign (in which case it would be an in-kind contribution), 2) it is not done within 30 days of a primary or caucus nominating contest, 3) it is not done within 60 days of a general election.

This is the way it is intended to work.

Well if it is not to be done within 30 days of a primary or caucus, that pretty much kills every llepard type initiative for the several months during which we have staggered caucuses and primaries throughout the states doesn't it?

 

[Alawn]

This is a 1st amendment free speech thing. They can put some regulations and requirements on it but they can't stop you from publicly endorsing your favorite candidate.

 

[quickmike]

I wish Ross Perot would get behind Paul and put his billions (well ok, just a few 100 mil) to work for some ads.

 

[Mark]

I wish Ross Perot would get behind Paul

.

I'll give him a call, and email him with detailed info.


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FEC Rules and guidelines page:

http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures/fecfeca.shtml


~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Prohibited Contributions and Expenditures

The FECA places prohibitions on contributions and expenditures by certain individuals and organizations. The following are prohibited from making contributions or expenditures to influence federal elections:

• Corporations;
• Labor organizations;
• Federal government contractors; and
• Foreign nationals.

Furthermore, with respect to federal elections:

• No one may make a contribution in another person's name.
• No one may make a contribution in cash of more than $100.

In addition to the above prohibitions on contributions and expenditures in federal election campaigns, the FECA also prohibits foreign nationals, national banks and other federally chartered corporations from making contributions or expenditures in connection with state and local elections.

Independent Expenditures

Under federal election law, an individual or group (such as a PAC) may make unlimited "independent expenditures" in connection with federal elections.
An independent expenditure is an expenditure for a communication which expressly advocates the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate and which is made independently from the candidate's campaign. To be considered independent, the communication may not be made with the cooperation, consultation or concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, any candidate or his/her authorized committees or a political party, or any of their agents. While there is no limit on how much anyone may spend on an independent expenditure, the law does require persons making independent expenditures to report them and to disclose the sources of the funds they used. The public can review these reports at the FEC's Public Records Office.

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[Corydoras]

Can a bunch of Rich guys get together and buy ad time on television for ads or an infomercial about Ron Paul?

They have to use a PAC, and their donations are limited to $5000 per person per PAC. They can set up as many PACs as they want, and they are limited in what they can say.

 

[Mark]

They have to use a PAC, and their donations are limited to $5000 per person per PAC. They can set up as many PACs as they want, and they are limited in what they can say.

Not if they do it individually outside of a PAC, I believe.

The same rules should apply that I posted above ( for a private citizen(s) ).

 

[Elijah]

And if it would have been a group effort then each individual could only contribute $5,000 max! So he did it alone and will go down in history as a great great man!!