From the Washington Post:
Television stations in four states are asking the Federal Election Commission and the Federal Communications Commission for advice regarding allegations that Republicans in several Senate races are shortchanging viewers with the brevity of their stand-by-your-ad statements.
In case you’ve missed this continually developing story, Fox 9 this weekend had a piece on it:
Stations have still not publicly decided if they are going to abide by the law and discontinue giving Coleman the “lowest unit charge” or risk punishment from the FCC by not changing their pricing. As well, if stations give Coleman a discounted rate, the FEC may consider the difference an in-kind contribution.
The answer is clear to me. Comply with the law. Charge the regular rate… and if a decision by the FCC for some reasons forgives the mistake, then they could return to offering the lowest unit charge.
So the Coleman campaign admits it broke the law, by changing the ad in question to comply with the law. It seems to me that you need to be a stickler when it comes to campaign laws or at least that would be assumed in such a serious endeavor.
Don’t you think Republicans would require Democrats to follow the law to the “T” if they were at fault? Why should Democrats be any different? While it seems like a small matter, all the other campaigns have been strictly following the law… why can’t the Coleman campaign follow the law?
Of course the FCC will find some way to not penalize the Republicans…..they have a GOP appointed head!
Norm’s a shyster, but I bet they made the ad shorter to save money, not out of any political shenanigans.
This may have legs.
The degree to which the RPM may be taking this seriously is demonstrated by MBB’s evidence of absence.
He isn’t posting here, or on MDE, in an attempt to minimize or dismiss the issue as specious. That’s the usual game plan.
Maybe he really is worried that the gaffe will cost the Coleman campaign some serious money…
After watching this, I finally understand why we should care. I agree that in an attack ad, the opponent should show his face. However, I agree with what the ad said and it was clear that Coleman endorsed the advertisement.
So, let me get this straight.
A Republican 1.1 second lapse is “breaking the law” and it is a “continually developing story”.
But it’s just a minor oversight when a Democrat Hollywood star cheats on his taxes in 17 states and refuses to pay his employee’s workman’s comp insurance until he was fined $25,000 by the state of New York.
Certainly no bias here. Just move on.
No actually a 1.1 second lapse is just as important as failing to pay taxes and workers’ comp.
Wasn’t Franken’s failure just an honest mistake? Let’s cut Franken some slack, it’s not as though he refuses to release his records which would undoubtably show more honest mistakes.
jbenson2, I agree 100%,
Clearly, your comments are free from any bias and spin, you are merely replaying the facts we Republicans are supposed to say over and over and over again.
Old ladies saying Al cheated on his taxes. Little girls saying he cheated on his taxes. Bowlers saying he cheated on his taxes, Norm Coleman saying Al Franken cheated on his taxes. Minnesota Republican bloggers saying Al Franken cheated on his taxes. The chamber of commerce saying Al Franken cheated on his taxes.
Next we Minnesota Republicans will talk about fish saying Al Franken cheating on his taxes. Maybe a veteran saying AL Franken cheated on his taxes, or a moose, or a giant talking hot dog, or a coalition of soccer moms.
Point is, we Minnesota Republican bloggers need to do a better job letting Minnesotans know Al Franken, with great malice and disdain, cheated on his taxes. It is the only issue we Minnesota Republican bloggers can win on.
Great Job jbenson2!
Regarding the list of people who call Franken an tax cheat, don’t forget to include the 17 U.S. states who joined the party and hit him with penalties and fines.
You should probably also add in his own employees who were stiffed for 4 years when Franken avoided paying the corporation’s portion of the workman’s comp insurance.
jbenson2, I agree 100%,
Thank you for posting the additional information we Minnesota Republican bloggers are supposed to say over and over and over.
I would continue to make these types of comments as if nobody has ever heard these facts before. If we Minnesota Republican bloggers don’t do that, then our plan to divide and conquer and win elections will not work very well.
Great Job Minnesota Republican blogger jbenson2!!
Franken paid his fines for violating tax codes. Coleman should pay the price for violating election law.