Killer Campaign Idea?

Great Idea...and push the question to the campaign. Get on the phone. Call and call again and again. Make sure you include the idea that its a Feedback Loop with the GrassRoots ....thus he will be tapping the power of the internet.

I think the new campaign laws restrict commercials supporting a particular candidate paid for by someone other than the candidate himself, but only for a "blackout period" close to the time in which the election is to be held. The blackout is I think doubled before a general election. It may be 30 days before a primary and 60 days before a general. It was part of McCain-Feingold so it can easily be checked. If these are correct, then it can still be done but would need to be done soon. Also, If the campaign produces the ad and someone else pays for getting it on the air, I'm not sure if that's legal. That type of collaboration may not be legal. I can't say for sure. Actually, I found this:

"Electioneering Communication: Coordinated Communications as Contributions (sec. 202)

Electioneering communications are regarded as contributions to a candidate or party's committee (and, thus, subject to hard-money limits) if the sponsor of the communications coordinates the ad with a candidate or party committee."

"Electioneering Communication: Disclosure (sec.201)

Senators Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and James Jeffords (R-VT) offered the following electioneering communication provisions which target broadcast issue advocacy by interest groups, political organizations, and other persons. Every organization (not otherwise banned from making electioneering communications) must report any expenditure of $10,000 or greater on broadcast electioneering communications made. An election communication is defined as any broadcast, cable or satellite communication that clearly refers to an identified candidate; is run within 60 days of a general election and 30 days within a primary, convention or caucus; and is made to an audience that targets the electorate for that office."

"Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) introduced an amendment that would in the event the Snowe-Jeffords provisions are struck down by the courts, apply a different standard to communications promoting, supporting, attacking or opposing a candidate. If a communication, at any time during the year, is "suggestive of no plausible meaning other than an exhortation to vote for or against a specific candidate," then such an advertisement would be required to be disclosed according to the conditions set forth in McCain-Feingold."

"A disclosure report must be filed with the FEC within 24 hours of an expenditure being made and must include the following information: name of person buying broadcast time, treasurer's name, organization contact information, the election and name(s) of candidates identified in the advertisement, names and addresses of all donors contributing over $1,000, and all disbursements over $200."

Both of the above were from an analysis of McCain/Feingold found at this website:

http://www.brookings.edu/gs/cf/debate/MF_summary.htm#sec202

So, apparently the collaboration IS a problem but not necessarily the commercials themselves as long as the expenditure is reported to the FEC within 24 hours and are are not produced by a corporation, union or a 501(C)4 as the following 2 demonstrate:

"Electioneering Communication: Restrictions on Corporations and Labor Unions (sec. 203)

Corporations and labor unions are prohibited from running or indirectly financing electioneering communications identifying or targeting a federal candidate within 60 days of a general election. Only a corporation or labor union's registered PAC may fund such activities with hard dollars."

"Targeted Election Communication (sec. 204)

Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN) proposed an amendment that prohibits non-profit corporations exempt under sections of 501(c)(4) and 527 of the Internal Revenue Code from running "targeted communications." A targeted communication is a broadcast, cable, or satellite communication run within 60 days of a general election (or 30 days of a primary election) featuring the name or likeness of a candidate whose audience primarily consists of the residents of the state associated with the identified candidate in the advertisement."

I knew there was something about 30 and 60 days before elections but it applies to unions, corporations and non-profits, so individuals can do whatever want as long is it is reported in a timely fashion. Hope this helps.

The collaborative effort is out though otherwise it falls under hard money limits of 2300 dollars. Hard to get a commercial on the air for that price unless, and not sure if this runs afoul of the rules as well, that people pool the money and the campaign reports it as a hard money donation.

Paul