McCain-Feingold Rides Again

Looks like the McCain-Feingold law may next sink its teeth into the internet if some members of the FEC get their way. In a C-NET interview with FEC Commissioner Bradley Smith:

Bradley Smith says that the freewheeling days of political blogging and online punditry are over.

In just a few months, he warns, bloggers and news organizations could risk the wrath of the federal government if they improperly link to a campaign's Web site. Even forwarding a political candidate's press release to a mailing list, depending on the details, could be punished by fines.

This FEC decision would only impact federal candidates and races at first. But a trickle-down effect is certainly possible. I cannot think of a more ridiculous decision the FEC could possibly implement. The supporters of McCain-Feingold were already looking at expanding the law to encompass internet politicking before the FEC considered getitng involved. I have always called McCain-Feingold the "Incumbency Protection Act" because the law makes it incredibly difficult for challengers to raise funds and challenger sitting federal incumbents. Expanding the law to the internet would have a chilling effect effect on political discourse and participation in modern America, and make sitting Congressional incumbents nearly invincible.