Wisconsin Right to Life gets slap on wrist for illegally endorsing Chimp

[sybylla]

I posted this here
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1613839

Feb 18, 2005 -- FEC Admonishes Right to Life Group for Publicly Endorsing Candidate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 18, 2005
Press Contact: Mark Glaze, 202-271-0982

Washington , D.C. -- Acting on a complaint filed by the Campaign Legal Center , the Federal Election Commission found Wisconsin Right to Life, Inc., a 501(c)(4) group, violated federal election law by publicly endorsing President George W. Bush for reelection on its corporate website in violation of federal election law and issued an admonishment to them.

"Non-profit groups play a key role in the national debate on public issues, but federal law sharply - and properly - limits their role in elections," said Gerry Hebert, director of litigation for the Legal Center. "Broadcasting endorsements of federal candidates is clearly not permitted by corporate entities such as was done by Wisconsin Right to Life in this case. Corporations, both for profit and non-profit, must be mindful that their election-related activities must strictly adhere to federal campaign finance limitations or they will face the consequences."

Longstanding federal law prevents corporations and labor unions, including most non-profits, from attempting to influence federal candidate elections. While these organizations may participate in federal elections through political action committees, they are forbidden from using their general treasury funds for election activity. The key rationale for these restrictions - ratified by several U.S. Supreme Court decisions - is that corporate and union electoral activity does not necessarily reflect the views or desires of individual shareholders or members, and therefore can corrupt the election and policy process.

Among the restrictions in federal law is a limitation on corporate endorsement of political candidates. While corporations may endorse candidates to their own membership, they may not endorse candidates to the general public on their corporate websites. Corporations may endorse candidates only through their PACs or PAC websites. Wisconsin Right to Life failed to follow these well established restrictions.
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Thought my fellow Wisconsinites might want to know about this. This group needed a smackdown and all they got was pat on the head and an admonition not to do it again.

What crap! :puke:

Who wants to bet me they'll do it again?

[patrice]

1. I think we should hold so-called Right to Life's feet to the fire

loudly and publicly at every opportunity.

Thank YOU.

[EC]

2. I wish they would have fined the hell outta them....n/t