New York Times – Laws & the Move On Crowd

BLACKFIVE: Complaint filed with FEC over Betray Us ad

Sure, there’s Freedom of Speech. There’s also Freedom of The Press. But there are also checks on both of those in certain circumstances.

You see, there are laws on what can be sold and how sales can be conducted all over the nation for many different reasons. Some places forbid selling gasoline for less than a certain percentage over the wholesale price. The United States has federal laws about how the sale of advertising with political content can be conducted and for what price. Due to the influence the media has with the public, the feds thought it was a good idea to forbid discount advertising to political groups so as to keep the publishers from slanting the information too much.

Understanding that, you can imagine why so many people are up in arms over the way Move – On’s “Betray Us” ad found its way to the front page of the New York Times with a huge discount. Of course, it also adds to the perception that the Times wishes to ally itself with the Move On goofballs who have done such creative things as interrupting General Petraeus’ testimony with pointles

Looks like the New York Times either needs some better lawyers and PR guys for advice and litigation. Wonder if I can get a $116,000 discount…