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General PersuadeUs: 43% Back Petraeus Recommendations, 38% Oppose »
September 13, 2007
NYT "BetrayUs" Update: Freedom Watch, Surprise Surprise, Had To Pay A Much Higher Rate For Its Own Ad
In-kind contribution.
We're in a gray area here. But while the media has a campaign finance exemption as to editorial content and reportage, I'm not sure if that exemption applies to direct discounts for advertising.
As a reader noted yesterday, this might actually just be the tip of the iceberg. As people start comparing and info starts leaking, we may find a systematic discount for liberal-leaning organizations in the NYT and other MSM outlets.
No Gray Area At All, says Gabriel:
It's not a gray area. Campaign finance laws limit contributions to candidates. The Times' contribution, if it can be said to have made one, was to an independent organization.
Yes, but... there are still disclosure laws to abide by, aren't there? I don't believe it's the case that donations to 537's are entirely unregulated, are they?