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Campaign Ads: Should they be regulated?

L

LITTLEBOYBLUE

I'd be interested if anyone has opinions on whether campaign ads (print AND broadcast) should face some kind of legislative scrutiny? On one hand, I hate the idea of legislating ANY kind of content ... but on the other, I am going nuts watching every campaign swing based on how well the media gets "played" by just airing whatever video tape is supplied to put on air.

Am thinking along the lines (NOT endorsing...just pondering) ... WHAT IF there were a fine, for example, to an organization who submits AND airs a spot and the claims cannot be proven. Would that make some of these groups think twice? Folks like the "U.S. Chamber of Commerce" and others who load up on attack ads as a third-party player in the campaigns.

Seems like it would be a small step in the whole toilet that we label "campaign reform". Start with telling the truth in the ads ...

or another tangent .... what if every QUALIFIED campaign (i.e. finalist in a primary, for example) was given "x" amount of commercial time and contributions were not necessary? Broadcasters would hemmorhage and scream ... but one way to look at it is that the license is granted by the public trust so they can make money -- and perhaps there is a reason to honor that public trust by accurately informing people about what each candidate represents before an election is held??

I don't care if you tell me these random thoughts are full of %%%% .... but all I ask is PLEASE dignify the discussion by not turning it into yet another Radio-Info pissing contest about who knows more than whom...!!!

Thanks!
 
LBB,

You raise an interesting question. Political ads are a mixed blessing for stations. We're forced to offer bottom of the rate-card prices (as long as the spot contains the candidates voice, hence the "I'm Joe Smith and I approved of this commercial"...or words to that effect). BUT the money can be soooo sweet!

Many listeners perceive of the station's endorsement for a particular candidate/issue when they hear spots. I've had to answer a lot of listener complaints of " So are you owned by the (fill in party here) since you are running all those commercials for them"?..."No maam, they just pay for the time and we run their commercials without editing...It's free speech...blah, blah."

I'm a big fan of less is more when it comes to government regulation of broadcasting, especially rates and adverstising. BUT as a citizen I'm as sick of those idiotic, low brow campaign tune-out spots as anyone else...thoughts...?
 
Any kind of restrictions placed on radio campaign ads would probably be met with First Amendment challenges.

But then again, we all know how clear, concise and consistent the FCC is about speech, don't we?
 
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