Can Fox "news" be giving the GOP an "In Kind Contribution"

[alfredo]

by slanting the news to favor the Repulbicans?

http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures/citizens.shtml

Would what they are doing be considered volunteering, so within the campaign laws? If not, are they giving something tangible to the party by their uncritical reading of the GOP talking points?

[SoCalDem]

1. Nothing BUT free advertising anytime they want air time.

That's what the radio "shows" are all about too..

Our candidates have to either run a gauntlet of sneering, slobbering rightwingers or pay for their
ad-time"..republicans get a cocktail and a massage with their free time..

[alfredo]

5. Gereenwald's "OutFoxed" presents a good case.

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. It would be worth filing a lawsuit to find out

A similar lawsuit was filed against conservative talk hosts John Carlson and Kirby Wilbur of Seattle's KVI radio station in 2005. At issue was the hosts' outright support of Initiative 912, which sought to roll back the state's gas tax. In the end, the courts ruled that Carlson and Wilbur had made an in-kind contribution and the I-912 sponsors were required to note an estimated $20,000 contribution.

[skiddlybop]

3. Don't forget the push=polling

that has been specifically anti-Democratic.

[alfredo]

4. I am going to ask around, maybe send a letter to Olbermann.

Here's the paragraph from the site I referenced.

Donated Items and Services
The donation of office machines, furniture, supplies--anything of value--is an in-kind contribution. The value of the donated item (the usual and normal charge) counts against the contribution limits. A donation of services is also considered an in-kind contribution. For example, if you pay a consultant's fee or a printing bill for services provided to a campaign, you have made an in-kind contribution in the amount of the payment.

If you sell an item or service to a committee and ask the committee to pay less than the usual and normal charge, you have also made an in-kind contribution to the committee in the amount of the discount.

Under limited exceptions in the law, you may provide certain goods and services without making a contribution to the committee. These exceptions are volunteering, travel expenses and business services.