Scofflaws?
The American Conservative Union says that in the wake of an admission by the New York Times, it will press the Federal Election Commission to punish the newspaper and MoveOn.org for violating federal campaign-finance laws.
The liberal newspaper, through its public editor, admitted Sunday that it gave the liberal group a $77,508 discount for a full-page ad that accused Gen. David H. Petraeus of preparing to lie to Congress about military progress in Iraq.
New York Times Public Editor Clark Hoyt said in his weekly column, "For nearly two weeks, The New York Times has been defending a political advertisement that critics say was an unfair shot at the American commander in Iraq. But I think the ad violated The Times' own written standards, and the paper now says that the advertiser got a price break it was not entitled to."
MoveOn.org paid $64,575 for the ad. The American Conservative Union contends that MoveOn should have paid $181,692, which would mean the group received a discount of $117,117.
"The discount was not just a mistake; it is illegal under federal law," ACU Chairman David A. Keene said. "The New York Times has been the leading cheerleader for any and every restrictions on political speech by citizens and citizens groups railing for years against 'soft money' and the 'corruption' in politics of 'soft money.' "
The ACU filed a complaint with the FEC Sept. 14, after the ad appeared.
"ACU will vigorously work to ensure that the FEC treats the New York Times Company and MoveOn.org the same way other less-influential people are treated," Mr. Keene said. "The Times needs to feel the pain from the campaign-finance laws it has helped to impose over the years." |
