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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: calgal who wrote (507434)	12/10/2003 5:59:41 PM
From: calgal	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

Kerry Asks FEC to Block NRA Channel By SHARON THEIMER Associated Press Writer December 9, 2003, 6:01 PM EST WASHINGTON -- Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry doesn't want to tune in to a National Rifle Association channel anytime soon. The Massachusetts senator sent Federal Election Commission Chairwoman Ellen Weintraub a letter Tuesday asking the commission to block any attempt by the NRA to get a media exemption to campaign finance rules. The gun-rights lobby is considering acquiring a television or radio outlet and seeking the same exemption from campaign finance rules that news organizations have. If the group won a media exemption, it would be free to say whatever it wanted about candidates at any time and spend unlimited amounts doing so. "We urge you to prevent the NRA from hijacking America's airwaves with the gun lobby's money," Kerry's letter said. "If the NRA has something to say, it can play by the rules, just like the millions of people in America who do every day." The NRA, financed in part with corporate money, is banned by the campaign finance law from running ads identifying federal candidates close to elections in states where they are on the ballot. It contends the rules violate free-speech rights, and is among several groups asking the Supreme Court to strike them down. * __ Greeting Howard Dean in New Hampshire for the Democratic debate Tuesday was a scathing editorial in the conservative Union Leader of Manchester, N.H., on his comments on President Bush and what he knew about the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Publisher Joseph McQuaid wrote in a front-page editorial that "anyone who would insinuate that President Bush knew in advance of the Sept. 11 attacks on America would normally be dismissed as a charter member of the lunatic fringe." Last week on National Public Radio's "The Diane Rehm Show," Dean was asked about Bush, the attacks and the administration's cooperation in turning over documents. He said: "There are many interesting theories about it. The most interesting theory I've heard so far -- which is nothing more than a theory that can't be proved -- is that he was warned ahead of time by the Saudis. Now who knows what the real situation is? By suppressing that kind of information, you lead to those kind of theories, whether they have any truth to them or not, and they get repeated as fact." Asked about those comments, Dean said on "Fox News Sunday" that he doesn't believe Bush knew about the attacks in advance. "I can't imagine the president doing that. But we don't know and it would be nice to know," he said. That drew the wrath of several Republicans lawmakers and conservative commentators. The Union Leader editorial pointed out that some had accused Democratic President Franklin D. Roosevelt of having advance knowledge about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. "Has FDR's party now stooped so low as to countenance a similar irresponsible charge against the current president by one of its presumed leaders? For shame if the answer is yes." New Hampshire Democratic Party chairwoman Kathy Sullivan said such an editorial in the Union Leader was "a badge of honor" for a Democratic candidate. * __ Why spend only 30 seconds talking about yourself in a campaign commercial when you can spend 30 minutes? Several Democratic presidential candidates are buying 30-minute blocks of airtime to broadcast programs and town-hall meetings in early primary and caucus states. The candidates say the format allows them to speak at length on a range of issues, something they can't do in 30-second spots and debates involving all nine candidates. In New Hampshire, Joe Lieberman will broadcast a previously taped town-hall meeting on Saturday at 7 p.m. on WMUR, an ABC affiliate. The Connecticut senator will film the meeting Thursday with an audience made up of undecided voters. On Sunday in Iowa, John Kerry will host a live town-hall discussion, with undecided voters. The question-and-answer session will air on seven stations throughout the state. Campaign advisers say the Massachusetts senator is considering broadcasting a similar forum in New Hampshire. Howard Dean aired a 30-minute TV program on Sunday in Madison, Wis. to encourage supporters to donate time and money.