Just in time for Obama 2012, the San Francisco Court of Appeals can be counted on to make a bizarre ruling.
Going back to the 1920s, there has been tension between commercial broadcasters and non-profit groups that want to run radio stations. The issue wasn’t really settled during the AM radio era, but after WW II, the Federal Government drew a line between non-commercials and commercial broadcasters, and set aside 88-92 Mhz on the FM band exclusively for non-profit organizations (schools, religious groups and community groups). While entities can underwrite programs on public radio/TV, they can’t directly buy ads, and the FCC has rules about what the difference is.
Well, the Supreme Court recently ruled that political advertising is speech that is to be protected by the 1st amendment and can’t be constrained by laws like McCain Feingold
So if a political candidate wanted to buy advertising on non-commercial radio, is that protected free speech?
The 9th District says yes.
Be careful as you read stories about this – folks are confusing “Public” with “Non-commercial”. This struck down the ban on political ads on Non-Commercial radio/TV. That means non-commercial *religious* broadcasters could accept ads from Mitt Romney.
Making it trickier is the rulings of an Appeals Court often only apply in their district until the case goes to the Supreme Court.
I don’t see the big whoop, What difference what it makes what religion a candidate is ? They said there would never be a Catholic as President and along came Kennedy, they said a Muslim wouldnt become president, along came Obozo. Now a Mormon is running, And The Circus Court of Appeals in San Francisco can go to hell… Just another bunch of pantie waisted idiots.