Orbusmax: Demos Target Political Bloggers

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A bill that Senate Democrats have touted as a means to curb corruption in Washington could instead target some political bloggers with new regulations and even criminal penalties. The legislation , which began as an attempt to rewrite federal lobbying laws in the aftermath of the Jack Abramoff scandal , has ballooned to more than 9,000 words and a thicket of complicated rules. It was the subject of a failed attempt by Senate Democrats on Wednesday to defeat a Republican filibuster over a line-item veto, and debate is continuing Thursday afternoon. Much of the bill’s wording is obtuse. But one section says that certain political bloggers who make or spend $25,000 per quarter and who encourage readers to contact their elected representatives would be forced to register as lobbyists—or face up to 10 years in prison.

DFO: OK, Bob, Thom, GreenL and the rest of HBO’s stable of Demo defenders, pleaz explain to the rest of us why this Demo attack on the First Amendment is acceptable.