Court: Anti-Hillary Movie's a Political Ad
Moviemaker David Bossie, president of Citizens United, a right-wing advocacy group, in 2006. (The Washington Post).
By Matthew Mosk
A conservative political group cannot broadcast its anti-Hillary Clinton movie or advertise for the film without disclosing the names of its donors, a three-judge panel at the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., ruled today.
Citizens United, the group that produced "Hillary: The Movie," tried to convince the court that its sharply critical look at Sen. Hillary Clinton's career was a commercial enterprise and should not be subject to campaign finance laws. But the federal judges unanimously ruled that there was "no other interpretation" than to see the film as, in essence, a lengthy political advertisement. Its clear aim, the court found, was to tell voters that "Senator Clinton is unfit for office, that the United States would be a dangerous place with a President Hillary Clinton...and that viewers should vote against her."
David Bossie, who heads the group, said: "We expect to appeal. We read the ruling as an invitation to appeal to the Supreme Court as the three-judge panel felt constrained by conflicting Supreme Court precedent."
In the meantime, Citizens United has begun work on a film about Barack Obama.
Posted at 7:54 PM ET on Jan 15, 2008
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Posted by: toddyg69 | January 17, 2008 4:46 PM
DISCLOSE YOUR DONORS AND THEN PLAY IT YOU WEAK TULIPS!!!!
WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF.?? I FOR ONE, WANT TO SEE WHAT EVERYONE HAS TO SAY.. BUT I NEED TO SEE WHO PRODUCED SOMETHING TO ASSESS WHAT THE MOTIVE IS AND THE OBJECTIVE FOR THE SUPPORT OF SAID PRODUCTION.
Posted by: mgcrhcp | January 17, 2008 2:39 PM
I would be scared of the direction these so-called "citizens" are trying to take America towards.
Posted by: valskeet | January 17, 2008 1:06 PM
Disclosure of sponsors is not an attack on free speech.
As long as people sponsor legitimate criticisms based upon real facts, they have nothing to fear from the disclosure of their names. They have every right to their political pov and those rights are best protected by them standing up publicly to further their pov.
Hiding their identities is a strong indication that what they are doing is sleazy and dishonest.
Free speech is diminished by slander and dishonesty.
Posted by: wmcmichael | January 17, 2008 12:48 PM
This is one more example of Americans losing their First Amendment rights to government interference. The Left loves these restrictions because they are afraid of speech that disagrees with their narrow world view. Calling any criticism "Swift-boating" doesn't excuse their totalitarian, anti-free speech attitudes.
Posted by: rrobinson1 | January 16, 2008 12:23 PM
So now the curious will have to seek these films through NetFlix, since NetFlix invites film submissions to swell its offerings?
Posted by: FirstMouse | January 16, 2008 11:02 AM
I echo multiplepov. What do the donors have to hide? Aren't we all tired of these wingnut boogeymen/women who use their millions to spread lies? Read David Brock's "Blinded by the Right" to understand how these people really work. He was one of them so he knows. And, let us hope that if this reaches the Supreme Court, they will refuse to review.
Posted by: FactChecker1 | January 15, 2008 9:20 PM
Why won't the donors disclose themselves? What do they have to hide?
Posted by: multiplepov | January 15, 2008 8:49 PM
Senator Obama predicted he would be subjected to a Swift Boat attack. The only news here is that it is coming earlier than he predicted. The right just loves to make up the truth, stretch it beyond recognition, and otherwise fit "reality" to their own mold. Does anyone else smell the money of a Scaife?
Posted by: 33rdStreet | January 15, 2008 8:45 PM
Oh, those darned hurtfull truths!
Soon! Obama-The Early Years!
Posted by: rat-the | January 15, 2008 8:05 PM
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