Thank you for posting your thoughts on this important issue. I trust that you will be a strong voice for the correct approach to these issues.

Let's be clear on one thing however... bloggers are not journalists.

Bloggers are citizens engaged in a public conversation. It is the same as if I stood at the water cooler talking with my co-workers, sat at the local coffee shop arguing with the boys, engaged in a pen pal correspondence with a friend or posted a political treatise on the college dormm bulletin board.

Blogging is a conversation.

Any attempt to regulate or restrict blogging speech is a direct enfringment on a citizens right to express their views on the political issues and candidates of the day.

It is as simple as that.

What you need are stricter reporting rules on 527's, 501c's, and the like. It is insufficient for groups to post anonymous ads attacking particular candidates and their supporters and not have the citizens hearing these ads not know exactly whose voice and opinion is being expressed. It is insufficient for the people not to have an opportunity to attempt to determine the motivations of the people behind the groups posting these anonymous attack ads. This holds true for Democrats, Republicans, and anyone else.

Thank you for your diligence and dedication to our American way of life.

Peace,

Andrew C. White
Democracy for the Hudson-Mohawk Region
Stephentown (NY) Democratic Committee Chair