The Virginian Pilot and the FEC

Pravda was a beacon of journalistic truth and technical prowess compared with the Virginian Pilot

The Virginian Pilot's endorsement of Obama and linking to his Internet site is not considered an "in-kind" contribution to his election campaign. If you go to the FEC website you will find that newspapers are exempt from rule that cover the rest of us.

Under the Act and FEC regulations, a media entity’s costs for carrying news stories, commentary and editorials are not considered “contributions” or “expenditures.” See 2 U.S.C. §431(9)(B)(i) and 11 CFR 100.73 and 100.132. This exemption, commonly known as the “news story exemption” or the “media exemption” now extends to media entities that cover or carry news stories, commentary and editorials on the Internet, including web sites or any other Internet or electronic publication. See also AOs 2005-16, 2004-7 and 2000-13.

In other words, things that are illegal for you and me and perfectly legal for the billionaire Batten family, owners of the Virginian Pilot.

For some reason I thought that the American Revolution abolished the aristocracy. I see that it has been re-established.

Bow to your masters.