WASHINGTON - The early reviews are in, and three federal judges appeared in agreement yesterday that a movie lambasting Hillary Clinton seemed an awful lot like a 90-minute campaign advertisement.
Citizens United, a conservative advocacy group, is challenging the nation's campaign finance laws, which require disclaimers on political advertisements and restrict when they can be broadcast. The group argues that "Hillary: The Movie" and related television advertisements are not political advertising even though the New York senator is in the presidential race.
Attorney James Bopp argued that they should be considered "issue-oriented" speech because viewers are not urged to vote for or against the Democrat.
"What's the issue?" asked Judge A. Raymond Randolph, a federal appeals judge on the panel reviewing the case.
"That Hillary Clinton is a European Socialist," Bopp replied. "That is an issue."
"Which has nothing to do with her campaign?" US District Judge Royce C. Lamberth interjected.
"Not specifically, no," Bopp replied.
"Once you say, 'Hillary Clinton is a European Socialist,' aren't you saying vote against her?"
Bopp disagreed because the movie did not use the word "vote."
"Oh, that's ridic -," Lamberth said, trailing off and ending the line of questioning.
Under campaign finance laws, if the judges rule that the movie is a political ad, Citizens United would be required to disclose its funding for the film. It would also have to disclose donors and pay the costs of airing it on cable television from a political fund.
The movie is scheduled for two screenings in theaters, once each in California and Washington. It is also being sold on DVD. Neither of those methods are regulated under campaign laws. The advertisements, however, are scheduled to run during the peak presidential primary season and would be regulated.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ad touts Romney's 'Michigan values'
Mitt Romney, who appears to be all-in in Michigan, launched a radio ad yesterday that features one of his most prominent supporters in the state.
In the spot, Representative Pete Hoekstra and his wife, Diane, say that Romney will cut taxes, lower spending, and create jobs - a huge issue in the economically depressed state. They also vouch for Romney's Michigan connections.
"Governor Mitt Romney represents the values that are important to us," Diane Hoekstra says. "He will fight for the unborn and traditional marriage."
"Mitt Romney's values are Michigan values," Pete Hoekstra chimes in.
"They ought to be; he grew up right here, in Michigan," his wife says.
Romney's campaign has suspended advertising in South Carolina and Florida to focus on Michigan, whose Republican primary Tuesday could mark the end of his presidential bid if he doesn't win.
FOON RHEE
Teen says Obama's using his 'Change Rocks' motto
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - A teenager is contending that he coined the phrase "Change Rocks" long before Barack Obama used it for fund-raising concerts.
But lawyers for Stefan Doyno, a 19-year-old who sells rings and pendants with interchangeable, twist-off stones, aren't asking the Democratic presidential candidate to cease and desist: They're suggesting a moneymaking partnership.
"Mr. Doyno would be more than willing to grant Mr. Obama a license on quite favorable terms to use the Change Rocks trademark in connection with products other than jewelry," says a letter from Doyno's lawyers to the campaign. "Mr. Doyno is far more interested in exploring possible synergies . . . than he is in preventing Mr. Obama from using the mark in connection with his campaign."
Doyno, an English major at the University of Buffalo, said yesterday that he started his business when he was a ninth-grader at Scarsdale High School in suburban New York.
Doyno said he chose the Change Rocks trademark "because it has a double meaning - change is great and you can change the stones."
Obama has used change as a key theme in his campaign and dubbed a Dec. 7 fund-raising concert in Chicago "Change Rocks." Jen Psaki, campaign spokeswoman, said there had been no sales of campaign materials or memorabilia with the "Change Rocks" insignia.
Doyno said he hasn't decided whom he'll support for president. He lives just a few miles from Hillary Clinton, and she sent him a letter last year when he won a business award.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
