FEC Fines Swift Boat Vets $300K (http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002141.php)
By Paul Kiel - December 13, 2006, 11:52 AM

Is the era of the millionaire-backed attack group coming to an end?

The Federal Election Commission hit the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth with a $299,500 fine today for playing too fast with election rules. The Swift Boat Vets were a "527" organization, which has no limits on contributions, but were acting like federal political committees, the FEC charged. 527s are allowed to work for or against certain candidates, but if they have no other "major purpose," according to FEC spokesman Bob Biersack, then they should register as a committee.

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Did you notice in the article that MoveOn got hit too?

And the article doesn't really say what anyone did that was wrong.

Kinda like..

Ooo, swift boats bad.
Fine to swift boats good.
Swift boats 527.
527 bad, Oooo.
We like.

Did you notice in the article that MoveOn got hit too?
Aye, they fined the Sierra Club as well -- ~$27K IIRC.

Particularly happy to see it happen to the Swifties. :p But really, all those 527's need some sort of control.

Here's a little more in-depth article: http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/politics/elections/16231096.htm