• Christian Science Monitor, Monday, February 4, 2008 10:45 AM

With the 2008 presidential primaries underway, a conservative group has produced an attack documentary called "Hillary: The Movie" -- but federal regulators won't let them advertise it on the airwaves. "I could have the movie in hundreds of theaters," claims complains executive producer David Bossie, "But I can't purchase ad time on television or radio stations." The flick came out Jan. 16 in Washington and is slated for screening in a few other cities, including San Diego and Santa Ana, Calif.

But because of content and timely subject matter, the Federal Election Commission has lowered the boom on three broadcast advertisements promoting it. Under current campaign-finance regulations, ads for the film must include a political disclaimer and the film's financial backers must be disclosed to the public.

The group backing it, Citizens United, says they just want people to see the movie or buy the DVD, not defeat Sen. Clinton. So they sued in federal court -- and lost. They are now appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that the ads are not "electioneering communications" and the FEC's disclosure and disclaimer requirements are unconstitutional infringements of free speech. But a three-judge panel rejected that argument last week, ruling that "Hillary: The Movie" is the equivalent of corporate-funded attack ads election laws are designed to prevent.

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