And now - our point: The RNC really really REALLY doesn't like when people challenge them. So much so that they're willing to try to get them outlawed, even by screwing with procedure.
RNC opens assault on anti-Bush groups
The Republican National Committee launched a wide-ranging legal assault Wednesday on more than two dozen political groups working to defeat President Bush.
The committee says the groups are part of an "unprecedented criminal enterprise" to circumvent federal campaign laws and pour illegal soft money contributions into the 2004 race.
In a complaint filed with the Federal Election Commission, the RNC also charged that the groups are illegally coordinating their advertising attacking Bush with the campaign of presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. John Kerry.
The Kerry campaign is named as a respondent in the complaint, along with the anti-Bush groups, their leaders and some of their large donors, including billionaire financier George Soros and Hollywood producer Steven Bing.
The groups in question, including MoveOn.org, The Media Fund, America Coming Together and America Votes, are known as 527 groups after a provision in the tax code. [...]
In a tactical twist, the RNC asked the FEC to quickly consider its complaint then dismiss it -- so the committee can move the dispute into federal court.
The reason? The FEC's process for handling such complaints makes it unlikely it would be resolved before the November election. In federal court, the RNC could ask a judge to stop the activities of the 527s immediately.
Marc Racicot, chairman of the Bush-Cheney campaign and former chairman of the RNC, conceded the request was unprecedented, but he said it was warranted under the circumstances.
"We are confident that they will consider this unique request we made and put an end to this abuse of the law and put an end to this violation of the law," he said.
