Excerpts from internet.cypherpunks: 19-Jun-96 Re: Digital Cash application by jim bell@pacifier.com
It seems to me that since paying people funds that were stolen from them would produce good publicity, which by definition could be argued to be spending it on the campaign. Sure, it's a non-traditional tactic, but that doesn't mean it's in violation of the campaign law. They could also email along a set of libertarian literature, and the recipient would certify that he would promote the libertarian cause and work for the election of the candidate, etc, etc.
Jim: I've worked on a presidential campaign before and can tell you that if the FEC is likely to consider something a violation, the campaign is not going to skirt the line. That said, perhaps the law is outdated and needs to be changed. The portion of the campaign finance law, as intepreted by the FEC, barring online services from providing free accounts to political candidates, is now being scrutinized in Congress. Rep. White will introduce a reform bill in about two weeks. -Declan