[CaptainHaplo]

I never said the media was forced to allow the person airtime - I said they COULD buy the airtime.

If you doubt it, look no further than the example of Ross Perot.

There is a difference in the right to free speech and the buying power needed to disseminate one's views. In your example - yes for a 30 second spot, you would likely get your commercial/ad run - in whatever markets you could afford.

If this was not the case, NBC would have refused to air McCain ads last presidential cycle. Money talks - which is WHY non-voting entities that are not individual citizens should be restricted in their ability to BUY the ability to spread their views (Non-voting citizens - such as felons who cannot vote, still have the right to free speech). It all goes back to the individual rights to be heard. Allowing PACs, Corps, Unions and the like to do this means that the individuals are getting drowned out by non-voting, non individual entities. That violates the whole purpose of the Free Speech Clause.