THEY ALWAYS SHOW YOU WHAT THEY’RE AFRAID OF, AND WHAT THEY’RE AFRAID OF IS FREE SPEECH: Dems on FEC move to regulate Internet campaigns, blogs, Drudge.

In a surprise move late Friday, a key Democrat on the Federal Election Commission called for burdensome new rules on Internet-based campaigning, prompting the Republican chairman to warn that Democrats want to regulate online political sites and even news media like the Drudge Report.

Democratic FEC Vice Chair Ann M. Ravel announced plans to begin the process to win regulations on Internet-based campaigns and videos, currently free from most of the FEC’s rules. “A reexamination of the commission’s approach to the internet and other emerging technologies is long over due,” she said.

Translation: Even near-total control of the legacy media isn’t enough to ensure Democrats’ dominance.