Thanks Tim (and Dan Dobson?) for answering my questions.
You said, "The other question that has been raised is - Is soliciting donations "Free Speech" or "Commercial Activity?""
My opinion - it's commercial activity if you are asking for something, or promoting something that will cause a private financial gain. I include the maintenance and staffing of a political action group as a private financial gain because it supplies people with jobs. I don't see a big difference between a hot dog vendor claiming lofty goals for his business ("I feed St. Paul!") and a political action group doing the same ("We help pass laws that feed St. Paul!")
It's free speech if you're just voicing an opinion and not lobbying people to pay your money or contribute volunteer effort. Where I start having trouble drawing a line is when people ask others to sign up for literature or to show support, especially if that literature is geared to draw donations or the show of support enables the speaker's group to get money.
My opinions on this subject are still in formation. I've forgotten what it was the people were saying when they were told to leave the Farmer's Market. Were they asking for donations? (As an aside, organized begging is still just that - if it's the Salvation Army or an unemployed homeless man, it's still begging and I think both should be equally barred from public approval. Doubly so if the Salvation Army is ringing a noisome bell.)
Mary Baker East Side
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