DNC to file charges against McCain for possible violations of Campaign Finance Rules: Update
I was on a conference call with Howard Dean and DNC General Counsel Joe Sandler yesterday and they were discussing their complaint to the FEC about McCain's matching funds violation of the spending limit. I believe Dean's purpose is to get the McCain campaign to stop breaking the law in which McCain had a hand in drafting. The hero of campaign finance reform is hypocritically violating that law.
Dean: This is a guy that says one thing and does another. We want John McCain to obey the law...
MyDD was on the call as well and goes into more details.
John McCain's attempted politically motivated gaming of the public financing system is already drawing the attention of the Federal Elections Commission, with the chairman of the FEC firing off a letter to McCain's presidential campaign asking them to explain why, after they had been certified to become a part of the program, they believe they're able to pull out without approval. Now the Democratic National Committee is joining in the act, and will file an FEC complaint tomorrow against the McCain campaign...read on
Howie Klein has the choice quote from Howard Dean:
"The crucial issue here is John McCain's integrity. John McCain poses as a reformer but he seems to think reforms apply to everyone else but him... His latest attempt to ignore the law is just more of his do as I say, not as I do hypocrisy and it calls his credibility into question. McCain financially benefited by accepting this agreement; he got free ballot access, saving him millions of dollars, and he secured a $4 million loan to keep his campaign afloat by using public financing as collateral. He should be held to the law."
Update: The DNC has filed its complaint today.
More than this, his campaign also got free ballot access, worth millions of dollars, because of his public financing. But now -- after he's received all this financial help -- he wants to unilaterally withdraw from the program.
This is about more than spending limits and the FEC; this is a question of integrity...read on
Here's the pdf of the complaint also.
We're gonna need more popcorn over here!
Oh, this is gonna be an interesting year. And to think that I actually used to really like McCain. Now I respect him for his service and nothing more. This man has no principal or integrity. The only thing that is consistent with him is his ambition for power and his willingness to say and do whatever it takes to achieve it.
Blue Lensman @ 1:
Okay, and after 5:00pm, I'll be serving martinis.
I'm not sure what I think of them taking this action. Did anyone try to calm this down together before they did this? Yes he should be held to the law, but this seems to be stirring up a bee hive. Oh what the hell do I know?
Blue Lensman @ 1:
And I've just qued up an old Carpenters album to "We've Only Just Begun". :)
Another Republican who prattles on about "personal responsibility" turns out to be a welfare queen.
I blame the messenger!
Damn you Howard Dean!
Senator John McCorruption can't see the Forest of Corporate Lobbyists for the Corporate Lobbyist-trees...
To the tune of "Strangers in the Night" sing along with "Lobbyists on the Bus"...
pissed off patricia @ 3:
It must be 5pm somewhere!
If only the Dems had the same judicial backbone regarding impeachment proceedings.
Isn't this just going to unite Repubs around McCain?
If all these recent scandals continue, and McCain's campaign collapses... what would happen? Mitt comes back? They pass the puck to Huck? Gouhliani rehaunts?
It's a tad more complicated than implied.
The core legal question is whether putting something up as collateral (and then not defaulting) is the same as using it in the more obvious manner.
The people who decide this are the FEC, but the FEC doesn't have a quorum, due to open slots.
The FEC has open slots because the Senate won't confirm the losers that have been nominated.
Therefore, as of now, there's no way to get a decision.
GOOD!!! Finally fight back!!!!
Chris @ 10:
Yes, let them all climb upon that same rotten raft, it's almost as much fun as when Rudy was running.
It's good to see some freakin' backbone out of the DNC for a change. We can't second-guess every possible action by how the Repubs will respond to it - that just makes them into a big scary bogeyman. We have to take action.
Chris @ 10:
Nice try. Remember: McCain's supposedly the one that can "appeal to independents". We need to find of these independents that is still attracted to McCain . . anybody seen one lately?
Gee, Mike Huckabee may get his miracle after all...
I predict nothing wil come of this except for a circling of the wagons for the scumbags...errr...."conservatives" around McCain.
Well, at least it's on record now as perhaps being a legally-actionable matter. His lobbyist advisors certainly must have all kinds of ideas about how to work the money, lawful or not.
Dems just need to keep repeating: "We just want John McCain to obey the law."
The more McCain has to answer to "breaking the law," the more time he looks bad.
The Spaniard @ 17:
Nah. Conservatives are strictly 'fair weather' supporters. Actually going to court will alienate a conservative from supporters faster than a wet fart in a crowded elevator.
The Spaniard @ 17:
Yeah, nothing brings a party together like a good ol' circle jerk!:)
Wait, wait, wait. Republicans have to obey the law? Oh for ... well, this certainly puts a crinkle in things. Doesn't explain the last eight years, though...
Is this on the front page of the NY Times? If not, start an email blitz of the Times, the sae way the GOP and VRWC started an email blitz to the Times about the McCain/Lobbyist story.
Fire with fire.
spike @ 2:
you must be too young to remember the S&L scandal, where Raygun told the industry to milk the treasury via the insurance provided by the FSLIC. >$700 billion later they found that McSoCorruptI'llTakeAnythingFromAnyone was part of the Keating Five. True to form, the Dems and repugs, by post-noxin arrangement, somehow agreed to token verbal sanctions to those who enabled this blatant filching of the public trough.
The corruption is so rife with McLobbyistsRunMyCampaign that you simply have to look at the extent of each single corruption you find. There is no part of his campaign that, when scrutinized, does note reveal a new form of corruption. What's worse, is that it's been that way since the Keating days and no one has said shit. the McShitTalkExpress keeps rolling along.
bt @ 23:
Fat Chance!
This is gonna upset McCrabby.
I think it's heartwarming that the Repubs have found such a Reaganesque character. McCain seems to come with even the Alzheimers memory lacunae.
Isn't this really about Obama's own pledge regarding federal funding for his campaign? I don't think either candidate wants to go that route in the general election, but neither wants to be the first to say he'll forgo federal funds to get the big bucks from private contributors.
I think Dean's real purpose is to force McCain's hand, which will get Obama off the hook. If it makes McCain look bad in the process, that's just frosting on the McCake.
"I believe Dean’s purpose is to get the McCain campaign to stop breaking the law in which McCain had a hand in drafting."
Yeah...and the rules apply to those in power starting when?
Laws are only for the little people.
The Republicans started this shit throwing competition when they went after Clinton over a blow job. Now its gone full cycle and the Republicans are on the losing side of history. Their political party will dissappear to the history books just like the Whigs or the Federalists.
Dale @ 19:
Thanks for the inspiration... (I always thought the song was too short - I HAD to add a third verse)
BREAKIN THE LAW (2008) originally by Judas Priest
There I was completely wasting, no support and down
All inside it’s so frustrating as I drift from town to town
Feel as though nobody cares if my campaign should die
So I might as well begin to put some action in my life
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
There she was as we were flying, pulled her panties down
All inside no more frustration but feeling such a pawn
Wondering why the pundits ask if my campaign will fly
How much more has all of this put more doubts into in my wife
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
So much for the maverick future, I can’t even start
I’ve had every promise broken, there’s anger in my heart
You don’t know what it’s like, you don’t have a clue
If you did you’d find yourselves doing the same thing too
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
You dont know what its like
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Albatross @ 14:
Yeah! Hell fucking YEAH!!!! It's about motherfucking TIME!!!
Where is the CNN poll..."Is McCain honest enough to be President?"?!?!?!
Liberal AND Proud @ 33:
How about this one:
Should McCain withdraw from the race?
Chuck @ 34:
Should McCain pull out?
Joementum @ 35:
Candidus Interruptus?
Anyone wanna talk about farrakhan endorsing Obama? Didnt think so
B @ 37:
I already covered that in another thread.
RON PAUL!!!!!!!!!
bitches............
Good idea.
B @ 37:
Typical right-wing troll. When the going gets though, try changing the subject. Do you people have mirrors, or is finger pointing the preferred means of deflection?
Who gives a rats ass about that old fart?? The Republicans don't have an icecube's chance in Hell. They're radioactive. Someone should be filing charges against Cheney and Bush.
#37 B Says:
Anyone wanna talk about farrakhan endorsing Obama? Didnt think so
That is almost as bad as Rev. Moon endorsing the Bush's and other repubs for so long. Are they all moonies then? Bush the Elder even stumped for the "New Jesus" in S. America, so they would let him publish his propaganda there, after leaving the White House. The new messiah is in the house for the born again Bushies.
@37
Wasn't an actual endorsement if you bothered to listen to the speech. You did, didn't you? Yeah, didn't think so.
Back to topic, sorry.
I think Dale had it right, just keep asking him to follow the law.
You have to love the irony. Mac Cain was awarded public financing by the FEC, and in order to have the obligations waived he will need a vote of the FEC. However, since Bush insists that the champion of voter's rights - Hans von Spakovsky has to approved by the senate before he will nominate dems to fill the remaining slots on the FEC, the current FEC membership is two, whereas the required quorum is four.
Therefore, if I understand correctly, MCCain cannot get his get out of jail card until the empty slots are filled, which won't happen until Bush pulls Spakovsky's nomination. He is therefore potentially in breach of the sending limts if he spends more than $54 million on the primaries - having already spent $50 million.
This could taint the whole ccampaign through to November.
McCrook
just when you think that the gop has pulled everything
they have in their pile of shit out........here comes mccain.
this is the neverending pile of shit story.
mccain married a political power whore.
McPowerWhore
B @ 37:
Heeeey! Another troll! Yippee! STFU!
james k. sayre @ 7:
#309, thanx! ;}
CoIntelPro @ 24:
A 3fer! #'s 310-12...Nice, CoIntelPro, tahnx! ;-}
IgnoranceIsNotBliss @ 26:
#313, thankz! ;}
Joementum @ 28:
#314, and McCain-unable still in my top 3 faves. Tanky danky, not too skanky Joementum!
;-}
Dr. Acula @ 47:
#315, tahncz! ;-}
Dr. Acula @ 50:
Nice! #316, thankes! 8-}
Sunday’s C&Ler’s contributions to the McNames McList (then current total 307):
.
and
.
The entire (211 as of Friday 12:01am pst) McName List:
If these charges don't stick all us Democrats are going to suffer.
I like McNumbNut...but that's just me.
This is all for not if the issue can't be made into a short sound bite that Americans will grab hold of.
The Democratic Party is notoriously bad about communication to the American people.
The Republicans can take a simple idea like "not wearning a flag lapel pin" and embed it into the American conscience in a jiffy and they never forget it.
Democrats have no idea how to do that.
No way! A repug that cherry-picks and ignores laws when convenient for himself????? Oh my, ahm gettin' a case of th' vapors....
One way for this issue to be totally buried in one day would be to have Sen. John Kerry come out and explain it to the American people.
Americans would turn off the TV because the explaination would be so long winded and boring they would rather watch Fox News.
liberalNmoderation @ 51:
Yes, and notice how ass-clownio doesn't bother to talk about it either; he just barfs up his little hairball of an insinuation then adds nothing else and goes back to flexing in front of his bathroom mirror. Truly, one totallyawesomebadass if I ever saw one.
Liberal AND Proud @ 60:
And me, lol. #317, thankz! ;-}
McCampaignFinanceReformisBullshit
Bonkers @ 64:
I DID notice that. Now that's a shining example of drive-by trolling, lol!
Yeah flexin in the mirror, while his mother yells at him to take out the garbage, and clean his room.
kerplunk @ 61:
Well...Democrats are smarter and not so easily brainwashed! Right folks?! Can I get a Hell YEAH!?
I believe Mr. McCain has just issued his first "signing statement" and he isn't even a "unitary executive" yet. Maybe he considers himself a branch of government that doesn't fall within the constitutionally recognized ones -- the Dick Cheney canard. He's still a Senator, but not really? Hoo boy, does this guy have lots of 'splainin to do.
Clevenative @ 31:
Fuck yeah! Priest rocks. Quick - someone make a video of McCain over this song and post it on YouTube! Great way to spread the meme.
Blue Lensman @ 15:
What do you mean "nice try"? Remember, insane McCain was getting blasted on the Rush Limbaugh comedy hour until the NYT did the story on him. I was hoping Limbaugh would keep attacking McCain and turning off Repubs to him and then Repubs wouldn't be motivated to turn out in the general.
Monday, February 04, 2008
State Leader of Paul Campaign Files Complaint Against McCain’s Telemarketing Abuses
Cindy McCain Robo Call (Click here to listen)
Keating for McCain Robo Call (Click here to listen)
Kirk Shelley, Oklahoma State Coordinator of the Ron Paul Presidential campaign, filed a formal complaint regarding John McCain’s illegal robo-calling with the Oklahoma Attorney General.
Shelley expressed his frustration with McCain’s calls:
“Everyone knows the rules on these calls, or they should” said Shelley, “when you run for President or work in federal campaigns you get attorneys to tell you what you can and can not do – calling non-supporters without a phone number to stop the calls is illegal.”
“Anyone who pays attention to politics knows that Tim Pope was indicted by Drew Edmondson for this same thing. The McCain campaign or their telemarketing people sure should have known better.”
Shelley continued “the bigger picture to me is this – Sen. McCain has set himself up as leader for campaign reform by authoring ‘McCain-Feingold’ telling the rest of the country the rules he thinks we should follow, yet here he is violating those very rules he helped create. If you are going to create laws limiting the free speech rights of other Americans at least have the integrity to follow them yourself.”
"I have sent copies of the illegal calls go to the Attorney General and I’m confident he will prosecute with the same diligence that he went after Tim Pope, and I hope the voters remember that the author of ‘so-called campaign reform’ broke his own rules.”
Labels: AG, Decision '08, Drew Edmondson, Kirk Shelley, Tim Pope
Posted by Chris Arps at 2/04/2008 09:45:00 PM Comments | Trackback
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