Dean: DNC is filing an FEC complaint against McCain

[BurtWorm]

Received via e-mail:



There was a lot of talk last week about John McCain's blatant hypocrisy on ethics and integrity in Washington.

Here we go again.

McCain is now breaking the law by ignoring the campaign spending restrictions for the Republican primary that came when he asked for federal matching funds -- funds he used as collateral on a loan that helped keep his campaign going.

But now that the lobbyist and special interest money has started pouring into his campaign, he's trying to back out of the promise he made just a few months ago. They're feeding so much cash into his bank account, this "reformer" wants nothing to do with federal campaign finance laws anymore.

That's why today, we're filing a formal complaint with the Federal Election Commission demanding that John McCain be held to the campaign finance laws. Trying to back out shows a total lack of integrity and honesty -- he made a deal with the American people to to abide by the law, and in return, he was guaranteed taxpayer money that he used to back a loan.

I'd like you to add your name in support of our complaint, and ask as many people as you can to sign on. American taxpayers made a deal with John McCain -- now that he's flush with lobbyist cash, he wants to pretend that it never happened.

Sign on right now:

http://www.democrats.org/McCainBusted

Here's the background on the situation.

A few months ago, John McCain applied for and was approved to receive federal matching funds. Because he couldn't find enough people to fund his campaign, he was also forced to apply for a $4 million line of credit, which he secured by using the federal matching funds as collateral.

By taking the federal funding, he agreed to spend no more than $57 million until the Republican convention. But so far, his campaign has spent at least $49 million -- leaving him with less than $10 million to campaign with through September.

Now that he's won the nomination and has the support of the Republican lobbyist and special interest machine, he's trying to ignore that the whole thing ever happened. He recently wrote a letter to the FEC telling them that he was backing out, even though the FEC is very clear that any request to withdraw from the agreement must be approved; you can't just change your mind and take it back -- legally, you have to be given permission.

McCain isn't asking because he knows he'll never be granted permission, and he doesn't want to have to accept the funding restrictions he agreed to when he used the money as collateral for a loan. He's ripping a page right from George Bush's playbook: ignoring the laws when they aren't convenient and hoping no one will notice.

Stand up and show him that hundreds of thousands of people have noticed -- he can't change the rules in the middle of the game because he doesn't like how things are going for him:

http://www.democrats.org/McCainBusted

Using government programs when it's politically convenient and breaking the rules when it's not ... remind you of anyone?

Just like George Bush, John McCain thinks he's above the law. McCain poses as a reformer, but seems to think reforms apply to everyone but him.

Time to send him a message.

Howard Dean

[bluestateguy]

1. If we win this election I want Howard Dean to do another "Dean Scream" on Election Night

right in front of the cameras, as one last STFU to the MSM.

[tabatha]

2. Hear, hear.

Let everyone go to their windows, open them wide, and scream.

[EFerrari]

3. Oh, yeah. I'd take up a collection to see that.

Howard Dean is the best thing that's happened to this party in decades.

[wryter2000]

13. That would be sweet n/t

n/t

[Mac128]

4. So That's Why ...

Now I understand why he was pressuring Obama so hard to stick to his "promise" to limit his spending. LOL

[Pastiche423]

5. 1st thing I thought about, too!

I :loveya: Dr. Dean!

[FSogol]

6. K&R Attn all you DU-ers slugging it out in GD:P; This is what you should

be discussing.

[bklyncowgirl]

7. Good, go get'em Doc! Don't leave anything to chance! nt

[BurtWorm]

8. kick

[applegrove]

9. Way to go DNC. That's the way to do it.

[cali]

10. no, no, no. it's the DNC not the DLC

Dean is NOT connected to the DLC. In fact, they're none too fond of the good doctor.

[applegrove]

12. I caught my mistake and changed the post. Thanks.

[madfloridian]

11. Here is a video of Dean on CNN today refuting McCain again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxEISyjRpU4

[BurtWorm]

14. Thanks, madfloridian!

[BurtWorm]

15. UPDATE: From DNC General Counsel Joe Sandler

...Yesterday we filed a complaint with the FEC after John McCain decided to break the law by ignoring the rules laid out as part of the federal matching funds program.

I don't know if you saw the news, but the press covered the complaint all day. John McCain himself directly responded to Governor Dean at a press conference, saying "We're doing exactly what Howard Dean did in a previous election and what the FEC ruled in the case of Congressman Gephardt."

But that's a lie -- John McCain isn't doing what Governor Dean and Congressman Gephardt did at all.

Governor Dean and Congressman Gephardt followed the law and were granted written permission by the FEC to withdraw from the federal matching funds program.

To prove it, we have a copy of the letter Governor Dean received from the FEC in 2003 granting him permission to drop out. If McCain is doing "exactly what Howard Dean did," he'll have no trouble producing a letter of his own.

But you and I know McCain's lying -- he doesn't have a letter like that from the FEC. Not only has he refused to get permission, he's been warned by FEC Chairman David Mason that he can't unilaterally drop out of the program. That's why we filed the complaint in the first place, and it's why tens of thousands of Americans like you signed your support.

You can read Governor Dean's letter from the FEC and invite your friends and family to sign on in support right here:

http://www.democrats.org/invite/McCainBusted

John McCain abused the system to keep his campaign afloat until he could raise more money from special interests and lobbyists. Taxpayers don't want their money to be used by Washington politicians to help raise more money from lobbyists -- is this McCain's idea of ethics and reform?

Thanks to you, this "maverick reformer" is feeling the pressure of his own hypocrisy. From staffing his campaign with a team of lobbyists to breaking campaign finance laws, his total lack of integrity has never been more clear.

Keep it up,

Joe Sandler
General Counsel
Democratic National Committee