Democrats: McCain Financing Questionable

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Democrats: McCain Financing Questionable

AP foreign, Sunday April 13 2008

By HOPE YEN

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Democratic Party officials want a
federal judge to order an investigation into whether Sen.
John McCain violated election laws by withdrawing from
public financing, saying federal regulators are too weak
to act on their own.

A lawsuit against the Federal Election Commission, to be
filed Monday in U.S. District Court, questions the agency's
ability to enforce the law and review McCain's decision
to opt out of the system. The Republican presidential
candidate, who had been entitled to $5.8 million in federal
funds for the primary campaign, decided earlier this year
to give up that money so he could avoid strict spending
limits between now and the GOP's national convention in
September.

During a conference call with reporters Sunday, DNC
officials said the FEC is unable to act because four of
its six seats are vacant. They want a judge to either
order the FEC to begin an immediate review, or allow the
Democratic Party to file a lawsuit against McCain's
campaign challenging his decision.

Tom McMahon, the party's executive director, said “there
is a compelling public interest in determining whether
Senator McCain agreed to participate in the matching funds
program so he could get a loan for his campaign, then
violated the terms of that agreement so he could ignore
the spending cap and raise unlimited money from lobbyists
and special interests.”

-snip-

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/7459379

[madfloridian]

1. Fighting back.

Good for them.

[DRoseDARs]

2. Democratic Party officials...saying federal regulators are too weak to act on their own. Pot, kettle

Questionable? The word is I*L*L*E*G*A*L. Christ, they expect us to care about what they're doing about it (which will be nothing, new verse same as the first) if they can't even call it what it is?

[ShockediSay]

3. For Credibility's sake, I really hope Obama toes the

line if McCain must

[progressive_realist]

6. No

Obama has never filed to receive matching funds; McCain has. McCain has broken the law by exceeding the limits after agreeing to them.

The only reason to want Obama to adhere to the spending limits required to get matching funds is to decrease his chances of winning the GE. Are you a Democrat or not?

And yes, I'm well aware of Obama's statement that he would like to reach an agreement with the Republican candidate to both adhere to the limits. In light of the fact that McCain has already broken them after agreeing to them, Obama would have to be stupid to agree to them now.

[joeybee12]

15. No, but in 2007 he signed saying he would take federal funds if

he was the nominee...yeah, he didn't file, but it's a pledge and everyone knows it. He is under no legal obligation to take federal funds, but this lawsuit will be turned back on the Dems by highlighting Obama not keeping his word. Too bad so many Dems voted for this schmuck without realizing he isn't ready for prime time. Say hello to President mcCain...let's just hope the Dems in Congress finally grow spines so he can be kept in check.

[progressive_realist]

16. Not quite

Unless you can provide a link to the contrary. His statement was that he would accept federal funds only if the Republican nominee did the same. Since McCain has broken his pledge, Obama is no longer obligated (ethically, since he was never legally obligated) to keep his side of that deal.

[smiley_glad_hands]

4. He's got Hilliary's support so its all good, who cares what Dean thinks anyway. eom

[bluesmail]

5. keep the pressure on, the way all those criminals

in charge have been doing. Keep them busy, don't let them have an idle minute. Hopefully they will make an irreversible mistake.

[bow-tie]

7. If Hillary is forced

out she'll probably endorse McNuts. I used to be a Hillary supporter until I saw her in action in this campaign. It's going to get where no one will want to be prez except criminals and power hungry assholes. Both sides, look who steps up. A truely great guy, DK, get's pushed out before he get's started. ??????

[Jackpine Radical]

9. As an aside, since you bring up Kucinich, let me say I have finally resolved

why it is that I could never get behind him wholeheartedly. I think it is this: Kucinich has really excellent ideas. He comes as close to expressing my political wishes as anyone on the national scene is ever likely to do. HOWEVER, I think he lacks the people skills necessary to serve effectively in office. I think he would be too inflexible to engage a broad cross-secion of the country in weaving together the practical patchworks we will need to create in order to solve our problems. Obama, on the other hand, seems to have those people skills, and will be able to pull us together--even though I am less enamored of his starting premises.

[leftrightwingnut]

13. Endorse McCain? Hell, it's the new dream team: McCain - Clinton!

They are using the same advisers and talking points. They may as well run together.

If Hillary wants to go atomic, that's the way to do it. Threatening to go independent won't do her any good. Threatening to align with McCain might just get her some consideration.

[kentj44]

8. well does this mean

they can stop mccain from running?

[NewJeffCT]

10. If a Democrat had been doing this, it'd be a nightly news headline

until said Democrat capitulated and apologized and offered themselves up for summary execution.

[nichomachus]

11. Questionable? Criminal!

[AZ Criminal JD]

12. The lawsuit won't work

Obama has a hold in the Senate on the four nominees for the vacant seats. If he released his hold the Senate could vote on the nominees and the Federal Election Commission would be at full strength. The judge is just going to say release the hold, vote on the nominees, and problem solved.

[ms liberty]

14. Got a link for that?

You say that Obama has a hold on the 4 nominees for the vacant seats. I'd like to see a link to that please.

[AZ Criminal JD]

17. Sure.

http://news.aol.com/political-machine/2008/02/25/obama-hold-source-of-mccains-money-woes/. There are dozens of links if you just google it. That is just one.