Will Clinton Money Bosses Break Campaign Finance Laws?

[babylonsister]

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/12817

Will Clinton Money Bosses Break Campaign Finance Laws?
by Brent Budowsky | February 13, 2008



Word is spreading behind the scenes that some of the largest Clinton campaign donors, with long relationships with Hillary and Bill and inter-locking relationships with the Clinton campaign, are considering massive “independent” spending campaigns.

Bad plan. As word becomes public, there will be a huge backlash and extremely grave potential legal implications.

If these folks are truly independent as defined by federal law, I will be selected by the College of Cardinals as the next Pope. Both are equally plausible.

The last thing the Clintons should be doing is anything that smacks of skirting the law, breaking the rules or manipulating the process.

snip//

It is a tale of two cities: the revolutionary and gigantic surge of small donors that Barack brings to the system and the party, versus those tempted to try to buy another election by breaking another rule and violating another trust, which will inflame a majority of Democrats and help elect a Republican president.

This is the year when the people are right, the politicians are wrong, the rules should be honored and the bosses are yesterday’s news using yesterday’s schemes.

[LakeSamish706]

1. I guess the almost question is at this point, what do they have loose?

If they are out of money, they need to get some anywhere that they can.

[Demeter]

2. I'ts A Little Late For That--Ask Michigan and Florida!

might as well hang for a sheep as a lamb

[babylonsister]

3. It's not too late to recognize this is a potential for violating even more

campaign finance laws. I didn't know this was frowned upon; love all the stuff I learn here.



"Big Clinton Fund-Raisers May Run Their Own Ads"

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB1202866397989639...


WASHINGTON -- As Sen. Hillary Clinton faces a money crunch, several of her top fund-raisers are considering using independent organizations to wage their own campaigns on her behalf.

At least two sets of Clinton fund-raisers are speaking with lawyers to figure out how to create independent entities to support Mrs. Clinton in Ohio, Texas and other primary contests. Susie Tompkins Buell, the founder of the Esprit clothing company, says she is deciding whether to start her own entity to fund commercials for Mrs. Clinton, or whether to donate to existing groups, such as abortion-rights group Emily's List, that are already spending money on Mrs. Clinton.
...
Even then, the Federal Election Commission may decide that any entity started by a Clinton fund-raiser would violate rules that prevent coordination between a candidate's formal campaign and outside entities that spend money on his or her behalf.

"It's a risky, highly regulated, uncertain area of campaign-finance law," says Jan Baran, a campaign-finance lawyer with Wiley Rein LLP.

more...

[billyoc]

4. It will be humorous watching them try to get away with this,

because, you know, *nobody* will be watching for that sort of thing... :eyes:

[Windy]

5. Be very careful running those 527 ads Hillary. Obama already has MoveOn in his corner

I'm sure Moveon could come up with a VERY effective Positive ad to counteract any slime you may put out....

[babylonsister]

6. "Big Clinton Fund-Raisers May Run Their Own Ads"

"Big Clinton Fund-Raisers May Run Their Own Ads"

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB1202866397989639...


WASHINGTON -- As Sen. Hillary Clinton faces a money crunch, several of her top fund-raisers are considering using independent organizations to wage their own campaigns on her behalf.

At least two sets of Clinton fund-raisers are speaking with lawyers to figure out how to create independent entities to support Mrs. Clinton in Ohio, Texas and other primary contests. Susie Tompkins Buell, the founder of the Esprit clothing company, says she is deciding whether to start her own entity to fund commercials for Mrs. Clinton, or whether to donate to existing groups, such as abortion-rights group Emily's List, that are already spending money on Mrs. Clinton.
...
Even then, the Federal Election Commission may decide that any entity started by a Clinton fund-raiser would violate rules that prevent coordination between a candidate's formal campaign and outside entities that spend money on his or her behalf.

"It's a risky, highly regulated, uncertain area of campaign-finance law," says Jan Baran, a campaign-finance lawyer with Wiley Rein LLP.

more...

[madrchsod]

7. he`s gaining support where ever he goes.

his speeches make people feel good about themselves and the future. no amount of money can buy hillary what obama is offering.