Obama backers file formal complaint to FEC to shut down 527

[babylonsister]

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/02/obama_backers_complain_to_fec.html

Obama backers complain to FEC over Clinton allies

By Jim Tankersley

A group of Barack Obama supporters in Ohio have filed a formal complaint to the Federal Elections Commission, asking the nation's top campaign finance regulators to investigate and potentially shut down - and prosecute - an outside group that has pledged to run advertisements boosting Hillary Clinton in Ohio and Texas.

As Mark Naymik reported in the Plain Dealer of Cleveland, Ohio, earlier today, a Cleveland lawyer and Obama backer (who was a failed candidate for Ohio attorney general in 2006) named Subodh Chandra filed the complaint on behalf of three low-income Ohioan Obama supporters. The complaint alleges the pro-Clinton American Leadership Project, which is organized as a so-called "527" group that is set up to advocate on political issues, violates campaign finance laws because the only issue it appears to advocate is ... Hillary Clinton's election.

"The project's exclusive purpose (is) to support Senator Clinton's campaign through the funding and airing of sham issue ads," the complaint alleges -- and to allow "maxed-out" financial supporters to circumvent federal election rules and continue to help Clinton.

The complaint says the Leadership Project should have registered as a political committee and been subject to federal fundraising limits. It requests "an expedited civil investigation, fines, immediate injunctive relief to prevent irreparable tainting of the primaries and, if appropriate, a referral for criminal investigation."

The Obama campaign complained about the Leadership Project earlier this week but said it would leave any FEC complaints up to others.

[Unbowed]

1. Oh my Gawd.

WTF? I can't believe this shit. First that unhinged rant by HRC and now this! I'm disgusted. Why can't the Clinton camp just play by the rules? I mean, is a civil campaign without dirty Republican tricks too much to ask from one of our top Democrats and our former Democratic President?

My head is SPINNING.

[kristopher]

2. Relax

I think they are just lining up things for the GE. Set up a strawman and get a ruling, then when the Repukes try to organize their swiftboating organizations, they are faced with a solid recent decision that specifically deals with what they are doing.
Consider it preventive care.

[Unbowed]

3. I hope you're right. n/t