Senate Dems Block Democracy, Failure to Approve FEC Appointments Could Seriously Hurt McCain
By Tim Cameron Posted in FEC — Comments (34) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
There is a very disturbing article in the Washington Post today, and I’m not talking about the Iseman story. This story is about how the FEC will not let Sen. John McCain withdraw from the presidential financing system. Federal Election Commission Chairman David M. Mason issued a letter to the McCain campaign yesterday notifying them that the commission had not granted his February 6th request to withdraw from the system. The Washington Post cites these two reasons in their article:
Read on . . .
Mason's letter raises two issues as the basis for his position. One is that the six-member commission lacks a quorum, with four vacancies because of a Senate deadlock over President Bush's nominees for the seats. Mason said the FEC would need to vote on McCain's request to leave the system, which is not possible without a quorum. Until that can happen, the candidate will have to remain within the system, he said.
The second issue is more complicated. It involves a $1 million loan McCain obtained from a Bethesda bank in January. The bank was worried about his ability to repay the loan if he exited the federal financing program and started to lose in the primary race. McCain promised the bank that, if that happened, he would reapply for matching money and offer those as collateral for the loan. While McCain's aides have argued that the campaign was careful to make sure that they technically complied with the rules, Mason indicated that the question needs further FEC review.
The public financing system prevents McCain from spending more than $54 million before he formally accepts the GOP Nomination in September. The problem is he has already spent over $49 million. With only $5 million left to spend, this will drastically affect his ability to travel, hold fundraisers, employee staff, organize swing states, and start using paid advertising (direct mail, television, radio, the web) for the General Election. Penalties for breaking the spending cap are server. According the Washington Post, “knowingly violating the spending limit is a criminal offense that could put McCain at risk of stiff fines and up to five years in prison.”
Sen. Obama is currently raising an absurd amount of cash right now. Last month, he raised over $32 million. Patrick Ruffini, in an article today, estimated that Obama could raise over $60 million. If McCain cannot opt out of the public financing system, we are looking at facing an extremely up hill battle for the White House this November.
I’m certain the Democrats in the Senate are very aware of this scenario, and I would not be surprised if they are intentionally blocking the four necessary FEC appointments needed for quorum in order to secure the White House. Getting these appointments through is the only way McCain will be able to get out of the system.
We must do everything in our power to prevent this from happening.
First, we need to bring this to the public’s attention. There is a chance the MSM will ignore this until it’s already too late. We need to call out the Democrats for severely hindering the electoral process. This election is too important to be decided in the Senate, and once the public finds out they will be outraged.
Second, we need every Republican member of the Senate to unite together in order to push through our President’s appointments to the Federal Election Commission.
Finally, we need to donate money to the McCain campaign. He may need to pay off his entire $1 million loan before opting out of the system. We need to help him do this.
Anyone who knows me will tell you that I’m certainly not a huge McCain fan, but I realize that there is far too much at stake to let Obama and Clinton win this election.
1) You need obviously target 527s to do work so they can raise the money
2) If there is any coordination between the campaign and a 527 then that is against the law.
McCain does have an uphill battle and if you think that "getting the message out" will help anything you are dead wrong. The reasons why is that this story is floating around the news now, but it is complicated story and people don't pay attention to complicated issues. The next is that the Democrats will not care what public outcry there is because there is no chance of them losing the Senate. In fact even if people were upset they would still most likely win 3 Seats.
McCain is in trouble and the Convention is a long ways off.
-----------------------------------------------
Notice to All - I am an independent who has voted for Senator Bayh (Democrat) and Senator Lugar (Republican) along with over 60% of my state. You may take what I say with a grain of salt at your own party'
This situation sucks for McCain and it needs to be addressed. Harry Ried needs to be called on the carpet for playing politics with people's right/need to be informed but good luck getting the so called "objective press" to pay attention to it.
As for, "people don't pay attention to complicated issues."
"As a man soweth so shall he reap."
It's not so complicated that people won't see the irony and be amused at the fact that Mr. Campaign Finance is being hoisted on his own Petard.
Vote for your preferred candidate even if they've dropped out. Don't follow the herd in the stampede!
Of the four appointees who haven't been confirmed, some D's are objecting to Hans von Spakovsky because of what they see as "voter-suppression" efforts while he was at the Justice Dept. The four were referred out of committee last Sept. The objecting D's want to have separate votes on each appointee (the other three are non-controversial). But Senate R's are refusing, and thanks to the painless filibuster, it goes nowhere. Some background (warning, the last is liberal-biased):
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/26/AR200709...
http://www.democracy21.org/index.asp?Type=B_PR&SEC={AC81D4FF-0476-4E28-B9B1-7619D271A334}&DE={50B95A46-B486-4338-B2EF-F2C96E99ACF6}
http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/13993.html
Also, it's not a question of repaying the $1 million dollar loan. The rules say that if he used matching funds as collateral, he can't back out of the system. The loan included a clause to the effect of, "if he loses the next primary, then he will re-apply for funds and use them to collateralize the loan". It becomes a technical point whether a binding agreement to use the funds as collateral is, de facto, using them as collateral.
peace,
lilnev
Who is taking the lead in blocking FEC nominee Hans Von Spakovsky?
Hint: his middle name starts with H.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
I'm feeling so warm inside, when Agent of Change is in fact leading the block on FEC nominee...
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/democrats-threaten-to-block-fec-nomi...
I thought he was for unifying the country, liberating it from the pitfalls of partisanship! But no, here we have a fine example of how Obama is in fact nothing but a typical partisan!
I guess Obama isn't really the Agent of Change we all thought of...
------------
Daniel 2:20 And he [God] changeth the times and seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
I mean, that's just so lame!
McCain ought play this for all worth it is, it might help him or not. I'm not much of a political strategist, so...
------------
Daniel 2:20 And he [God] changeth the times and seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding.
It appears Mr Obama wants change. Change in our democratic system. Change in our freedoms. Change... well, name your basic right he wants to take away from you.
Does this really surprise you with his history of election hi jinx?
Democratic partisanship! I knew it! Obama is one smart guy! Now, he said he wants our country to embrace bipartisanship, and I'm just wondering if bi is actually defined as Democratic White House and Democratic Congress? ;)
------------
Daniel 2:20 And he [God] changeth the times and seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding.
in Redhot a while back that McCain could still make a legal challenge on the grounds that he has not received funds.
Fighting for conservatism one day at a time.
I am sure that is the press he wants to get for a month straight. Not to mention even with a legal challange it will most likely take forever to get through the courts.
-----------------------------------------------
Notice to All - I am an independent who has voted for Senator Bayh (Democrat) and Senator Lugar (Republican) along with over 60% of my state. You may take what I say with a grain of salt at your own party'
If the FEC doesn't have a quorum to vote on McCain exiting the system, then wouldn't that also mean that the FEC wouldn't have a quorum to enforce its rules?
If that's true, then effectively there are no campaign finance rules this election.
---
Finrod's First Law of Bandwidth:
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but it takes the bandwidth of ten thousand.
both sides have a case here.
Dems would say: just give us an up-or-down vote on all FEC candidates. We have no problem with three of them, and you'd have your quorum. So Dems have a colorable defense against the charge of blocking quorum.
Republicans have bundled the four together in hopes of getting a candidate through who is clearly unacceptable to the Dems. This is clearly a good strategy on their part.
And it seems that this controvery predates any issue with McCain, although I could be wrong -- Mr. von Spakovsky was nominated over a year ago. It seems only fortuitous for Obama that this has become a problem for McCain.
Now, of course, the stakes are much higher than Mr. von Spakovsky, which guarantees gridlock.
"In my youth, it was said that what was too silly to be said may be sung. In modern economics it may be put into mathematics." -- Ronald Coase
...just because they're more worried that they might lose this election than they're letting on.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
Agreed. Just saying both sides have a claim on the "democracy" rhetoric.
Given the history of the FEC candidate situation, I just don't think we can pin the Democrats as having thought from the beginning "hey, let's use this to get McCain". Of course, that's what they're thinking now.
"In my youth, it was said that what was too silly to be said may be sung. In modern economics it may be put into mathematics." -- Ronald Coase
But luck favors the prepared, or whatever the line is: and it was widely assumed last year that public financing would be more of a problem for the GOP. So: shenanigans.
All that being said, it looks rather awkward for Obama to keep playing this particular game. Particularly since there are two fully juiced-in Senators with a vested interest in making his life miserable right now.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
le hasard ne favorise que les esprits préparés.
Pasteur.
Obama, McCain and Clinton should clearly recuse themselves from anything to do with this. If anyone bothers to figure out what's going on, this looks really bad for Obama to be involved in.
"In my youth, it was said that what was too silly to be said may be sung. In modern economics it may be put into mathematics." -- Ronald Coase
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
"In my youth, it was said that what was too silly to be said may be sung. In modern economics it may be put into mathematics." -- Ronald Coase
...qui ne savent pas quelle hasard est.
Because luck has an envy of skill. I'm just beginning to learn French, so I have no idea how to say that (it's a miracle I got as close to correct as I think I did above), even though I bet it'd sound more dignified in French...
It certainly looks like they're worried but I think it boils down to the leftist proclivities of controlling everything.
Vote for your preferred candidate even if they've dropped out. Don't follow the herd in the stampede!
Can Bush appoint officials on an emergency basis much in the way that he did JB to the UN?
Also, an e-mail and letter-writing campaign to local and national newspapers are in order. There should also be some sort of outlandish visual protest on the national mall or something to draw attention. College Republicans are willing and able to do this sort of thing.
Plus, give give give. I gave $150 more today.
McCain has an opportunity to single out Obama here as someone who skips votes that have nothing to do with his ambition, yet takes action when it benefits him. This is not a departure from politics as usual.
This has to become loud enough to counter the anti-McCain stories lined up for this week.
"The most dangerous form in which oppression can overshadow a community is that of popular sway" -James Fenimore Cooper
Can Bush appoint officials on an emergency basis much in the way that he did JB to the UN?
Also, an e-mail and letter-writing campaign to local and national newspapers is in order. There should also be some sort of outlandish visual protest on the national mall or something to draw attention. College Republicans are willing and able to do this sort of thing.
Plus, give give give. I gave $150 more today.
McCain has an opportunity to single out Obama here as someone who skips votes that have nothing to do with his ambition, yet takes action when it benefits him. This is not a departure from politics as usual.
This has to become loud enough to counter the anti-McCain stories lined up for this week.
"The most dangerous form in which oppression can overshadow a community is that of popular sway" -James Fenimore Cooper
Throughout the congressional recesses, the Dems had someone come in every few days to open the senate or house or both, so that the rules for congresses not being in session did not apply. Thus Bush could not make any emergency appointments.
I do not know if it was in general or related to this.
The issue goes back a long time. Raising a ruckus only hurts the GOP. The objection is to one person. Rep’s refused to let the other 3 through months ago. If they allowed this there would be a quorum and this would not be an issue.
The Dems appear to have valid reasons for objecting to Spakovsky (irrelevant if I agree or disagree with their logic). However the Rep’s are creating the road block. The Dems have tried to reach out and compromise.
Another issue for McCain in addition to the loan is that he used this to get automatic placement on some ballots without having to get signatures in several states.
My opinion is that if he wants out, he should be allowed out. However I do not really know the rules that he himself helped create.
"The most dangerous form in which oppression can overshadow a community is that of popular sway" -James Fenimore Cooper
I think he should violate the spending limit,and have the president pardon him.
After all, it's not like W has anything to lose at this point.
---
Finrod's First Law of Bandwidth:
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but it takes the bandwidth of ten thousand.
When the dems whine about McCain going over the spending limit if he decides to, he should say we dont have an FEC this year because of their obstruction,then W could pardon him.
John Maverick is reaping what he hath sown. However, he can demonstrate his Maverickhood by just going ahead as he desires and straightening it out later. After all, isn't that why everybody loves him?
The "Third Worst Person in the World" and aiming higher.
He's always gotten away with it before because he could count on the MSM to back him up....It won't happen any more. If he breaks the rules regardless of the reason he'll be publicly flogged by the so called objective media without mercy!
Vote for your preferred candidate even if they've dropped out. Don't follow the herd in the stampede!
I think it is time for 527's to do their work to help our candidate