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Is Fred Thompson Skirting Election Law?
August 20, 2007 1:26 PM
A liberal activist today lodged a complaint (LINK HERE) with the Federal Election Commission against former Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn., contending that Thompson's "testing the waters" committee has long since surpassed that designation and that he, for all intents and purposes, is a candidate for president.
This is not without precedent. Previous pre-candidates who tried the "testing the waters" committee -- including Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., Rev. Pat Robertson, and Rev. Al Sharpton -- invited FEC scrutiny.
The rule is pretty simple. If you spend more than $5,000 on campaign activities, you're a candidate, whether or not you've officially declared. The question is what constitutes "testing the waters" activity, and what constitutes "candidate" activity.
In 2004 the conservative National and Legal Policy Center filed a complaint with the FEC (LINK HERE) alleging Sharpton was using the "testing the waters" committee to run an "off-the-books campaign," not declaring his candidacy officially while clearly a candidate, thus avoiding disclosure rules. The FEC investigated the matter, and arrived at a settlement with Sharpton.
The FEC ruled that Robertson had violated the "testing the waters" rules in 1988, fining him $25,000.
The campaigns of some of Thompson's potential GOP rivals have groused -- off the record -- that Thompson is similarly skirting the law.
Thompson was in Iowa over the weekend. Check him out HERE.
Thompson himself has been clear in interviews to NOT declare himself a candidate, telling CNN on August 17, "We are going to be getting in if we get in, and of course, we are in the testing the waters phase."
But how much is this once-staunch advocate of campaign finance reform truly "testing the waters"? In June Thompson signed a long-term lease on a Nashville location for his national campaign headquarters. He's been to Iowa and New Hampshire, and headlined GOP dinners.
Moreover, when Thompson filed his disclosure form with the IRS, he revealed that $72,000 of the $3.4 million raised is to be used for the general election. Former FEC General Counsel, Larry Noble told the Washington Post "I think it's problematic. Clearly it's a red flag." (LINK HERE)
The real issue here, for campaign finance reformer types?
Disclosure.
If Thompson waits until September 6 to formally declare his candidacy, he wouldn't have to disclose any of the cash given to his campaign until January 31 -- after many major contests are over, including the Iowa and Nevada Caucuses, and the New Hampshire, South Carolina, Michigan and Florida primaries.
Thompson's campaign says that he's complying with all rules and regulations, and Thompson has cast all questions about this in terms of him not doing things the way Washington, DC, insiders want them to be done.
What do you think?
-- jpt
August 20, 2007 in Weblogs | Permalink | Share | User Comments (27)
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Thompson has been testing the waters so long no wonder he's all prune-y.
Posted by: Richard | Aug 20, 2007 5:16:50 PM
Fred Thompson was on Hannity & Colmes several months back ans Sean Hannity point blank asked him if he had made a decision yet. Thompsons answer was that yes, he had made a decision, but wasnt going to tell anyone yet.
If he knew back then if he was running or not, what waters is he testing months later?
I am sure there is video on and transcripts available.
Posted by: FRaud Thompson | Aug 20, 2007 5:15:14 PM
You all should read the Sharpton link, and decide if that self-promoting, self-loving scoff-law's activities bear any resemblance to Sen. Thompson's. I cannot imagine that avoiding disclosure until Jan. 31st would be any advantage to him. If there are bombshells in his financial report, he would be better off to report them early and ride out the bad publicity. It seems like he is really testing the waters, and wants to be the late-arriving GOP savior. My problem with that is that voters see such a guy as conceited. He should run--run for the White House or run on home.
Posted by: SteveW | Aug 20, 2007 4:43:01 PM
Exactly how much farther does Mr. Thompson have to go to "test the waters?" The way he's been parading around Iowa the past couple of days leads me to believe he's not only "tested the waters," but found them more than acceptable and has jumped in, head first!
Posted by: chuck | Aug 20, 2007 3:45:51 PM
Reading this blog entry, I get the idea it's a foregone conclusion that he will actually run. Is it? I have my doubts, but maybe that's just wishful thinking on my part.
Posted by: cordelia525 | Aug 20, 2007 2:58:33 PM
We had a similar issue with the beginning of the mayoral contest here, as Michael Nutter waited and waited to declare, because he had to resign his Council seat as soon as he announced he was running, but if I remember, he had been already acting like a candidate.
Whether in sports, politics, or life, it seems that it is human nature to skirt around and bend the rules as much as you can get away with.
Posted by: phillygirl64 | Aug 20, 2007 1:40:51 PM
are the republicans debating tonight in reno or not? will it be on ABC?
Posted by: jp | Aug 20, 2007 1:36:45 PM
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