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...And How Transparent Are the Republicans Being With Their Small Donors?
October 21, 2008 11:32 AM
Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., has been taking heat for not disclosing his small donors and for some questionable donations made to his campaign.
But looking through the RNC's new search engine, I mentioned earlier today, it's pretty weak. The only fields are first name, last name, and amount.
That means, as a search engine, it's fairly useless unless people have unique names, because you can't verify an address or employer.
So, as a Democratic operative points out, when you search "Joe Smith" you have no idea of knowing whether it's Joe Smith the Republican state representative in Missouri, Joe Smith who's on death row in Florida, Joe Smith of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Joe Smith who's a relief pitcher for the Mets, or Joe Smith the actor who played "Connie Hawkins" in the 1996 TV movie "Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault."
As for the McCain campaign's transparency, it's indisputable that it's better than the Obama campaign's when it comes to small donors.
But as Marc Ambinder at The Atlantic points out (HERE and HERE) the McCain search engine of small donors indicates that that campaign has some transparency issues -- and anonymous contributors -- as well.
To wit:
NAME CITY STATE ZIP CODE AMOUNT DATE
Anonymous Annandale VA 22003 $1.00 7/28/2008
Anonymous Annandale VA 22003 $25.00 5/8/2008
Anonymous Scottsdale AZ 85257 $25.00 8/26/2008
Anonymous, Anonymous Anonymous XX 99999 $30.00 8/13/2008
Anonymous, Anonymous Anonymous XX 99999 $20.00 1/18/2007
Anonymous, Anonymous Anonymous XX 99999 $0.10 1/29/2007
Anonymous, Anonymous Anonymous XX 99999 $5.00 1/30/2007
Anonymous, Anonymous Anonymous XX 99999 $6.00 1/30/2007
Anonymous, Anonymous Anonymous XX 99999 $1.00 2/28/2007
Anonymous, Anonymous Anonymous XX 99999 $0.01 3/2/2007
Anonymous, Anonymous Anonymous XX 99999 $10.00 3/6/2007
Anonymous, Anonymous Anonymous XX 99999 $5.00 3/6/2007
Anonymous, Anonymous Anonymous XX 99999 $7.25 3/21/2007
Anonymous, Anonymous Anonymous XX 99999 $1.00 3/21/2007
Anonymous, Anonymous Anonymous XX 99999 $20.00 3/21/2007
Zip code 99999?
They also have some contributors from Zip code 00000.
And, as Obama spox Ben LaBolt points out, the McCain campaign's donor database also contains "fraudulent contributors with names like ‘Jesus II’ –- we hope and expect that they will implement a rigorous review process like we have, to make sure their contributions are appropriate."
As Ambinder writes: "The point isn't that McCain is violating election law ... it's that, with hundreds of thousands of donors, compliance is just really not that easy. That foes for McCain ... but especially for Obama and his millions of donors. Both campaigns have full-time compliance staffs ... but it's tough for ten people to pour through millions of donors. ..."
Now, that all said, I still haven't heard a good reason as to why the Obama campaign isn't even trying to disclose these names, if even in the weak way the RNC is attempting, or the imperfect way the McCain campaign is.
- jpt
October 21, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (49)
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Are these the only anonymous donations? Lets see a list of Obamas.
Posted by: Maria | Oct 21, 2008 12:40:33 PM
And what about voter fraud??
Sen McCain has been trying to link Sen. Obama to ACORN. Now we learn that Sen McCain has hired Lincoln Strategy for purposes of "registering voters." The managing partner of that firm is Nathan Sproul, a renowned GOP operative who has been investigated on multiple occasions for suppressing Democratic voter turnout, throwing away registration forms and even spearheading efforts to get Ralph Nader on ballots to hinder the Democratic ticket.
Sproul will have first hand access to Sen McCain. That means all of the dirty tricks we see coming from the McCain camp will be sanctioned by McCain.
How disgusting!!!
Posted by: VanLear | Oct 21, 2008 12:39:48 PM
"Obama and DNC admit all allegations in Berg v. Obama lawsuit."
Nutcase Berg again makes grand proclamations and right wingers fall for it.
2 weeks ago right wingers were in a twitter because Obama had supposedly been subpoenaed. Only that was an unsigned order by Berg himself.
The lesson for today? Right wingers are gullible.
Posted by: Ryan C | Oct 21, 2008 12:27:00 PM
Why isn't the press asking Obama to show the same transparency? Oh, gosh, for a minute there I had forgotten that the press is just an arm of the DNC. Sorry, I forgot. Seriously, Jake. Why not ask the Obama campaign to open their books?
Posted by: Fallon | Oct 21, 2008 12:22:18 PM
I'm not trying to be an apologist for Obama, but let me be an apologist for Obama. Come on, Mr. Tapper, you're better than that.
The sheer number of the questionable donations is much higher on the Obama side of the ledger. Also, now that we're in the general campaign season, McCain is obiding by the strictures of the campaign financing laws governing his funding by government funds. The Obama folks are still raking it in and spending it with abandon and daring us to suggest that any of it is obtained by less than honest methods.
Posted by: moderate | Oct 21, 2008 12:12:15 PM
Maybe it is just my opinion, but the public does not have the right to see my name address, or anything else about about me for donating.
If there is anything that looks illegal, then the Feds are free to subpoena the records.
There has been a lot about socialism lately on these blogs, I would like to add one more comment about that. Public Financing of the election is about as Socialist as one can get.
Posted by: Thinking | Oct 21, 2008 12:09:14 PM
I'm confused about how this is to be reported. I have donated to obamas campaign and if you Google my Name and City my, name, address and how much $ I donated comes up - to me that's almost an invasion of my privacy but what else would you want from me finger prints?
Posted by: mike | Oct 21, 2008 12:08:11 PM
the average contribution to obamas campaign was $86... and despite that low figure, he is getting record breaking results... all those darn working class and middle class people are supporting him, how dare they out support mccain and his rich donors
Posted by: earthisnotflat | Oct 21, 2008 12:04:51 PM
Pubs are trying so hard to find any reason why they are getting their butts kicked. So many consporacy theories now.
Sorry but every poll in the nation shows Obama kicking butt. Or did they "fraud" the Fox polls as well?
Palin has a 30% national approval rating. So we can just look to your candidates for the answer of why Pubs will lose.
Obama has 259 SOLID BLUE ELECTORAL VOTES, 27 more leaning blue, and 98 battleground.
And at 270 = PRESIDENT OBAMA!
Posted by: Only number that matters = 270 | Oct 21, 2008 12:03:12 PM
"Hope to god we do not have to rely on the teleprompter guy!!!!"
You should be hoping to God that we don't have to rely on the Jesus freak.
Posted by: JR | Oct 21, 2008 11:59:37 AM
Also: Joe Wurzelbacher
Posted by: neil | Oct 21, 2008 11:57:55 AM
Obama campaign is smart no to post donors like me. so my name is not posted on a humiliating laughable list like this which is representative of McCains incompetant campaign.
Posted by: watching | Oct 21, 2008 11:57:48 AM
The pen is mighter than the sword, isn't it?
----------------------
Perhaps, but your keyboard certainly isn't
Posted by: Shakespear | Oct 21, 2008 11:57:41 AM
"But McCain isn't pulling in the kind of money Obama is, so it really isn't as questionable."
Right wing hypocrisy on display.
--------------------------
Funny how rationalization makes it all ok, isn't it?
Posted by: GO Hypocrisy knows no bounds | Oct 21, 2008 11:56:32 AM
"They want to test the new President. That’s why they did it in the first year of Clinton’s and Bush’s presidency."
Even more reason to have Obama at the helm vs John "I have no idea what I am doing" McCain.
Posted by: Ryan C | Oct 21, 2008 11:54:58 AM
Check out the donations from 'No Name' in the RNC's database.
Posted by: neil | Oct 21, 2008 11:54:23 AM
HP,
84% of Hillary's supporters are now voting for Obama.
Guess the "solidarity of 18 million strong" wasn't so stromg after all.
Seems most folks realized there were real issues at stake more important than petty grudges.
Sorry about that. I know how much you enjoy hating Obama.
Posted by: Newest Poll | Oct 21, 2008 11:53:29 AM
YOU GUYS ARE QUICKLY TURNING INTO OLBERMANNN AT MSNBC.. ABC IS TOO SERIOUS A CHANNEL TO BE PART OF THIS CHARADE.. ITS ALL NEGATIVE ABOUT MCCAIN--ALWAYS.
IM BEGINNING TO WONDER IF HILLARY REALLY DID POORLY IN PLACES LIKE INDIANA..OR MAYBE VOTER FRAUD?
IT MAY NOT BE OBAMA HIMSELF BUT THERE IS SOMTHING GOING ON HERE
SOMEONE IS TRYING TO BUY THE US PRESIDENCY.
THEY ACCUSE MCCAIN OF BEING ERRATIC AND HILLARY WAS ALSO PORTRAYED AS A "CRAZY" WOMAN.
OBAMA IS ALWAYS "COOL".
IF MY COLLEAGUES ARE ALL GETIING LIKE $10 MILLION A MONTH AND I AM GETTING $50 AND THEN $150 MILLION, I WILL REMAIN COOL AND PRESIDENTIAL TOO. OBAMA HAS NOT VERITABLY BEEN TESTED IN ANY WAY. HE GOT A FREE RIDE..SOME CLAIM HE WOULD BE EXCEPTIONAL.
ID BE "EXCEPTIONAL" TOO IF YOU GAVE ME UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY EVERY MONTH.. AND NOTHING TO MY ADVERSARIES.
OBAMA IS A SMOKER AND MANY SMOKERS HIDE A RESTLESS NATURE BY SMOKING.
IF AS THIS ELECTION COMES TO A CLOSE, OBAMA WITH ALL HIS $600 + MILLION BEGINS TO FALTER, THE COOL ONE WOULD GIVE WAY TO THE REAL OBAMA..
THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT OBAMA THAT FOLLOWS HIM AROUND.ITS CROOKED, RADICAL, DISHONEST..
IT MAY NOT BE HIM BUT IT IS SOMEONE, SOME PEOPLE SURROUNDING HIM TRYING TO BUY THE US PRESIDENCY
HE NEVER KEPT ONE PROMISE HE MADE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. WORST FLIP FLOPPER EVER..THATS WHY HE HAD $604 MILLION AND STILL COUNTING. MCCAIN IS STUCK WITH HIS WORD THAT HE KEPT.
Posted by: TJ, THE CLINTONITE | Oct 21, 2008 11:52:08 AM
Al Quaeda attacked the US in 1993, the first year of President Clinton.
Al Quaeda attacked the US in 2001, the first year of Georg W. Bush.
And if their history repeats itself, Al Quaeda will probably try again next year, the first year of the new President.
So what else is new?
I noticed that trend in 2001, after 911. That’s Al Quaeda’s M.O.D.
They want to test the new President. That’s why they did it in the first year of Clinton’s and Bush’s presidency.
Hope to god we do not have to rely on the teleprompter guy!!!!
Posted by: HP Boston | Oct 21, 2008 11:52:05 AM
ROFLMAO.
I can't believe right wingers are still buying the Berg fantasy.
Posted by: Ryan C | Oct 21, 2008 11:51:35 AM
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