RECENT POSTS
- Gitmo Detainees Intend to Plead Not Guilty in U.S. Court
- President Obama Calls 9th War Council Meeting for Tonight
- Health Care Hurdles
- The Presidential Planner
- White House Study Looks at Job Creation in Illinois if Gitmo Prisoners Transferred There
- President Obama: Asia Trip Helped Usher in a New Era of American Engagement
- Secretary Sebelius Celebrates the Tenth Anniversary of National Adoption Day
- Organizing for America Targets Sarah Palin
- Obama Administration Starts to Publicly Raise Issue of Detained US Citizen Xue Feng
- President Obama Gives Interview (of Sorts) to Dissident Cuban Blogger
MONTHLY ARCHIVES
« Previous | Main | Next »
Those Undisclosed Obama Donors
October 21, 2008 8:30 AM
In an attempt at political jujitsu (soon to enter the Hall of Verboten Clichés -- but not yet), the McCain campaign and the RNC have been attempting to put Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., on the defensive about his record-shattering fundraising, which includes an unprecedented $150 million September.
Obama, of course, opted out of public financing, despite an earlier pledge to do so, an issue of real contention for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who (rightly) feels it’s a broken promise Obama hasn’t gotten much heat for from either the media or government reform proponents.
More recently, Republicans have been pointing out that Obama does not disclose the names of donors who contribute less than $200 to his campaign. He is under no legal obligation to do so, but his failure to provide those names, it can certainly be argued, doesn’t live up to his pledges of transparency and openness.
Ergo, the Republican National Committee today introduced a searchable public database of un-itemized RNC donors -– those who contributed less than $200 to the RNC from the time McCain became the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.
You can access it HERE.
“Sen. Obama talks a lot about openness and transparency, but Republicans walk the walk. Here we have another example of Obama’s rhetoric in no way matching his record,” RNC Chairman Mike Duncan said in a statement. “When will Barack Obama stand up and follow through on his rhetoric? When will he stop talking about leadership and exhibit it?”
And yesterday, McCain campaign manager Rick Davis held a conference call on the subject.
Davis called Obama’s $150 million September “an extraordinary amount of money, and an unbelievable track record for somebody who, no question, will go down in political history, regardless of the outcome of this election, as the greatest fundraiser in presidential political history.”
That said, Davis went on –- per ABC News’ Arnab Datta -– "it brings up, though, an important, an important question for this campaign. From Day One, Barack Obama said he was going to bring in a new style of politics, he talked about being the most transparent campaign seen today, in fact, has challenged other people on their transparency throughout the course of the election, whether it was his primary opponents or others, and what is most amazing is that, regardless of repeated calls and questions in the media about his contributions and what he's done, he has refused to -- to this point, release any of his donors under $200 a person.
“Obviously, in order to raise $150 million, he has had to include, again, hundreds of thousands, if not close to a million, new donors into his campaign,” Davis said. “And what is also something that I think is important to note, is that it is the first campaign since the Watergate era that has taken primary fundraising efforts and driven it all the way through and into the general election.
"So, not only are the donors that he has received in September an important question mark as to why these aren't being disclosed, but all the donations that he got during the primary are useable in the general election. It's the first time that's ever happened, and it raises questions about, you know, what of these donors, too, were qualified, and why isn't the Obama campaign reporting them? Clearly, they have a significant Internet capacity, there's no question that technology allows this to happen.”
Davis said that he has “no doubt that, you know, the vast majority of those are probably legitimate. But they're being kept secret by the Obama campaign, for no good reason.”
I myself haven't heard a good reason as to why Obama is refusing to disclose the names of these donors, unlike the McCain campaign.
Have you heard one? Do you care?
- jpt
October 21, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (185)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
If Obama has nothing to hide then why is he so secretive about this issue
Also, $150 million in one month. If he can do that then why cant he raise $150 million for something that would benefit everyone, eduaction, feeding the hungry, children that are homeless.etc.....Why is all this money spent when our vote does not even count. Correct me if i am wrong....it is all based on electoral votes & the electoral reps can vote anyway they choose despite the popular vote....i don't bank on everything that CNN says is true but it was on the news when Gore lost......WHY VOTE IF IT DOES NOT COUNT FOR ANYTHING
Posted by: James Smith | Oct 28, 2008 1:16:50 PM
We do know some of the small donor names...Daffy Duck, Sadaam Hussein, Bart Simpson... People using pre-paid credit cards can use any name they please. Foreign donors- no problem. The contributions go through.
Jake, do you care if foreigners are allowed to make donations? People should care, but they don't.
Whether Obama wins or not (and appears he will) the FEC should investigate...this sets a dangerous precedent.
Posted by: pecanpii | Oct 25, 2008 10:51:37 AM
This is ridiculous. The idea of transparency is not about the 200 dollar donator. Wow McCain is really getting desperate!
Posted by: bobbie | Oct 22, 2008 4:14:04 AM
Zucchinia, great post!
I was/am a single mom, now married, who got $60 per month child support. I made it and did not expect the U.S. government to support me, or my illegitmate child. I was on welfare for 1 1/2 yrs going to college, then started working and became a taxpayer...one of the ten percent who pay all the taxes in this country.
Posted by: jaamn | Oct 21, 2008 6:45:12 PM
Thanks to his arab friends in over seas who are helping him to win this election.
Posted by: nancy sabet | Oct 21, 2008 2:28:11 PM
Obama follows the FEC rules on disclosure.
I wouldn't be surprised if some people have given money under the $200 ceiling because they DON'T want their name, street address and Google map directions supplied to the entire online world, including some of the people who hate, and I use the word carefully, Obama and his supporters. Especially the ones who call Obama and his supporters 'baby killers'.
What are you encouraging, Jake?
Posted by: Tom J | Oct 21, 2008 2:11:00 PM
There have been tens of thousands of illegal foreign donations to Obama's campaign, totaling tens of millions of dollars. And, those are just the foreign ones we know about. There are more we don't know about,and obviously illegal donations from the US as well.
Do I care? Of course I care. Who wouldn't care about Obama attempting to steal the election using illegal money. Obama belongs in prison, not in the White House.
Posted by: EyeDoc | Oct 21, 2008 1:32:50 PM
Our Best Hope For America On Election Day - McCain-Palin!
I believe that McCain-Palin with the rest of our ticket for reform best represents our best hope for America and are ready to serve our country. With your help and support, we can make this happen on November 4th. Stand with us now and join our team. We need your support!
I’m for lower taxes and smaller government, because lower taxes are better for families, property owners, and small businesses. With lower taxes, businesses have more money to invest, hire, and provide services. Less government bureaucracy improves the business climate, promotes economic growth, and reduces unemployment.
How are you "Joe the Plumber"?
Tell us in 30 seconds...
We want you to tell us how you are "Joe the Plumber" and why you're supporting John McCain and Sarah Palin in thirty seconds. You could even see your video as an official McCain TV ad.
Advocates for Self-Government Quiz
P. S. Just take a couple of minutes to view our ads and I'm certain that you will understand the importance and the urgency of our message. You can see them at JohnMcCain
Posted by: James Everitt | Oct 21, 2008 12:51:55 PM
A serious issue has been raised. Some of the random donors to Obama's campaign have been checked out and deemed suspicious. For instance a donation of $100 from jsufnvb sjsojhf, in Anywhere, MS and False names with addresses that do not exist in Boston.
Another questionable donor was from Hatem El-Hady, chairman of Kindhearts foundation in Ohio is on FBI watch list. This "charity" was shut down and all assets frozen by U.S. Treasury dept due to funneling $$ to terrorist group Hamas.
El-Hady had a dedication page on Obama's website. when this story broke about him, the story vanished in April 2008.
When a candidate has been endorsed by such terror groups as Hezbollah, Hamas and FARC, and there are no safe guards put into place, it is resonable to assume that many donations coming in with false names and addresses are cover for $$ sent in by these terorist supporters.
Posted by: S Adams | Oct 21, 2008 12:06:50 PM
I think we should take all rich people's money away from them and pay for slavery.
If we can land a person on Mars, I don't see why my babies and me aren't entitled to free health care.
I think we ought to tax Big Corporations and make them cut prices so that everything costs less.
My babies and me are entitled to an affordable house. If I cannot pay because of the criminal acts of George Bush, my babies and I are entitled to money to pay for that house.
My babies and me are entitled to free education and free day care starting NOW! I am entitled to a government salary with paid vacation and a pension for taking care of my babies everyday.
Food is too expensive. The government should make food cheaper NOW! And we need more food stamps NOW!
There are a lot of other changes that need to be made NOW! so that this great country and our brave fighting troops can be what they used to be before Bush and the Rethuglicans turned our country into a police state.
Vote NOW! Vote OFTEN! anything to get the filthy rich thugs out of power. NOW!
This is What's In Store, and this message has been approved - that's all you need to know.
Posted by: Zucchina | Oct 21, 2008 12:03:12 PM
Both parties are distracting each other!!!
At least fair and balance media recognized that.
The election is over...Obama won and now I can just stay home 24/7 and wait for my tax rebate and well, maybe I will work just part time, do nothing and depend on the redistribution wealth from those that are really working hard for me.
Oppss... I gotta go. My fictional characters such as Mickey Mouse, the dead goldfish, etc. are on. I better watch it to show my support.
What a great Socialist country I am in!!! Thank you.
Posted by: INDEPENDENT | Oct 21, 2008 12:02:50 PM
A lot of democrats are interested in pay back. Brooklyn is close to Wall Street where greed is king.
Posted by: today | Oct 21, 2008 11:56:22 AM
A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take away everything you have.
Posted by: Gerald Ford | Oct 21, 2008 11:55:49 AM
I started donating as soon as Palin was picked. $100 at a time, $250 last week, then I went all in yesterday for the max of $2,300. Palin is Obama's biggest fundraiser.
Posted by: KC | Oct 21, 2008 11:52:09 AM
Today, Bush's policies are still in the running which is being supported by McCain, not just in Brooklyn but the entire country (plus Alaska).
Enjoying all the money that we're pouring into Iraq? How's that Wall Street crisis treating you? Think those tax cuts to the richest Americans will alleviate this crisis? Well honey, that's apparently what you're supporting...a third Bush term. Unless you're voting against Obama for personal reasons, Mr "I'm a Democrat" (sarcasm off)
Posted by: BrooklynGirl | Oct 21, 2008 11:45:57 AM
Jake writes,"Obama, of course, opted out of public financing despite an earlier pledge to do so, an issue of real contention for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who (rightly) feels it’s a broken promise Obama hasn’t gotten much heat for from either the media or government reform proponents."
Get ready for more of the same, friends. Biden warned you yesterday.
Posted by: BrooklynSlob | Oct 21, 2008 11:42:01 AM
Thank you Ryan C. The denial from McCain's apologist is laughable especially considering their threats were caught on video.
Pathetic...and it's exactly why they're about to experience a crushing defeat!
Posted by: BrooklynGirl | Oct 21, 2008 11:39:00 AM
BrooklynGirl - no one is apologizing. Bush is not running this year - except I guess in Brooklyn. I think the republicans should have run Romney. It was that goofy Huckabee that messed up this election. You probably watch him on Fox. See you on the A line.
Posted by: today | Oct 21, 2008 11:38:43 AM
"I didn't hear Republicans complaining when George W. Bush was breaking fund raising records in 2000. If there were an Oscar for Best Faux Outrage, the McCain campaign would win it hands down."
Of course not, Republicans are craven hypocrites.
Posted by: Ryan C | Oct 21, 2008 11:37:53 AM
"by the way the supposed shout of "kill him" did not happen."
There were two instances of that happening.
One is heard on video.
The other was reported by a reporter.
The one reported by the reporter is unconfirmed.
Posted by: Ryan C | Oct 21, 2008 11:36:24 AM
Post a comment
