CAMPAIGN CASH RACE TURNS INTERNATIONAL

DrudeReport.com ^ | 12-15-2003 | Drudge

[jtminton]

CAMPAIGN CASH RACE TURNS INTERNATIONAL; MOVEON.ORG CENTER OF INTRIGUE; CLARK SEEKS CANADIAN SUPPORT, WEBSITE SHOWS

Frustrated with the lack of domestic support, left-leaning website moveon.org has apparently been reaching beyond American borders to generate cash revenue over the Internet!

The provocative international fundraising strategy threatens to embroil the presidential candidacy of General Wesley Clark and former Vermont Governor Howard Dean. Both men are named on international fundraising websites suggesting donations to moveon.org...

Moveon.org, which has been running ads critical of the Bush Administration, has named an "International Campaigns Director."

It is not clear how much money has been raised from foreign sources, but political websites from London to Portugal have been directing their citizens to stop the American president George Bush by donating to moveon.org.

[jtminton]

Is this legal?

[Qwinn]

I believe that it is in fact HIGHLY illegal, and restated as such in the CFR act. I'm concerned that Drudge wouldn't address that - he drops the ball way too often.

I'd love it if someone could provide documentary proof though. I have quite a few places I'd love to post this little nugget of info.

Qwinn

[RebelBanker]

Is this story real?

[GrandmaPatriot]

What was it Algore said about no controlling legal authority? Who will be the controlling legal authority in this mess?

[yonif]

Kucinich?

[CWW]

Federal Campaign law prohibits campaigns from accepting foreign donations.

[July 4th]

It may be perfectly legal under the 527 rules. I'm not precisely sure. The 527 is not technically a corporation, which is how it skirts the soft money and advertising bans in the first place.

If they're taking foreign donations, it's disgraceful. This is the race for an American president - if they can't win without the support of Americans, why bother?

[July 4th]

That's to a candidate. This is a separate voter fund.

[clintonh8r]

No surprise. Clark and Ditzy Dean are anti-American.

[CyberCowboy777]

Is it illegal when the funds have been laundered via MoveOn.org?

[CyberCowboy777]

Ping

[CasearianDaoist]

Are you sure about that? I wonder if that applies to 527 organizations? This is one of the reasons the Dems wanted this - to get around the disclosure laws. We need to find this out. Make you wonder about Hillie's new organization. Certainly quite a bit of NGO money is international.

What is really amazing here is that the left see nothing at all wrong with this.

[IceAge]

Wonder if all this money couldn't be confiscated if it were proved that drug money was donated to the fund? They confiscate cars, houses etc.

[Shermy]

Maybe two months ago someone posted here an article from Sweden (?), where they urged donations to MoveOn to influence the American election.

[tractorman]

International campandering by the Limocrats but we shouldn’t dare question their patriotism. Go figure.

[jtminton]

I went to moveon.org, but couldn't find anything about international donations. Then again, I couldn't stomach staying there too long.

[jimbo123]

Eli Pariser
international campaigns director
Moveon.org
eli@moveon.org

[jimbo123]

http://canadafordean.org/

[Uncle Hal]

I always thought it was illegal for foreigners to contribute to candidates running for office in the USA. I suppose there is a way around this if the contribution is to some entity not directly connected the the candidate. It will be interesting to see how much play this gets in the main stream media. I would guess not much.

[Qwinn]

You're right, MoveOn may constitute a "laundry service" under the new laws. Abominable if so, and Bush should make a HUGE campaign issue out of it. It'll drive the Left insane that their patriotism is being questioned, but so what? It SHOULD be.

Qwinn