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.

[weegee]

Moveon.org is a PAC. Their antiBush campaign ads would be regulated by the FEC.

[weegee]

Moveon.org HAS no credibility. They were the brains behind the "Censure and move on" movement which never did push for censure, just moving on for Herr Clinton.

I would like to ask, what is done to keep international Greens from contributing to the American Green Party?

[rs79bm]

I also saw John Kerry running an ad on the "theonion.com" today too. How foolish is that. I mean, we all know that Kerry's campaign is a joke, but this just proves it!

[July 4th]

moveon.org is a PAC, but their "defeat Bush" fund is a separate 527 political fund. (Note the distinction in the disclaimers on their website). The FEC and IRS both get a say in what those groups do, and the 527 group gets a pass because it falls outside of many of the campaign finance laws.

[weegee]

Albert Gore Junior, 2000 Presidential wannabe: "Does this make me look like a cheap whore and a sell-out?"

[cake_crumb]

Calling John McCain : you have a LOT of 'splainin to do!

[NonValueAdded]

Sweet Mary and Joseph, I think BCRA stands for Perpetual Lawyer Employment Act. Anyway, from the Federal Register I found this. I suggest we ask Senator McCain what Feingold really meant and why we have foreign money flowing to moveon.org.

One of BCRA’s principal sponsors stated that BCRA ‘‘prohibits foreign nationals from making any contribution to a committee of a political party or any contribution in connection with federal, state or local elections * * * This clarifies that the ban on contributions [by] foreign nationals applies to soft money donations.’’ 148 Cong. Rec. S1994 (daily ed. March 18, 2002) (statement of Senator Feingold). See also United States v. Kanchanalak, 192 F.3d 1037 (D.C. Cir. 1999). This ban also applies to any in-kind contribution or donation by a foreign national such as a direct payment to a seller, builder, or other vendor for purchase or construction.

From: Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 145 / Monday, July 29, 2002 / Rules and Regulations p. 49101

I think we got it (and I have a headache).

[Peach]

Miss Marple -

I believe you have opined that you believe both Dean and perhaps MoveOn.com were soliciting foreign funds. It appears your instincts were spot on.

[Miss Marple]

Yes. I still want to know the source of the small credit card contributions to Dean. They could be bundles of foreign cash disguised by fake accounts laundered through a complicit bank.

[MeekOneGOP]

[from the redirected thread]:

Isn't foreign money still against the law?

I thought so too. Didn't seem to stop it before by the 'RATS though, did it? ...

[Howlin]

Frustrated with the lack of domestic support

*Snort*

if they can't win without the support of Americans, why bother?

I think you answered your own question.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[FairOpinion]

Direct link:

http://www.drudgereport.com/mattmo.htm

[FairOpinion]

It is HIGHLY ILLEGAL.

Federal Election Commission: Foreign Nationals

July 2003

"The Prohibition

The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) prohibits any foreign national from contributing, donating or spending funds in connection with any federal, state, or local election in the United States, either directly or indirectly. It is also unlawful to help foreign nationals violate that ban or to solicit, receive or accept contributions or donations from them. Persons who knowingly and willfully engage in these activities may be subject to fines and/or imprisonment."

[FairOpinion]

PS. to my post 94 -- at the same link, discussing prohibition of foreign nationals contributing to US elections.

"Who is a Foreign National?

The following groups and individuals are considered “foreign nationals” and are, therefore, subject to the prohibition:

Foreign governments;
Foreign political parties;
Foreign corporations;
Foreign associations;
Foreign partnerships;
Individuals with foreign citizenship; and
Immigrants who do not have a “green card.”

[Prodigal Son]

bump

[familyop]

Thanks!

[San Jacinto]

Clark even has a website-- "Canadians for Clark" where it is pointed out that Canadians can't contribute to the campaign but CAN contribute to MoveOn.org. Dean has international websites that link to MoveOn.org.

I am very troubled that foreigners are encouraged to help the dims get Bush out of office. No American President who gets elected through foreign $$ has any business serving a day in office.

[longtermmemmory]

probably not but even if it is not leagal, whoever regulates campaign laws is a toothless paper tiger. CFR is irrelevant.

This is doing what Jimmy Carter did in 1984 when he went to the USSR for help to defeat reagan.

The left is looking for a way to "internationalize" hatred of Bush. It gives the nine dwarfs deniability.

Does Moveone have to disclose their donors?

[longtermmemmory]

So it is true, we tell those who don't like america to leave. Clark must hate the voters so much he wants only foreign support.

(s) I wonder if he went to the UN for campaign workers.(/s)