Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference
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Posted on 07/06/2007 6:27:08 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Come next weekend, presidential candidates will be opening up their second quarter finances and placing their spending and their donors up for a new round of scrutiny. Fred Thompson will not.
Thompson, the "Law & Order" television actor and former Republican Tennessee senator, has been retaining staff, opening a headquarters, holding fundraisers and touting his credentials as a potential White House contender. But he has not said definitively that he's a candidate for president.
Instead, Thompson is officially "testing the waters" of a campaign. It's a status that allows him to explore a candidacy without having to file financial disclosures with the Federal Election Commission unless — and until — he decides to run.
Thompson held a fundraiser last week in Nashville at the home of Mike Curb, an independent record producer and former lieutenant governor of California. Atlanta developer Thomas Bell was holding another event Friday at his home.
Donors could pay $1,000 to attend or $2,300, the maximum contribution allowed, to participate in a private reception.
Bell, who has known Thompson for more than 30 years, said he was expecting to raise up to $400,000 Friday evening.
"This has been the most unbelievable fundraising effort," Bell said in an interview. "It's the easiest money I've ever raised."
He said donors, many of whom have already given the maximum to other GOP presidential candidates, believe a Thompson candidacy is "our only shot at getting a Republican elected this time."
Thompson associates had initially said his "testing the waters" committee hoped to raise $5 million before he announces his decision later this month. A spokesman for Thompson, Mark Corallo, would not discuss his finances on Friday.
"We're not putting out numbers or goals," Corallo said in an e-mail response. "Our goal, if Fred Thompson gets into the race is to raise enough money to win."
Under federal election laws, potential candidates are allowed to raise and spend money to determine whether to get into a political contest. They're only required to disclose those finances if they become candidates.
As a result, if Thompson chooses to run — and indications are that he will — he won't have to file a disclosure report until Oct. 15, after the end of the third quarter finance period. At that point, Thompson would have to report all the money he has raised, including anything he obtained during this exploratory period.
"As long as you are coy enough not to say 'I'm running,' you can stay out of the system," said Meredith McGehee, policy director of the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center. "The advantage is that you are not subject to the same disclosures. You can be a private citizen. You can get gifts, you can get speaking fees."
The law prevents potential candidates who are in the "testing the waters" phase to raise money that can be spent after they become a candidate. But the rule is vague, stating only that the money not be "in excess of what could reasonably be expected to be used for exploratory activities."
Corallo said the money Thompson is raising is "for the testing the waters committee."
Sheila Krumholz, executive director of the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, said there is a sound reason to permit potential candidates to delay filing while they weigh their chances.
"Candidates need to be able to gauge whether they have a viable chance of success," she said. "Should they test the waters and find them chilly, the FEC is not going to make them go through all the paperwork."
Leni
And a bump for my tagline, too. ;-D
Gaming the system?
How so?
I guess THE CONSERVATIVE SLIMEBALL FRED THOMPSON IS SKIRTING THE LAW—AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED was a bit too long for them. THOMPSON OBEYING ALL FUNDRAISING LAWS was definitly out.
People are giving the amount they are allowed to by the rules.
Fred just doesn't have to tell the gubmint what the total is.
"This has been the most unbelievable fundraising effort," Bell said in an interview. "It's the easiest money I've ever raised."
Mike Curb?
This may be the same guy who did the “Burning Bridges” song from Kelly’s Heroes.
Awesome tune and awesome movie.
It is the same gentleman who did “Burning Bridges” for Kelly’s Heroes, IIRC. He owns or owned a music publishing company or somesuch.
He’s following Federal election law, Mr. or Ms. Hunterite.
Sweet. Stand by for a treat.
Hey, I was sticking up for Fred here by wanting that other poster to ‘splain, geesh!
Yes, Hunter is my first choice. Thompson is my #2 pick. A ticket with both of them would be ideal.
Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference
WARNING: If you want to be added to this list, this ping list is EXTREMELY active.
This refusal of his to get all the way into the fray seems not quite sporting, frankly. The longer he holds out, the more my initial impression of him goes down. I keep suspecting that ol’ Fred thinks he can’t hold his own in a debate, and thus keeps avoiding them as long as possible.
Mike Curb was a strong supporter of Ronald Reagan. He ran for Lt. Governor of California in 1978 at Reagan’s urging.
Curb actively fought/resisted then-Governor Jerry Brown. Brown spent a large part of his time outside California. Under state law, Curb was then Acting Governor with all the powers of Governor.
Check out:
www.MikeCurb.com
Fascinating career in many areas. Fred Thompson is lucky to have such friends.
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