Posted on 08/24/2007 11:20:14 AM PDT by Josh Painter
Lane Hudson, an Internet gadfly, filed a complaint with the FEC on Monday, accusing Sen. Thompson of illegally raising more money than he needs to decide whether to run for president.
Federal law allows potential candidates to raise money to travel, conduct polls and pay for other expenses related to "testing the waters" for a political campaign, without any requirement that the prospective candidate file financial reports with the Federal Elections Commission during that exploratory period.
But the law prohibits anyone who is "testing the waters" from hoarding the money thus raised for use during his actual campaign. "We're following the law," Thompson spokesman Jim Mills said in response to the complaint...
The most sensible goal of the campaign finance laws is to allow voters to figure out who's financing these candidates. Huge contributions from teacher unions or mining companies are far better indicators of where a candidate will come down on issues related to those parties than any carefully massaged campaign sound bites.
But to do that, the law has to choose a "start date." And the official announcement of candidacy seems an obvious date to choose...
If Sen. Thompson is as politically savvy as he appears, he will reveal the sources of all the money he has raised to date, whether he is technically required to do so or not.
Under federal guidelines, the FEC will now give Sen. Thompson 15 days to respond to the complaint. At that point, it's highly likely he will be an announced candidate, and this complaint will be dismissed under the "get a life" rule.
As it should be.
(Excerpt) Read more at lvrj.com ...
I doubt he minds revealing his funding sources, at least eventually. I think this whole thing is very hilarious.
This Lane Hudson is all worried about maybe someone doing something wrong. And doesn’t care at all about definite for sure over many years Clinton corruption. Why doesn’t he sue the dragon lady, if he actually had a conscience?
Apologies for political incorrectness, but I think Lane Hudson should spend less time worrying about Fred Thompson’s campaign and more time worrying about Lane Hudson’s T-cell count.
they are reaching ...and trying so dang hard to nail him for something because he is a threat. he has everything they wished their candidates did, and he has done this his way. He doesnt care what they say about him and isnt afraid to go toe to toe with them. (remembering his video answer to michael moore). you got to love it that Lanee
is spending so much time and energy on Fred.
Fixed that little issue...
He hired someone who worked for the FEC for his staff, so I’m sure that is to be sure he is obeying the law. Which is probably why they are confident that they are obeying the law. Fred is a lawyer, and I’m sure he knows what questions to ask.
you’d think so but I’ve also seen lawyers do some stupid and illegal things, I know one who is being sued right now for $50,000 because she sold her house and allowed her realtor to make all kind of claims about the place that weren’t true, like it having a new roof when is was 10 years old. My first reaction was “shouldn’t a lawyer have known better?”
What does your hypothetical lawyer and his house have to do with Fred Thompson and his political organization?
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Not only Lane Hudson, but a few FReepers of the Romney/Paul persuasions could get a life over this. They were adamant a couple days ago that FDT was in doo doo. I spelled it out through links to the actual regs, but no one wanted the facts.
Lefties don’t have consciences.
If Fred enters the race in September, he will be entering it earlier than Reagan, Bush 41 or Clinton did. But it's getting people so FREAKED!
All these other candidates are leading their little sheep around by their noses, as are the MSM. Wow, he's ONLY announcing over a YEAR before election day!
It's so funny watching people piss and moan about such a nothing issue. His record is out there. He's obviously going to be a candidate. You'd think if there was nothing in his record to scare people (including the candidates of both parties) they'd be laughing at him--instead they're all in a panic, because they see that he is right on the issues, isn't some oogah-boogah eeeevil right winger, and he can use the media far better than any of those goofballs running right now.
The Dem and Republicans candidates and their followers all have one thing in common: They've seen what Thompson brings to the table, and instead of dismissing this supposed "also-ran," they're trying to undermine him with this non-issue. The only explanation I can find for these disparate groups being united against Thompson is because they're scared of him.
“Lefties dont have consciences.”
I agree, for the most part.
If it is okay, I’m going to go through some of your posts and check out these links. I would love to see what the actual regs are. I missed that.
You’d think people would be up in arms at Hillary’s trashing of campaign finance law, but even with a lot of freepers it is ho hum, nothing to see here. They’re always corrupt so what’s the big deal. We ought to be able to make a stink about her. I for one don’t get that.
When do Democrats ever do what is right when there is corruption in their own ranks? Never.
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