Posted on 07/08/2008 8:01:42 AM PDT by weegee
Is Barack Obama's website conducting an outlawed-in-Minnesota raffle? The Minnesota Gambling Control Board thinks giving new donors a chance to meet Obama backstage in Denver is worth investigating. The Strib's Randy Furst says only nonprofits, not campaigns, can conduct raffles in Minnesota. The raffle standard: it costs money to participate, it's based on luck of the draw, and something of value is at stake. Obama's campaign sounds like it will argue the winners won't be random.
Didn’t her heiney offer super delegates a date with Chelsea?
Seems that is what got David Shuster in trouble when he said the Klinton’s were pimping Chelsea.
I wondered about this in thread posted yesterday
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2041980/posts
Obama to accept nomination ‘for entire American people’ (barf-up a lung Alert)
Obamanation Headquarters | 7/7/08 | Plouff
(obama email to supporters)
If you make a donation of $5 or more between now and midnight on July 31st, you could be one of 10 supporters chosen to fly to Denver and spend two days and nights at the convention, meet Barack backstage, and watch his acceptance speech in person. Each of the ten supporters who are selected will be able to bring one guest to join them.
>>Is it legal to run a national lottery or raffle?
That was my question. Someone needs to put it to the Federal Election Comission and if it is an illegal solicitation offer, file a complaint.
http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures/complain.shtml
Filing a Complaint Any person may file a complaint if he or she believes a violation of the Federal Election Campaign Laws or Commission regulations has occurred or is about to occur.
The complaint must be made in writing and sent to the Office of General Counsel, Federal Election Commission, 999 E Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20463. The original must be submitted along with three copies, if possible.
Facsimile or e-mail transmissions are not acceptable. A complaint must comply with certain requirements. It must:
Provide the full name and address of the person filing the complaint (called the complainant); and Be signed, sworn to and notarized. This means that the notary public’s certificate must say “...signed and sworn to before me...,” or words that connote the complaint was affirmed by the complainant, (such as “under penalty of perjury”).
Furthermore, in order for a complaint to be considered complete and proper, it should:
Clearly recite the facts that show specific violations under the Commission's jurisdiction (citations to the law and regulations are not necessary);
Clearly identify each person, committee or group that is alleged to have committed a violation (called the respondent);
Include any documentation supporting the allegations, if available; and
Differentiate between statements based on the complainant's (the person who files the complaint) personal knowledge and those based on information and belief. Statements not based on personal knowledge should identify the source of the information.
PDF of FEC Laws here:
http://www.fec.gov/law/feca/feca.pdf
Someone with a better background in legalease than I have should go over it. I searched for terms like lottery, solicitation, raffle, etc. I also looked over a number of passages from the table of contents. Didn't see anything that specifically addressed it one way or the other. That is me.
Again, do not file a complain without finding some FEC law that they are violating.
You can also investigate where there are grounds to file a complaint with the Colorado Secretary of the State:
http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/Bingo_Raffles/bingo_raffles_laws_rules.html
I also suspect that the $5 minimum donation is artificially low. You can’t buy plane tickets and hotel for 2 people for $5. But all of those low dollar donations will give Obama some bragging rights that the “average” donation by “average” Americans is part of some grass roots campaign.
Fat, unattractive women need not apply, but will likely constitute the majority of the entrants.
It would be illegal in Mighigan too. Any raffle can ask for a donation but can’t require one.
I wonder if gay men are eligible? If not, why?
That’s an idea I’d be willing to support if I didn’t think the “winner” hadn’t already been selected. In fact, she’s probably been rehearsing her swoon for weeks now.
Might? If I thought of it, rest assured the Obama folks have too. The messiah's handlers know all too well what happens during those rare unscripted moments and have every motivation to control whatever aspects of this campaign they can.
No doubt in my mind this is the way it will all go down...although confirmation of that fact may never be forthcoming.
next will be a raffle for sleepovers in the Lincoln bedroom.
winners should remember, never take a, to a, well, never mind...
Obama’s Lottery , is it legal in Minnesota or any other State that has gambling laws?
Osama..err Obama’s Campaign site | July 8,2008
Posted on 07/08/2008 8:13:18 AM PDT by AmericanMade1776
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2042413/posts
[now *here’s* a screwed up headline]
State [Minnesota] is asked to clarify [Obama] Web solicitation
Minneapolis Star-Tribune | 7/7/2008 | Randy Furst
Posted on 07/08/2008 7:58:42 AM PDT by KarlInOhio
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2042402/posts
Have they bothered to post the RULES of the sweepstakes online or if they are even promoting this new contest to general visitors to the site?
The latest blog post on Obama’s campaign site still includes the line about donations in exchange for entry to the drawing.
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/samgrahamfelsen/gGxl4h
If you make a donation of $5 or more between now and midnight on July 31st, you could be one of 10 supporters chosen to fly to Denver and spend two days and nights at the convention, meet Barack backstage, and watch his acceptance speech in person. Each of the ten supporters who are selected will be able to bring one guest to join them.
Make a donation now and you could have a front row seat to history.
The appeal for money for entry is still being made on the site. They are STILL soliciting for an illegal lottery.
Well he’s going to have to have SOME excuse for Michelle when Scarlett Johansen comes to the White House for an overnight stay..
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