FREEPER: "I HAVE DISCOVERED SOLICITATION OF FOREIGN FUNDS FOR HOWARD DEAN ON THE WEB (JAPAN)"

AmericanInTokyo (translating) from Japanese Website ^ | 17 December 2003 | AmericanInTokyo (translating from original Japanese to English)

[AmericanInTokyo]

I have come across, (in the Japanese language), the directing of Japanese in Japan (foreign nationals/small contributions) to stateside contribution websites for the HOWARD DEAN FOR PRESIDENT campaign.

The Japanese site is located located at:

http://web.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~lune1978/mt/archives/000218.html

The post is from mid-August, but is still up. You will need a font/browser and Japanese language comprehension capabilities to understand the solicitation. This report follows research provided to FREE REPUBLIC in August 2003 [ http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/953876/posts ] also exposing the DENNIS KUCINICH campaign (which is still openly soliciting in Japanese FOREIGN CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS), on the internet in Japan. This also follows Matt Drudge's recent expose on some Democrat candidates engaged in this questionable practice. My translation synopsis follows below:

[Az Joe]

I found this email address on the FEC website and sent in a complaint, with a link to the Jap page. Probably take a number of complaints to get the ball rolling. Spread the word. aford@fec.gov

[CounterCounterCulture]

Excellent work AIT. You are quite valuable to FR.

[eureka!]

Drudge may like this thread. I tried to e-mail but couldn't from work...

[brewcrew]

I ran the text of this website through a Japanese-English translator, and this is what I got. The paragraph tags are mine, for ease of reading:

Although the former Vermont governor Howard Dean of the candidate the Democratic Party (54 years old) is attaching vigor quickly in the campaign of the U.S. President election PR memorandum 2003, many interpretive articles called skillful on-line campaign have come out of the secret. first of all, it is greater to raise many money (confidence will have been obtained) -- the state where there is almost nothing in restriction etc. in considerably different climates from Japan which says unlike Japan -- U.S. political campaign -- "\\\money\\\" --it is fighting by one of them At the beginning, the technique exists without number in sale of the character goods in WEB etc.

Incidentally, a political donation will achieve the surprising success of average $802,083 (it is about 96 million yen by 120 yen calculation) Japanese [ 1 ] by June 30 of Howard Dean, and information disclosure is carried out to having accumulated a total of 7 million dollars (940 millions) in April to June. (Or [ becoming what thing if money is accumulated like this in Japan ] (bitter smile))

Site http: of Howard Dean//dean2004.meetup.com/

It is easy to access, is easy to carry out participation, and is easy to say an opinion (supporter is also an example at BUROGU). A small sum comes out [ even a click ] and is also simply possible for a thing to donate money (the running cost was higher although the example also had this also in Japan). A legal portion is also kneaded. (If BUROGA and others of support starts a problem, it will become what!)

Because ‚for which the risk hedge of PR special company is surely needed, and those who are concerned are increased. If I hear that PR company observed and attacked in view of the possibility as the new technique of a network style to use of BUROGU, as for PR company which has contracted with other candidates, it is interesting whether they are.

Reference Report http: //story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/usatoday/20030808/ts_usatoday/11534182 Mr. Kato's mail

[GOP_1900AD]

When will the USA truly start to defend itself? How far will we let ourselves be pushed? I have long suspected Communist, Islamist and other America hating nations and foreign groups slyly manipulating our electoral process. It is war by unusual means, and it is cause for massive retaliation once the perps are IDd (assuming our protective institutions have the gonads to do the investigation...).

[yonif]

There are a lot of Japanese journalists covering the Democratic Debates, I've seen many of them.

[AmericanInTokyo]

FR is great (and one thing). But if I can be a larger service to the Republic and our national security, it is indeed my pleasure. To me, the election of Howard Dean (and the ascendancy of his foreign policy advisors) indeed represents a SEVERE NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT. Thanks.

[Eaker]

Ping to read later because your post are exceptional!!

(and I am going home)

[Eva]

Well, I e-mailed the thread to WSJ, Best of the Web. They will know what to do with it, if anything.

[Deathmonger]

Who cares? Wake me up if you find out if a *government* or large foreign corporation is dropping somoe big coin into somebody's campaign. Sure, any contributions will probably have to be returned. But some non-Dean-affiliated schmoe putting up a grass-roots website soliciting small individual contributions for a foreign election is of no consequence compared to, say the Chinese govt funding Clinton.

[BossLady]

Thanks! I thought that was the case. Wanted a second opinion ;)

[prairiebreeze]

Here's a thread I posted earlier today about MoveOn's shenanigans. In case you missed it.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1042082/posts

Prairie

[Dave S]

The donations are probably not illegal. There was an article in the Wall Street Journal about overseas donations the other day. As long as the donations are made to organizations that are not the Dean campaign and are being used to support Democracy (yada yada) they are legal. Serphent head Carville and Move-On is behind this. While it flies in the face of campaign finance reform, it is legal.

[CounterCounterCulture]

Absolutely. Thanks.

[Focault's Pendulum]

Very interesting find on your part. It's unfortunate that it will probably never see daylight in mainstream media.

Well....mebbe we could do something about that.

[AmericanInTokyo]

sounds like Yoda. thanks!

[Dave S]

"Questionable"...but is it illegal? Would contributions need to be returned?

No, they are not illegal as long as they go to Move-On or some organization like that rather than the Dean for President campaign. The money is to be spent on ads bashing Bush, not praising Dean or the other dwarfs.

[brewcrew]

That is, of you, very nice to say. Mmmmmm.

[AmericanInTokyo]

every cocktail party has one

[AmericanInTokyo]

Thanks.