Posted on 12/14/2006 7:32:06 PM PST by neverdem
A MoveOn.org fund, Swift Boat Vets and the League of Conservation Voters will pay more than $600,000.
WASHINGTON - The Federal Election Commission on Wednesday slapped heavy fines on three independent fundraising groups that it said had illegally injected tens of millions of dollars into the 2004 presidential campaign, concluding unanimously that the funds were drawn from large donors and corporations in violation of election laws. The fines, which totaled $629,500, targeted two Democrat-leaning groups and one Republican-leaning group.
More than $950 million was funneled through organizations known as 527 groups in the 2004 and 2006 elections, much of it from wealthy donors and corporations otherwise barred from having such a large financial impact.
The group listed as Swift Boat Veterans and POWs for Truth will pay $299,500. In the 2004 campaign, the group leveled unsubstantiated allegations about Democratic nominee Sen. John Kerry's military record in Vietnam.
The MoveOn.Org Voter Fund raised and spent $21 million against President Bush in 2004, including more than $2.5 million from investor George Soros. It was fined $150,000.
The League of Conservation Voters will pay $180,000. The group ran anti-Bush ads on environmental issues.
Prominent election lawyers said the FEC's decision to fine the three groups was unlikely to stanch such funding in the 2008 election. While the fines imposed Wednesday add new uncertainty for large donors, the underlying FEC rules remain so murky that the strength of the precedent is unclear, the lawyers said.
Other campaign finance lawyers said even the risk of future fines may not deter the wealthiest donors, who would only be dunned long after the donations had been spent and elections decided. They said the ruling may encourage large donors to use other sorts of tax-exempt advocacy groups, which have not been subject to FEC regulation in the past...
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
What a steaming pile!
"Unsubstantiated" my donkey! When is Senator John Kerry going to level with the American people and sign an SF180? <..crickets chirping..> I thought so...
Why does the Soros group only pay $150k while the Swift Boat vets get slapped with twice as much?
And Hillary????? Peter Paul donated how much money to her campaign and she never reported it.....why does she get off???????
Because the FEC is a bipartisan panel, and like all bipartisan panels in Washington, it has to be staffed with bulldog Democrats and lapdog Republicans.
Imagine the 9/11 Commission were in charge of overseeing our elections. You'd probably end up with the same thing.
It's fascistic in concept and orientation and the types of people willing to work for it are inherently totalitarian.
No real American would work ten seconds on or for the FEC.
Wouldn't let these guys near a cashregister nor a baby's bottle either ~ conversion's their first name.
Moveon.org spent $21million (including illegal foreign contributions) and yet they are still considered a "grass roots" organization. What kind of grass is George Soros, Billionaire, smoking?
I'm 172 pounds, and the Swift Boat Vets never asked my wieght. I'm hardly "large" and not incorporated.
Hey this is great news for frenchie! Now he can face the American people and say "I was cleared by a government agency. I really was in Cambodia and the splinter in my ash really was worth a Purple Heart. See I told you so!"
Yeah right! Bring it on french man, bring it on!
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