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Blogger files FEC complaint against Thompson
The Hill ^ | 8/20/07 | Sam Youngman

Posted on 08/20/2007 3:20:51 PM PDT by Jean S

Progressive blogger Lane Hudson filed a complaint against former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) on Monday, accusing the likely presidential candidate of breaking the law by violating the Federal Election Commission’s (FEC) “testing the waters” clause.

Hudson, known for posting e-mails from former Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.) in last year’s page scandal, said Thompson “has been presenting himself as a candidate, he has been raising large sums of money beyond what would be required to explore a possible candidacy and he has signed a long term lease on a headquarters for his campaign.”

In his complaint, Hudson lays out a number of examples ranging from Thompson’s extensive fundraising to quotes from the senator and his advisers.

“Fred Thompson is breaking the law and it’s time somebody did something about it,” Hudson said in a statement. “So, this morning, I filed an FEC Complaint against him. For far too long, he has been ignoring the letter and spirit of Federal Election Law for his own political benefit. It reeks of the same disregard for the law that we have seen from the Bush Administration, Bob Ney, Duke Cunningham, Tom Delay [sic], and Mark Foley.”

In an e-mail, Thompson spokesman Jim Mills said only, “We’re following the law.”

The FEC Monday afternoon could only confirm that it has received the complaint. The complaint will be treated as a “matter under review.”

Within five days of receiving the complaint, the FEC must notify the Thompson exploratory committee and provide it with a copy of the complaint. The committee then has 15 days to respond to the FEC and say in writing “why no action should be taken.”

A number of press reports have raised questions about the extent of Thompson’s early efforts and whether they run afoul of the “testing the waters” clause.

The law is particularly vague in this area as there are no set dollar amounts a would-be candidate is prevented from raising. Thompson’s $3.4 million June haul as outlined in a report to the IRS does not meet or exceed any specific legal guideline.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: anklebiters; fec; fredthompson; gnats; gop

1 posted on 08/20/2007 3:20:52 PM PDT by Jean S
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To: JeanS

Thompson has raised what, $4 million. And it takes $200 million to run. The blogger has no clue.


2 posted on 08/20/2007 3:22:03 PM PDT by gondramB (Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words)
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To: JeanS

Call a whaaaaabulance?


3 posted on 08/20/2007 3:23:15 PM PDT by WakeUpAndVote (Got Towel?)
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To: JeanS
Of equal importance...
4 posted on 08/20/2007 3:24:25 PM PDT by ConservativeofColor
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To: JeanS

What is a “progressive blogger”?? Does he gradually blog?


5 posted on 08/20/2007 3:25:49 PM PDT by Russ
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To: gondramB

Lets file an FEC complaint about the blogger giving something of value to the DNC and not declaring it...

*grin*


6 posted on 08/20/2007 3:26:48 PM PDT by Crim (Dont frak with the Zeitgeist....)
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To: JeanS
Progressive = Cover term for liberal
Liberal = Cover term for socialist
Socialist = Cover term for communist
Communist = Redundant term for DemonRAT
7 posted on 08/20/2007 3:27:26 PM PDT by ASA Vet
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To: gondramB
The blogger has no clue.

I am sure that this blogger raised similar issues when Hillary was using Air Force One to run for the senate, or when she was raising money for a denied future Presidential run, while she is senator from her home state of Illinois, er, Arkansas, oh wait, New York.

need I really add: /sarchasim

8 posted on 08/20/2007 3:27:46 PM PDT by Michael.SF. ("The military Mission has long since been accomplished" -- Harry Reid, April 23, 2007)
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To: JeanS

The dork is a DUphile in RINO clothes.


9 posted on 08/20/2007 3:27:59 PM PDT by Diogenesis (Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum)
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To: Crim

>>Lets file an FEC complaint about the blogger giving something of value to the DNC and not declaring it...

*grin*<<

That would be funny as hell. Sadly my principles prevent me from doing it, but it would be funny as hell.


10 posted on 08/20/2007 3:28:23 PM PDT by gondramB (Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words)
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To: Diogenesis

>>The dork is a DUphile in RINO clothes.<<

This guy claims to be a Republican?!


11 posted on 08/20/2007 3:29:12 PM PDT by gondramB (Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words)
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To: JeanS

“Progressive” blogger?? What a pile of horse manure. That’s a “left wing scandal mongering” blogger.


12 posted on 08/20/2007 3:34:04 PM PDT by Williams
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To: JeanS

It’s August. Gnats fly thick this time of year.


13 posted on 08/20/2007 3:37:47 PM PDT by samtheman
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To: JeanS

So Thompson needs “official” permission to speak? While I find that reprehesible and anti-First Amendment, it is somehow poetic justice that one of the people who pushed the McCain-Feingold Law now runs afoul of campaign laws that restrict free speech. (I know it is garbage, he is almost certainly within the law and this probably will lead to nothing - but it is poetic justice nevertheless).


14 posted on 08/20/2007 3:39:00 PM PDT by BruceS
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To: JeanS

more:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1883933/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1883933/posts
(more spin)


15 posted on 08/20/2007 3:42:43 PM PDT by xcamel (FDT/2008 -- talk about it >> irc://irc.freenode.net/fredthompson)
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To: JeanS

oops, here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1883920/posts


16 posted on 08/20/2007 3:43:31 PM PDT by xcamel (FDT/2008 -- talk about it >> irc://irc.freenode.net/fredthompson)
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To: gondramB
Sounds to me like Fred's scaring some people.

.

.

That's good.

17 posted on 08/20/2007 3:52:28 PM PDT by Bronzewound
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To: ConservativeofColor

Oh, puh-leeze! Can’t they just let surfing dogs lie?

JK, great video!!!


18 posted on 08/20/2007 3:53:29 PM PDT by Theresawithanh (Al sez: "In fact, you can even reduce your carbon emissions to zero." Arafat has, maybe Castro, too.)
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To: Theresawithanh
lol!

Which one was "Moondoggie"?

19 posted on 08/20/2007 4:08:48 PM PDT by ConservativeofColor
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To: JeanS

Lane???? snickers
i say hit the ROAD.


20 posted on 08/20/2007 6:58:42 PM PDT by donnab (call me a hater...ive been called worse.)
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