Barack and Michelle Obama’s Dishonest Fundraising Solicitations

Despite at least one (and possibly more) complaints from Minnesota law enforcement agencies, the Obama campaign is still circulating E-mails that solicit donations in exchange to win an expenses-paid trip to the Democratic National Convention. Were it not for the very fine print disclaimers in the E-mails and on the donation page itself, this would very likely constitute an illegal lottery. In other words, the Obama campaign is doing the absolute minimum it thinks it needs to do to stay out of actual trouble with the law. In addition, a video by Barack Obama and an E-mail from Michelle Obama are designed to deceive supporters into thinking that they have to contribute money for a chance to win.

As reported by WorldNet Daily (http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=69150), the Obama campaign faced the prospect of legal trouble in Minnesota and possibly other states for running an arguably illegal lottery: donate money to Obama’s campaign (payment of consideration) in exchange for a chance (element of chance) to win an expenses-paid trip to the Democratic National Convention (prize).

In summary, Barack and Michelle Obama, along with campaign manager David Plouffe, all signed their names or made public statements on video that, were it not for the minimal and perfunctory disclaimer that the campaign added because of explicit complaints from a law enforcement agency, could easily constitute solicitations for an illegal lottery. Is someone who does the absolute minimum necessary to stay out of actual trouble with the law the kind of individual we want in any position of public trust or responsibility?

I found this one in my inbox this morning from Michelle (Ma Belle):

Barack likes to tell a story about the two of us standing backstage before his speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention.

The way he tells it, he was too busy in the days before the convention to feel any pressure -- but about an hour before the speech, I could tell he was getting a little nervous.

To break the tension, right before he went out on stage I leaned in close and said, "Just don't screw it up, buddy."

We laughed. And then Barack brought the house down.

This year, the house is going to be a lot bigger. More than 75,000 people will be in Denver to be part of this important moment, and I want to tell you about an opportunity to join Barack backstage before his acceptance speech.

Ten supporters who make a donation in any amount by midnight this Thursday, July 31st, will be selected to fly to Denver, spend a couple of nights in a hotel, participate in the convention, and go Backstage with Barack. Each supporter who is selected will also get to bring a guest along to share the experience.

Make a contribution of $5 or more today and you could have your own Backstage with Barack story to tell:

https://donate.barackobama.com/backstagednc

Barack's speech at the convention will be a culmination of the unlikely journey that has brought all of us so far over the past 17 months.

He will call on us to come together and work for change -- not just to win this election, but to make things better for all Americans.

Seeing it in person will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I'm excited about being there, and if you make a donation of $5 or more before the deadline, you could join Barack backstage:

https://donate.barackobama.com/backstagednc

Thanks for everything you've done to get us here.

Michelle

If you do not wish to make a donation, you can still be selected to join Barack at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Learn more here.

In addition, a video by Barack Obama and an E-mail from Michelle Obama are designed to deceive supporters into thinking that they have to contribute money for a chance to win.

TIME FOR A FEW FACTS!!

BETCHA' DIDN'T KNOW THIS?

Subject: Cindy McCain

PILOT CINDY McCAIN

Maybe she can talk her husband out of supporting General Aviation user fees.

This is an interesting article as not much was known about her. She was on Leno the other night and it was an interesting interview. It turns out that she is a character as she is, or has been, a race car driver and is also a pilot. She flies John around the country to his rallies. After hearing that about her and reading this I now have a lot of respect for her.

Election 2008: Cindy Hensley McCain has been dispa raged as a trophy wife, a Barbie, an heiress with fancy purses, even the Paris Hilton of politics. But there's more to the picture than meets the eye.

Yes, Mrs. McCain is the perfectly coiffed blonde standing dutifully behind the senator during his speeches. And yes, she wears stylish clothing and carries a Prada purse. And it's true she doesn't say much. But feminist critics who write her off as a 'stand-by-your-man' shrinking violet are selling her short. In many ways, Cindy McCain stacks up sturdier than Hillary Clinton or Michelle Obama. And she'd make a more impressive first lady.

Mrs. McCain: More than meets the eye.

While Obama's wife has been hating America, complaining about the war and undermining our troops serving in Afghanistan, McCain's wife has been worrying about her sons who actually are fighting, or planning to fight in the war on terror. One, in fact, was until a few months ago, deployed in Iraq during some of the worst violence. You don't hear the McCain's talk about it, but their 19-year-old Marine, Jimmy, is preparing for his second tour of duty. Their 21-year-old son, Jack , is poised to graduate from Annapolis and also could join the Marines as a second lieu tenant. The couple made the decision not to draw attention to their sons out of respect for other families with sons and daughters in harm's way.

Cindy also says she doesn't want to risk falling apart on the campaign trail talking about Jimmy who was so young when he enlisted she had to sign consent forms for his medical tests before he could report for duty and potentially upsetting parents of soldiers who are serving, or have been killed.

The McCain's want to make sure their boys get no special treatment. Same goes for their five other children, including a daughter they adopted from Bangladesh. During a visit to Mother Teresa's orphanage there, Cindy noticed a dying baby. The orphanage could not provide the medical care needed to save her life. So she brought the child home to America for the surgery she desperately needed. The baby is now their healthy, 16-year-old daughter, Bridget.

Though all seven McCain children, including two Sen. McCain adopted from his first marriage, are supportive of their father, they prefer their privacy to the glare of the campaign trail. Another daughter, Meghan, 23, helps him behind the scenes.

Cindy McCain not only cherishes her children, but also her country, which in an election year filled with America-bashing, is a refreshing novelty. She seethed when she heard Michelle Obama's unpatriotic remarks that she only recently grew proud of America. 'I am very proud of my country,' Mrs. McCain asserted.

She also may be tougher than the other women in the race. While Hillary thinks she's come under sniper fire on mission trips abroad, Cindy has actually seen violence. She witnessed a boy get blown up by a mine in Kuwait during a trip with an international group that removes land mines from war-torn countries.

Mrs. McCain also is a hands-on philanthropist. She sits on the board of Operation Smile, which arranges for plastic surgeons to fix cleft palates and other birth defects. She also has helped organize relief missions to Micronesia.

During a scuba-diving vacation to the islands, Mrs. McCain took a friend to a local hospital to have a cut treated. She was shocked, and saddened, by what she saw. 'They opened the door to the OR, where the supplies were, and there were two cats and a whole bunch of rats climbing out of the sterile supplies,' she recalled. 'They had no X-ray machine, no beds. To me, it was devastating because it was a U.S. trust territory.' As soon as she returned home, she arranged for medical equipment and teams of doctors to be sent to treat the island children.

Michelle Obama may contribute to CARE, which fights global poverty and works to empower poor women.

Cindy sits on its board!

While the Democrat women talk about helping the poor and needy, Cindy McCain actually rolls up her sleeves and does it.

Hey Michelle - Who's the out-of-touch elitist?

LET THESE FACTS BE KNOWN

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Barack and Michelle Obama’s personal statements deceive prospective donors

It won't cost Obama any votes if it stays at Free Republic. Please circulate as widely as possible.