Obama likely to escape campaign audit

Politico.com ^ | 11/11/08 | KENNETH P. VOGEL

[Species8472]

The Federal Election Commission is unlikely to conduct a potentially embarrassing audit of how Barack Obama raised and spent his presidential campaign’s record-shattering windfall, despite allegations of questionable donations and accounting that had the McCain campaign crying foul.

Adding insult to injury for Republicans: The FEC is obligated to complete a rigorous audit of McCain’s campaign coffers, which will take months, if not years, and cost McCain millions of dollars to defend.

Obama is expected to escape that level of scrutiny mostly because he declined an $84 million public grant for his campaign that automatically triggers an audit and because the sheer volume of cash he raised and spent minimizes the significance of his errors. Another factor: The FEC, which would have to vote to launch an audit, is prone to deadlocking on issues that inordinately impact one party or the other – like approving a messy and high-profile probe of a sitting president.

[RGPII]

Protest in the streets; those Freepers did well to protest at the LA Times. I’d hope we can still get that film released.

[seekthetruth]

Let me just correct the title of this article:

“President-Elect Barack Hussein Obama Likely To Escape Campaign Audit Or Ever Prove That He is Actually An American Citizen.”

[benasawin]

I would not put too much faith in Newt having much success. If one recalls the contract with America, the 1994 election and Newt’s popularity, one might also recall that within 6 months the MSM had managed to drive Newt’s popularity to the level of “the most hated man in America”. With hourly and nightly negative reports, extreme vetting and a level of partisan bias against him that was sickening, Newt was neutered and jsut another anchor around the necks of conservatism. All unwarranted but very effective.

[Anti-Bubba182]

Actually, McCain has this coming.

[Vaduz]

Let me guess, because he’s B-L-A-C-K I-D-I-O-T

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What kind of report is this, upon someone’s expectations.

The FEC should be PRESSED — FREEPED.

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Federal Election Commission, 999 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20463 (800) 424-9530 In Washington (202) 694-1000
For the hearing impaired, TTY (202) 219-3336

http://www.fec.gov/

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HOME / ABOUT THE FEC / COMMISSIONERS

Commissioners

The six Commissioners, no more than three of whom may represent the same political party, are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The Commissioners serve full time and are responsible for administering and enforcing the Federal Election Campaign Act. They generally meet twice a week, once in closed session to discuss matters that, by law, must remain confidential, and once in a meeting open to the public. At these meetings, they formulate policy and vote on significant legal and administrative matters.

	Donald F. McGahn II Chairman			Steven T. Walther Vice Chairman
	Cynthia L. Bauerly Commissioner			Caroline C. Hunter Commissioner
	Matthew S. Petersen Commissioner			Ellen L. Weintraub Commissioner

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http://www.fec.gov/members/members.shtml

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http://www.fec.gov/about/offices/offices.shtml

[floridagopvoter]

“National and state Democratic parties also outstripped Republican spending, hiring five to 10 times more paid staff than Republicans in swing states.”

The failure is ours. We used to outfundraise Democrats by miles. Now they are the ones with the big cash because the Republican brand is severely damaged at this point.

Alas, nothing will be done about it and Republicans won’t call for reform, because they know that eventually the pendulum swings again (who knows how long it will take, though) and the RNC and RNCC will on its own outraise its counterparts again.