Dems Turning to the Courts Over McCain Spending
The Democratic National Committee filed a lawsuit today against the Federal Election Commission. They want a federal judge to launch an investigation into Senator John McCain's campaign spending.
The DNC had filed a complaint with the FEC in February, but it has not been acted on yet. Maybe because the FEC is down to just two commissioners, instead of the full six, due to the President and the Democratic Senate not being able to play nice and agree on new nominees. From the New York Times:
A lawsuit against the Federal Election Commission, to be filed Monday in U.S. District Court, questions the agency's ability to enforce the law and review McCain's decision to opt out of the system. The Republican presidential candidate, who had been entitled to $5.8 million in federal funds for the primary campaign, decided earlier this year to give up that money so he could avoid strict spending limits between now and the GOP's national convention in September.During a conference call with reporters Sunday, DNC officials said the FEC is unable to act because four of its six seats are vacant. They want a judge to either order the FEC to begin an immediate review, or allow the Democratic Party to file a lawsuit against McCain's campaign challenging his decision.
The Republican Committee calls the suit nonsense, of course. The RNC spokesman says that the "trial-lawyer Democrats' idea of campaigning for president is to hire lawyers and file frivolous lawsuits." Why you gotta hate on trial lawyers, RNC?
Talking Points Memo goes into the history of McCain's election spending here:
It is a serious issue. As the [Washington] Post reports, "Knowingly violating the spending limit is a criminal offense that could put McCain at risk of stiff fines and up to five years in prison."
The fun of the general election begins. Which lucky federal judge will get stuck with this case?
Democrats: McCain Financing Questionable [New York Times via Daily Kos]
McCain's FEC Problem [Talking Points Memo]
(15) Comments
Obama will have way more money than McCain come the general.
embarrassed to be first, this blog is really going to poo.
what if you wrote a blog and nobody cared?
.... crickets ....
the rise was fast but the fall faster.
what's next?
Talk like a pirate day is not for a while. Seriously though, I don't think Obama will pull in more money than McCain.
I thought this was supposed to be a TABLOID. Round table discussions of e-discovery and reports on campaign spending? Blech. Looks like there's room for some poor unemployed corporate lawyer to start a new legal gossip blog.
OMG WHAT HAPPENED TO ATL???!!! This is crap-awful. It's like a wannabe WSJ. So sad.
"stiff fines and up to five years in prison" - limited to time served . . . in a Vietnamese prison camp.
morons. guest posting wasn't working for most of the day, so only registered users were able to comment. looks like it is fixed now.
Yet, 5:34, there are still no comments . . . . . .
Echo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The day ATL died . . .
I agree, this is a terrible format. ATL built a tabloid brand and then dropped it like a hot potato. Bland, cookie cutter, corporate, anti-tabloid.
Yes, Drudge had a point. No need to change if something is working. If it ain't broke... And why such a big nondescript banner that takes up so much screen real estate?
Oh well.
1. On the previous "dead-heads" above whom obviously don't have patience enough to warrant more than a knat's attention span regarding site changes: Phuck off, you whiny POS's. Something tells me that you're not earning your keep.
(I'll be the guy/gal eating your lunch and making those cutbacks that you live in fear of)
2. Has ANYONE here (commentors) given a thought to the larger issues, or has this self-love of the left gone so far as to totally absorb brain tissue ?
3. ATL should seriously consider an IQ test before allowing comments.
________________________
Despite the disrespecful tone of the post, I did appreciate the "leftist" view ...
We'll see you all on November 5th ... wear a tie and have your CV on my desk by 8:00am. There will be cuts.
Hilarious - Obama should back out of "public financing" now!