DNC to File FEC Complaint Against McCain

[exopolitician]

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Thoughts?

[falling apart like the ashes of American flags]

Good work DNC!

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I hate this sort of politics.

[True Democrat]

Well, it's impossible for the FEC to make a ruling because there's not enough members.  So I don't see how this can go anywhere.

[falling apart like the ashes of American flags]

Here's a loophole McCain could use:

-Offer something to Huckabee (like the VP slot) in exchange for his cooperation.
-Solicit all donations to go to Huckabee.
-Have Huckabee's campaign run pro-McCain/anti-Obama ads until the convention.

Of course then McCain has to run with Huckabee, and he'd be a disaster as a running mate.

[Stranger in a strange land]

Complicating the matter is the FEC itself, which cannot vote on the matter since it is lacking a quorum with only two commissioners seated at this time. Congress has been in a political standoff with the Bush administration over approval of his appointees.

something tells me this is intentional and has something to do with the fact that there's an election campaign going on right now.

hmmm. hmmm. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Here's a loophole McCain could use:

-Offer something to Huckabee (like the VP slot) in exchange for his cooperation.
-Solicit all donations to go to Huckabee.
-Have Huckabee's campaign run pro-McCain/anti-Obama ads until the convention.

Of course then McCain has to run with Huckabee, and he'd be a disaster as a running mate.

I think that might be a little too clever for McCain's own good

[Lincoln Republican]

Trust Screamer Dean to start screaming about this screaming non issue.

There is no way that McCain will be restricted in spending when the Democrats will be spending through the ceiling.

[falling apart like the ashes of American flags]

Trust Screamer Dean to start screaming about this screaming non issue.

There is no way that McCain will be restricted in spending when the Democrats will be spending through the ceiling.

Except McCain agreed to do so while the Democrats have not.

[Democratic Hawk]

This only pertains to the pre-convention (i.e. primary season), doesn't it?

Dave

[falling apart like the ashes of American flags]

This only pertains to the pre-convention (i.e. primary season), doesn't it?

Dave

Yes.

[falling apart like the ashes of American flags]

I just realized a problem with using Huckabee as a surrogate, Huckabee would still have to "approve" the ads. Not a problem with the attack ads that don't mention McCain by name (probably would be better for McCain actually), but seeing an ad gushing over McCain and then "I'm Mike Huckabee and I approve this message" would be kind of strange.

But still, better than nothing.

[© tweed]

if FEC can't meet quorum what is stopping the candidates from breaking all sorts of election laws?

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

It looks like McCain may have screwed himself over with his own law.

[CultureKing]

It looks like McCain may have screwed himself over with his own law.

[Sam Spade]

TD is right.  Until the FEC has enough members to meet quorum, it can essentially do nothing on this or any other matter.

[falling apart like the ashes of American flags]

TD is right.  Until the FEC has enough members to meet quorum, it can essentially do nothing on this or any other matter.

Thus effectively invalidating every campaign law?

[Sam Spade]

TD is right.  Until the FEC has enough members to meet quorum, it can essentially do nothing on this or any other matter.

Thus effectively invalidating every campaign law?

Well, if you do something directly in conflict with a campaign finance law, they'll prosecute you afterwards once there are enough members.

But, if the issue is more 'thinly-veiled" and may fall one way or another depending on some facts that would rely on the FEC making legal guidance to the campaign, that's another issue.  The FEC will likely let that one slide, especially if there's a reasonable belief that there's an alternate interpretation and the FEC is unable to give a full opinion on the matter.  Get my drift (I hope).

[True Democrat]

I doubt that the average voter really cares about this anyway.

[Smid]

Howard Dean getting involved in this is about as reasonable as the Republican Party dictating how the Democrats should treat Michigan and Florida's delegates. If Huckabee wanted to complain about what McCain was doing in the primaries, fair enough, but the Republican Primaries HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DEMOCRATS!!!!! This law is only going to affect the primaries and has nothing to do with the General Election and Dean only looks petty if he tries to make a stink about this.