McCain on GMA: "527 money is dirty money"

[BJ]

I pretty much blew off most of the Charles Gibson interview because it was standard bs.

What caught my attention was when the Arizona-sychophant said that all funding for all 527 group political ads is dirty money!

That's you people. You, the folks who donated small amounts to
MoveOn.org. and other Democratic leaning 527 groups.

The Repiglicans got beaten at their own game and they don't like it.

McCain and Russ Feingold worked on campaign finance reform together but now H____ John's crying because Democrats are out spending Repigs!

[kentuck]

1. Yes, your money is dirty !

But, the millionaire's dollars are new, fresh, and clean?? Where in the hell is McCain coming from??

[MaineDem]

2. This is just a deflection

It's a way to distract Bushie from having to confront the lies of the Swifties.

McCain is playing along. THis is disgusting! The ACT and MoveOn ads aren't outright lies!!!

[ClassWarrior]

3. What a JOKE McCain has become.

HE spearheaded the legislation that CREATED the current system (along with my boy Russ - see below). If the problem's "dirty money," John, why not fight for a Clean Money campaign finance system. It's the next logical step. Get rid of ALL campaign donations - not just to 527s!!

[Philostopher]

4. Some around here have even said that

liberal 527s' success may have been the focus of the SwiftLiars in the first place -- that the Goops may have picked the seediest outfit they could find and encouraged them to become a 527 org just so they could do this -- typical strawman. That they actually managed to make some folks question Kerry's legitimacy may just have been an unintended but highly welcome accident.

They want to control all political speech, and the only misrepresentations they want to allow are those of their opponents. 527 organizations don't necessarily feel beholden to any one candidate -- I don't think it would have mattered if it had been Kerry or Clark or Dean or Edwards as the Dem candidate, to MoveOn.

Yep, I think they were scared shitless of the money MoveOn was raising, and the only way to discredit MoveOn and others like it was to start up their own dirty 527 and pay to broadcast a bunch of scummy lies. Fairly cunning, really.

[BJ]

5. That's a very astute observation.

You're exactly right! The Repigs have been kicking up a fuss about 527 groups and Georgeo Soros' donations every since the Swifties surfaced.

If these pea-ricks want to level the playing field, I'm for it. Of course they don't and they won't.

[funkybutt]

6. show documentation...disclose specifics about how this money is dirty

b/c i donated several times before Moveon gave up on Louisiana. Nothing dirty about my contribution. damnit!!

[Old and In the Way]

7. On $10,000 dollar-a-plate dinners should be acceptable contributions,

right McCain? Funny when millions of Americans who don't have a media voice suddenly band together and contribute to get the truth out is seen as a threat to "the system".

[cosmicdot]

8. the millionaire money flows through 501(c) 3 category

organizations, a category which, of course, includes many socially redeeming organizations, but includes tax-exempt political organizations posing as non-partisan think-tanks and as "charities", but are diligently working to influence politics and advance political agendas daily, i.e., the Heritage Foundation, the Council for National Policy, the Council on Foreign Relations ... these groups influence and affect long-term, as well as, current policy, and the people affiliated with these organizations back certain specific candidates and political parties who tow their line ...

one may be long term vs. short term but 501s still are active in the 'big picture' campaign

or no?

Lynne Cheney works for the Heritage Foundation, I believe, while being part of "The White House".

We see "experts" from these organizations used on network/cable 'news', and, they use the time to advance political memes.


"To be tax-exempt as an organization described in IRC Section 501(c)(3) of the Code, an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for one or more of the purposes set forth in IRC Section 501(c)(3) and none of the earnings of the organization may inure to any private shareholder or individual. In addition, it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate at all in campaign activity for or against political candidates."
http://www.irs.gov/charities/charitable/article/0,,id=96099,00.html

http://www.heritage.org

One contributes to the Heritage Foundation as if it was a charity:

"If you are a federal employee or in the military you can give to The Heritage Foundation through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). The National Capitol Area kick-off for this annual fund-raising drive is October 1st and will be conducted right in your work place. Each year the CFC raises millions of dollars that benefit thousands of non-profit charities. To make Heritage the beneficiary of your donation sign up today." http://www.heritage.org/support/

1973 - "The Heritage Foundation founded, Feb. 16, 1973 with backing from Joseph Coors, Richard Scaife and Edward Noble, with Paul Weyrich as President and Ed Feulner as member of the board of trustees; to move national public policy in a conservative direction, primarily by working with Congress and its staff." http://www.heritage.org/Support/about.cfm






"... the IRS fined the Heritage Foundation for allowing Bob Dole, then a Presidential candidate, to sign a widely-distributed fundraising letter which recited much of Dole’s campaign platform as the Foundation’s agenda, in encouraging gifts to the Foundation. The letter made no reference to Dole’s status as a candidate or the upcoming election, and the mailings raised substantial donations to the Foundation. Nevertheless, the Foundation’s mailing helped Dole’s campaign, according to the IRS. See TAM 200044038."
http://www.npaction.org/filemanager/download/27/c3ElectnIssues.pdf/

[TheRovingGourmet]

10. 527s sure have some interesting disclosure rules though.

[Neecy]

9. gee, really?

I worked at a MoveOn bake sale over the summer, and I guess the hordes of people who baked brownies and cookies and brought them out at nine o'clock in the morning didn't realize that what they were doing is "dirty". What an utter fucking insult to people who care about our country and our democracy.

When did participatory democracy become "dirty", and Bush* flying around on our dime to brag to his millionaire base at fundraisers become "clean"?