Ethics Gone To Hell? Obama Buying Votes?

[Obama 2012 1,714]

I mean seriously, does this guy know any boundaries when it comes to politics? The guy is literally trying to buy votes. He crosses many lines which in the right court of law could be considered illegal under Federal Law.

It's a back scratching game, but at the same time this is the office of the President of the United States. You shouldn't be offering random gifts for people donating money to your campaign in hopes that they'll be there to vote for you. You may not directly be asking for votes, but something like this even indirectly matters in the election process.

Below is the current e-mail from the Campaign...

------------

Paul --

Mark your calendar: On May 10th, George Clooney is hosting an event at his home in Los Angeles to support President Obama.

If you donate $3 or whatever you can today, you'll be automatically entered to be there, too.

We'll take care of airfare and accommodations -- all you need to do is think about who you'd ask to join you for an evening with President Obama and George Clooney.

When you pitch in, you'll also help build this grassroots organization at a crucial moment in the campaign.

So donate $3 or whatever you can today:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Obama-Clooney-and-You

Thanks,

Rufus

Rufus Gifford

National Finance Director

Obama for America

[natty bumppo 297]

------------

Paul --

Mark your calendar: On May 10th, George Clooney is hosting an event at his home in Los Angeles to support President Obama.

If you donate $3 or whatever you can today, you'll be automatically entered to be there, too.

We'll take care of airfare and accommodations -- all you need to do is think about who you'd ask to join you for an evening with President Obama and George Clooney.

When you pitch in, you'll also help build this grassroots organization at a crucial moment in the campaign.

So donate $3 or whatever you can today:

https://donate.barac...Clooney-and-You

Thanks,

Rufus

Rufus Gifford

National Finance Director

Obama for America

$3 and you get free airfare to LA + lodging ?

don't you have relatives, long lost friends, a friend with benefits, or something else to do/visit in the LA area?

[CarlosAndSveta 808]

I mean seriously, does this guy know any boundaries when it comes to politics? The guy is literally trying to buy votes. He crosses many lines which in the right court of law could be considered illegal under Federal Law.

It's a back scratching game, but at the same time this is the office of the President of the United States. You shouldn't be offering random gifts for people donating money to your campaign in hopes that they'll be there to vote for you. You may not directly be asking for votes, but something like this even indirectly matters in the election process.

Below is the current e-mail from the Campaign...

------------

Paul --

Mark your calendar: On May 10th, George Clooney is hosting an event at his home in Los Angeles to support President Obama.

If you donate $3 or whatever you can today, you'll be automatically entered to be there, too.

We'll take care of airfare and accommodations -- all you need to do is think about who you'd ask to join you for an evening with President Obama and George Clooney.

When you pitch in, you'll also help build this grassroots organization at a crucial moment in the campaign.

So donate $3 or whatever you can today:

https://donate.barac...Clooney-and-You

Thanks,

Rufus

Rufus Gifford

National Finance Director

Obama for America

Ok, I will bite. Under what court of law and under which Federal Statute would this be illegal? If you read the fine print you don't have to contribute anything to enter the contest.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Ok, I will bite. Under what court of law and under which Federal Statute would this be illegal? If you read the fine print you don't have to contribute anything to enter the contest.

I said it's indirect. Not direct buying. The fine print might be there, but they hardly make that statement first, and I'd like proof that someone who didn't "donate" won....

[SMOKE 1,426]

Below is the current e-mail from the Campaign...

why are you getting emails from obama's campaign?

[^_^ 5,021]

why are you getting emails from obama's campaign?

because when he isn't pretending to be a anarchist on the internet, he drives old black people to the polls to vote democrat.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

why are you getting emails from obama's campaign?

keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.

[^_^ 5,021]

keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.

have lots of buttsecks with your enemies and they'll never have time for anything else.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

have lots of buttsecks with your enemies and they'll never have time for anything else.

I could do without the details of your weekend endeavors....

[^_^ 5,021]

I could do without the details of your weekend endeavors....

weekend?

you think your enemies are only plotting against you on the weekends?

[SMOKE 1,426]

keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.

and your IP on file. aren't you worried about being hacked & tracked?

Edited April 20, 2012 by SMOKE

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Paul, if there are violations going on, then you should report that not on VJ but to the FEC.

I. Filing a Complaint

Any person may file a complaint if he or she believes a violation of the Federal Election Campaign Laws or Commission regulations has occurred or is about to occur. The complaint must be made in writing and sent to the Office of General Counsel, Federal Election Commission, 999 E Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20463. The original must be submitted along with three copies, if possible. Facsimile or e-mail transmissions are not acceptable. A complaint must comply with certain requirements. It must:

• Provide the full name and address of the person filing the complaint (called the complainant); and
  
• Be signed, sworn to and notarized. This means that the notary public's certificate must say "...signed and sworn to before me...," or words that connote the complaint was affirmed by the complainant, (such as “under penalty of perjury”).

Furthermore, in order for a complaint to be considered complete and proper, it should:

• Clearly recite the facts that show specific violations under the Commission's jurisdiction (citations to the law and regulations are not necessary);
  
• Clearly identify each person, committee or group that is alleged to have committed a violation (called the respondent);
  
• Include any documentation supporting the allegations, if available; and
  
• Differentiate between statements based on the complainant's (the person who files the complaint) personal knowledge and those based on information and belief. Statements not based on personal knowledge should identify the source of the information.

For self-reported complaints (called "sua sponte" submissions), the submission should include an admission of the violation(s), a complete recitation of the facts along with all relevant documentation that explains how the violation was discovered, the internal actions that were taken in response to the violation and what other agencies, if any, are investigating the violation (or facts surrounding the violation).

The Commission seeks to increase the number of self-reported submissions in order to expedite enforcement of the law. To encourage self-reporting, the Commission will generally negotiate penalties between 25 and 75 percent lower than those for matters arising by other means, such as through complaints or the Commission’s own review of reports. In certain circumstances, the Commission may allow committees who voluntarily report their violations and make a complete report of their internal investigation to proceed directly into conciliation before the Commission makes a finding as to whether there is reason to believe the committee violated campaign finance laws or Commission regulations.

Let us know the outcome, okay?

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

I could do without the details of your weekend endeavors....