Democrats Seek FEC Investigation of McCain Financing
WASHINGTON — The national Democratic party wants campaign finance regulators to investigate whether Sen. John McCain would violate money-in-politics laws by withdrawing from the primary election’s public finance system, filing an official complaint Monday with the Federal Election Commission.
McCain, who had been entitled to $5.8 million in federal funds for the primary, has decided to bypass the system so he can avoid spending limits between now and the GOP’s national convention in September.
Click here to read the full complaint from the Democratic National Committee (.pdf).
FEC Chairman David Mason notified McCain last week that he can only withdraw from public financing if he answers questions about a campaign loan and obtains approval from four members of the six-member commission. Such approval is doubtful in the short term because the commission has four vacancies and cannot convene a quorum.
“John McCain poses as a reformer but seems to think reforms apply to everyone but him,” Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean said Sunday.
Part of the issue centers on a loan McCain obtained late last year. The loan was not directly secured by McCain’s potential access to public funds. But his agreement with the bank required him to reapply for public funds if he lost early primary contests and to use that money as collateral.
McCain’s lawyer, former FEC Chairman Trevor Potter, has said McCain did not encumber any money that he would have received from the federal treasury.
McCain and Potter have said he was entitled to withdraw without FEC approval and have cited as examples Dean and Democrat Dick Gephardt, both of whom withdrew from public financing during the 2004 presidential primary.
“Howard Dean’s hypocrisy is breathtaking, given that in 2003 he withdrew from the matching funds system in exactly the same way John McCain is doing today,” McCain spokesman Brian Rogers said Sunday.
DNC spokeswoman Stacie Paxton said Dean, unlike McCain, took out no loan that raised questions about his use of potential public funds.
If McCain were prohibited from withdrawing from public financing, he would be severely limited in his campaign spending for the next six months. Under campaign finance rules, he would be allowed to spend only $54 million; as of the end of January, his campaign had already spent nearly $50 million.
McCain isn’t a fool to comprimise himself the way Howard Dean is accusing. It’s just smear tactics. Nice try Howard..obviously still bitter about the failed presidential bid and obviously still a reactionary liberal. Why isn’t Howard Dean concerned about the obscene amounts of money Obama and Hillary are spending?
I think we should all be afraid of McCain. I just hope all the dirt on him comes out before it is too late. I am a conservative ind. & would never vote for him. I am voting for the only conservative on the ballots, Mike Huckabee.
It has now been 3 hrs since the last cleared posting.. Are we being censored again??
This years Election is a joke. Governor Mike Huckabee is looking better everyday…
Huckabee 08
Let me explain why the New York times endorsed then smeared John McCain.
The NYT is a liberal paper and they want a democrate in the Whitehouse.
They held him up as the best candidate to win aagainst the dems in the fall, THEY LIED!
They know he is the weaker candidate and he is going to lose!
He is old, he’s boring, he has nothing new to offer, and so on!
They also know he has many years of old dirt they can throw around, and the slinging has just begun.
Don’t let the media or Washington pick your next President.
They have been trying to disregard Mike Huckabee from day one. He is the one they know has a chance against the dem’s in the fall.
Huckabee has new idea’s, and he’s not Washington as usual. He has over 10 years governorship experience. He’s charming, funny, articulate and would be the best debater of them all.
You say he cannot win? I say he can stop McCain from winning and then it goes to a brokered convention and then anything is possible.
http://www.mikehuckabee.com
I am constantly amazed at the unmitigated gall of the Democrats. It’s to the point that everything they pull is a joke. McCain can do whatever he wants to that will give him an advantage over that Democratic pile of dog poo and more power to him.
And another thing- did McCain knowingly opt to remain in captivity in his Hanoi prison cell in order to avoid taxes or some other obligation back in the freedom of the United States? Please investigate!
I’m ANGRY at the Democrats!! What kind of terror are the unleashing on America? I will fight tooth and Nail against Obama getting Elected! I hope MANY AMERICAN’ S SEE this endorsement by FARAKAHN, as a WAKE UP call! America NEEDS everyone right now to save our Country! I DO NOT want Co President Farakahn incharge of that much power! What were the citizens of Ill. thinking when they elected Sen. Obama anyway?? I know in my heart, Sen. Obama would do great harm to the U.S.A. as President! God Bless America! Even if she Loses, I hope Hillary gets the Nomination!!!! I know where her loyalties are. Former President Clinton, made me feel safe. God Bless America. I’m a Republican and Like mc Cain but do NOT want to take any chances in this ELECTION!
This is just another way of Democrats trying to win an election. If they can limit McCain’s spending, then they can limit his chances of winning. Maybe we sould be looking at the Democratic side of this, which spends like no other.
Oh the typical stuff that keeps occuring. Democrats want change but yet they cant change themselves. They keep crying and crying and whining and whining and its the same old stuff