Video + Damning Statistics: Superdelegates Are For Sale

obama was able to get away with this... (0.00 / 0)

...because he knew the FEC wouldn't be able to enforce the rules against using your PAC to assist your presidential candidacy. the FEC has been effectively shut down by vacancies and the political tussle over appointing their replacement.

May 7, 2008

Bush Slate of Nominees to FEC Is Anything but a Compromise; Conflict Over FEC Appointments Likely to Continue

Statement of Craig Holman, Campaign Finance Lobbyist for Public Citizen

The slate of nominees for the Federal Election Commission (FEC) that the Bush administration sent to the Senate on Tuesday night is anything but a compromise. In fact, the highly partisan and politically charged choices are likely to perpetuate the stalemate that has effectively shut down the FEC since January.

President Bush is calling for the replacement of sitting Republican Commissioner David Mason with Don McGahn, a steadfast Republican Party loyalist who served as general counsel to the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) in October 2002 when that committee attempted to sidestep federal law banning "soft money" in federal elections. McGahn also was ethics lawyer for former Rep. Tom DeLay, who resigned from Congress under criminal indictment.

Mason, who expected to continue serving his FEC term, has questioned the legality of Republican presidential candidate John McCain securing a loan by allegedly using the promise of public funds as collateral and then pulling out of the public financing program.

Meanwhile, Bush wants to keep controversial nominee Hans von Spakovsky, who has become a lightning rod of controversy following public disclosures that he participated in an administration campaign that would have disproportionately disenfranchised low-income and minority voters. Many Senate Democrats have refused to appoint von Spakovsky to the elections agency.

The Bush slate proposes the nomination of three Democrats as requested by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) - Ellen Weintraub, Cynthia Bauerly (assistant to Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.)) and Steven Walther - and three Republicans, Caroline Hunter (former White House official and currently a commissioner on the Election Assistance Commission), McGahn and von Spakovsky.

Appointment of six commissioners to the FEC has been held up by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). McConnell has objected to Reid's suggestion that each of the nominees be confirmed separately, which probably would result in the Senate rejecting von Spakovsky. The White House now suggests that it would not object to a separate vote on each nominee. If Republican congressional leaders were to allow separate votes, the result likely would be confirmation of a five-member commission, with McGahn and Hunter providing a two-member Republican voting bloc.

Barack Obama's election proves that any male can grow up to be president, provided he's willing to use misogyny as a campaign strategy.

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by: campskunk @ Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 19:25:40 PM CDT

duh- link: (0.00 / 0)

http://www.citizen.org/pressro...

Barack Obama's election proves that any male can grow up to be president, provided he's willing to use misogyny as a campaign strategy.

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by: campskunk @ Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 19:26:10 PM CDT

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That SOB Bought Supers (0.00 / 0)

We need to take down the info on specific donations and how districts or states went, and get it out to every PUMA out there.  These are the SUPERS we need to focus on - hit them hard one one specific day and call them out on what they've done.  

They sold their vote.

Dammit they sold out their constituents for a few thousand bucks.

BHO's right about one thing - we need change in DC.  Thing is - Hillary's the one who'll make it happen.

Invest in Women - Change the World
http://twitter.com/alegrescorner

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by: Alegre @ Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 20:07:19 PM CDT

There was a spreadsheet on NoQuarter (0.00 / 0)

the post was weeks ago, darnit! I would transcribe the video, but I have to make dinner.

To be fair, a couple of supers got more money from Hillary. But they were not in the later states, when Obama was winning the fundraising race.

I've been saying it all along, Pelosi and Dean saw Obama's long list of small-donation Internet donors, their eyes got big, and they pivoted to toss Hillary under the bus. Also, Soros backed Obama early.  

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by: catfish @ Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 20:25:43 PM CDT

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I've Gotta Start Checking That Out More Often (0.00 / 0)

I'm so swamped with everything else that I've kind of gotten away from visiting and commenting there.

Iv'e sent a note to the folks who pulled this together to see if they have those facts & figures in a word document.  If they have anything and are willing to pass it along, I'll post it here as an ACTION item, and ask everyone to contact those supers to respectfully request that they honor the wishes of their constituents and back Hillary.

Dean and Pelosi are backing BHO because they know he's full of hot air re that change thing.  Hillary scares them because they know she means what she says and she says what she means.  And if she talks about doing things differently or getting the job done on something they're happy to drag their feet on, then they're goint to pull out all the stops to make sure she doesn't get into the Oval Office.

Invest in Women - Change the World
http://twitter.com/alegrescorner

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by: Alegre @ Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 20:51:31 PM CDT

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I Got the Info On This (0.00 / 0)

No need to type everything out - I've got it in chart form and will post something on this around mid-day on Wednesday.

Then people can call the Capitol Switchboard and ask to be put through to the Supers who've sold their vote for a few thousand bucks to RESPECTFULLY ask that they follow the wishs of their constituents by voting for Hillary in Denver next month.

Invest in Women - Change the World
http://twitter.com/alegrescorner

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by: Alegre @ Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 23:26:16 PM CDT

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Perfect!!! (0.00 / 0)

This is working! I can feel the tide turning. And it's not even August 1 yet!!

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by: catfish @ Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 00:33:47 AM CDT

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This is the type of info (0.00 / 0)

that needs to get out to "the people" by all means possible. We have to shame the Supers for selling out their constituents and thwarting the will of the people and their votes. We need to contact these Supers, the media, email friends, send letters to the editors, etc. This looks like a good action for PUMA Pac or Electability Watch.  

Alice left me in Wonderland.  

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by: grlpatriot @ Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 20:41:46 PM CDT

very damning (0.00 / 0)

and makes me sick.  maybe I can't vote for him?  

Hillary - alternative energy

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by: anna shane @ Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 20:41:53 PM CDT

I really don't know (0.00 / 0)

how anyone can cast a vote in support of him and this scorched earth, buy a nomination strategy. I certainly cannot.  

Alice left me in Wonderland.  

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by: grlpatriot @ Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 20:46:46 PM CDT

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No vote for him, ever. Maybe one for Sebelius, his likely VP nominee, if the DNC behaves. (0.00 / 0)

Btw, if Kaine is the VP nominee -- well, if the DNC behaves, I'd probably throw him my vote.  But I will make very sure I vote for a third party candidate so my otherwise-blank Presidential vote isn't counted for Obama as I'd have "obviously made a mistake and forgotten to fill out the Presidential part of the ballot."  (Yes, I fully expect Wisconsin and every other state to pull this.  So be prepared if you vote a blank slate for President.)

I am disgusted that the Superdelegates were for sale and think that's yet another reason to get rid of them.  If they can be so easily bought, they're not a check on the system -- they're only yet another drain on it.

There's no excuse for this, DNC.  None.

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by: LSekhmet @ Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 20:50:20 PM CDT

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I'm going to (0.00 / 0)

send this information to Granny D and her supporters here in New Hampshire.  They are adamant about getting money out of politics, and many of them have been supporting Obama because they bought his anti-lobbyist line hook, line, and sinker.  They even made excuses from him when he threw public campaign financing under the bus. They're starting to come around though, and this will help bigtime.

Thanks, catfish, for this great diary.

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by: Sharyn @ Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 21:19:31 PM CDT

Good luck Sharyn (0.00 / 0)

I've seen her posts on dkos, she saw everything as racism. Glad to hear you think she's coming around.

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by: catfish @ Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 22:29:06 PM CDT

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