Bush campaign files suit against FEC

[Krimson Klaw]

http://www.tribnet.com/24hour/politics/ ... 2575c.html

NEW YORK (September 1, 9:34 am PDT) - President Bush's campaign asked a court Wednesday to force the Federal Election Commission to act on its complaints against anti-Bush groups spending millions of dollars in the presidential race, arguing that the FEC is failing to do its job.

In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, the campaign argued that the FEC is taking too long to address what the campaign calls illegal spending of corporate, union and big individual donations to influence the presidential race. Its lawsuit seeks a preliminary injunction that would force the commission to act on its March complaint within 30 days. After that, the campaign could sue to block the groups' activities through court action rather than relying on the FEC.

"To prevent these 527s from continuing to violate federal election laws, we have asked the federal court to step in and order the FEC to act," said Tom Josefiak, general counsel for the Bush-Cheney campaign.

Outside groups trying to deny Bush a second term have spent more than $60 million on advertising, far outstripping organizations sympathetic to the president that have vowed a late campaign drive to match their rivals.

More recently, the group Swift Boat Veterans for Truth has aired ads challenging Democratic Sen. John Kerry's decorated Vietnam War record.

Josefiak said that if the court and the FEC both move quickly that it could get action before Election Day and curtail the soft-money groups.

The campaign and Republican National Committee filed complaints in March accusing anti-Bush groups, including the Media Fund, America Coming Together and Moveon.org, of illegally spending large contributions to influence the federal election.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Karl Rove, Bush's chief strategist, said, "We want all (such) ads and activities to cease. We have been consistent on this."

A law that took effect in November 2002 broadly banned the spending of so-called soft money to influence presidential and congressional races.

The anti-Bush groups argue that the ban only applies to activity that explicitly calls for a federal candidate's election or defeat, and say their spending stops short of that.

The Bush campaign views its action Wednesday as the first step in its legal campaign in limiting the group to individual contributions and forcing them to disclose their activity to the FEC. The sponsor of the soft-money ban, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, has said he wants to go to Congress this month with legislation to outlaw the soft-money groups.

WILL IT EVER STOP? YO- I DON'T KNOW, TURN OFF THE LIGHTS AND I'LL GLOW. TO THE EXTREME I ROCK THE MIC LIKE A VANDAL, LIGHT UP A STAGE AND WAX A CHUMP LIKE A CANDLE!

[Metanis]

WILL IT EVER STOP? YO- I DON'T KNOW, TURN OFF THE LIGHTS AND I'LL GLOW. TO THE EXTREME I ROCK THE MIC LIKE A VANDAL, LIGHT UP A STAGE AND WAX A CHUMP LIKE A CANDLE!

Hiya Krimson, sorry but I didn't get this.

Regarding the FEC... don't you think we just need to scrap McCain-Feingold and start over?

[Chmee]

Regarding the FEC... don't you think we just need to scrap McCain-Feingold and start over?

Absolutely. Although instead of starting over we should basically scrap campaign finance restrictions. At most, just have full disclosure of who donates.

[Voronwë]

basically, when George Bush signed the law he approved of 527s.

when George Bush used 527's to trash McCain in 2000 he approved of them

When Bush used 527's to help fund PR during the election recount in the fall of 2000, he approved of them.

Now when Democrats have completely outmobilized Republicans on the internet, and used it as a fundraising tool (moveon.org for instance), all of a sudden 527s are bad.

I have no problem with an organization like moveon.org paying for political opinion advertisements. They represent 2 million US citizens who have donated money to their cause.

The Bush campaign - with some degree of success - is trying to lump all 527 groups into the same basket. The issue is not that because Swiftboat Veterans have lied and distorted a person's war record that all 527s are bad.

But because the GOP is getting hammered by 527s they want to stop them all through the courts. They are much happier suppressing groups that actually represent the political opinion of millions of Americans. Whether you agree with moveon.org or not, that is what they are - an organization formed by normal people, and funded by small contributions from the general public.

I bet the GOP sure hopes they get one of those Activist Judges to hear this case...

[Metanis]

basically, when George Bush signed the law he approved of 527s.

when George Bush used 527's to trash McCain in 2000 he approved of them

When Bush used 527's to help fund PR during the election recount in the fall of 2000, he approved of them.

Now when Democrats have completely outmobilized Republicans on the internet, and used it as a fundraising tool (moveon.org for instance), all of a sudden 527s are bad.

I have no problem with an organization like moveon.org paying for political opinion advertisements. They represent 2 million US citizens who have donated money to their cause.

The Bush campaign - with some degree of success - is trying to lump all 527 groups into the same basket. The issue is not that because Swiftboat Veterans have lied and distorted a person's war record that all 527s are bad.

But because the GOP is getting hammered by 527s they want to stop them all through the courts. They are much happier suppressing groups that actually represent the political opinion of millions of Americans. Whether you agree with moveon.org or not, that is what they are - an organization formed by normal people, and funded by small contributions from the general public.

I bet the GOP sure hopes they get one of those Activist Judges to hear this case...

I really thought you were smarter than this Voronwe.

[Acies]

basically, when George Bush signed the law he approved of 527s.

when George Bush used 527's to trash McCain in 2000 he approved of them

When Bush used 527's to help fund PR during the election recount in the fall of 2000, he approved of them.

Now when Democrats have completely outmobilized Republicans on the internet, and used it as a fundraising tool (moveon.org for instance), all of a sudden 527s are bad.

I have no problem with an organization like moveon.org paying for political opinion advertisements. They represent 2 million US citizens who have donated money to their cause.

The Bush campaign - with some degree of success - is trying to lump all 527 groups into the same basket. The issue is not that because Swiftboat Veterans have lied and distorted a person's war record that all 527s are bad.

But because the GOP is getting hammered by 527s they want to stop them all through the courts. They are much happier suppressing groups that actually represent the political opinion of millions of Americans. Whether you agree with moveon.org or not, that is what they are - an organization formed by normal people, and funded by small contributions from the general public.

I bet the GOP sure hopes they get one of those Activist Judges to hear this case...

I really thought you were smarter than this Voronwe.

Ditto for you Met. Vor stated his opinion in a very comprehendable manner. I understood his point, in fact I doubt I could make it clearer.

Still, this is irony people. Bush bitching about FEC violations and illegal maneuvers with regards to the elections.

[Metanis]

basically, when George Bush signed the law he approved of 527s.

when George Bush used 527's to trash McCain in 2000 he approved of them

When Bush used 527's to help fund PR during the election recount in the fall of 2000, he approved of them.

Now when Democrats have completely outmobilized Republicans on the internet, and used it as a fundraising tool (moveon.org for instance), all of a sudden 527s are bad.

I have no problem with an organization like moveon.org paying for political opinion advertisements. They represent 2 million US citizens who have donated money to their cause.

The Bush campaign - with some degree of success - is trying to lump all 527 groups into the same basket. The issue is not that because Swiftboat Veterans have lied and distorted a person's war record that all 527s are bad.

But because the GOP is getting hammered by 527s they want to stop them all through the courts. They are much happier suppressing groups that actually represent the political opinion of millions of Americans. Whether you agree with moveon.org or not, that is what they are - an organization formed by normal people, and funded by small contributions from the general public.

I bet the GOP sure hopes they get one of those Activist Judges to hear this case...

I really thought you were smarter than this Voronwe.

Ditto for you Met. Vor stated his opinion in a very comprehendable manner. I understood his point, in fact I doubt I could make it clearer.

Still, this is irony people. Bush bitching about FEC violations and illegal maneuvers with regards to the elections.

527's were part of a law that Bush never asked for or advocated.

The best part is that Kerry demanded Bush do something about Swift Boats. Bush is doing something. Now whine he isn't doing what YOU wanted him to do! Does anyone here remember that it was the Democrats who were really pushing for campaign finance reform? Are you guys really into forgetting history that easily?

The Republicans were getting whacked this year on the 527's. I'm sure they were looking for some traction against them. How much better can it get than having John F. Kerry cry foul? Once again, proof positive that Kerry doesn't know when to STFU.

[miir]

Don't even take that bait, Voro.

[Cartalas]

Don't even take that bait, Voro.

hahahhahahah, So when someone is right its bait?


Nice comeback fucktard

[miir]

Cart, you go through cycles.
One week you make decent posts with opinions and sometimes valid points.. then you go through 3 weeks of childish one-liners, personal attacks and profanity laden insults.

It's never been funny or amusing.

I know you're a pretty decent guy but your posts in the current events forum are just a waste of space. Even the king of the inane posts (Winnow) contributes more to this forum than you.

Ease up dude, you're only making yourself look like an idiot.

[Metanis]

Cart, you go through cycles.
One week you make decent posts with opinions and sometimes valid points.. then you go through 3 weeks of childish one-liners, personal attacks and profanity laden insults.

It's never been funny or amusing.

I know you're a pretty decent guy but your posts in the current events forum are just a waste of space. Even the king of the inane posts (Winnow) contributes more to this forum than you.

Ease up dude, you're only making yourself look like an idiot.

Cartalas, you obviously hurt this poor boys feelings. You should be ashamed of yourself!

1 One

2 Two

3 Three

That's long enough and more than he deserves!

Carry on Mr. Cartalas.

[Krimson Klaw]

basically, when George Bush signed the law he approved of 527s.

when George Bush used 527's to trash McCain in 2000 he approved of them

When Bush used 527's to help fund PR during the election recount in the fall of 2000, he approved of them.

Now when Democrats have completely outmobilized Republicans on the internet, and used it as a fundraising tool (moveon.org for instance), all of a sudden 527s are bad.

I have no problem with an organization like moveon.org paying for political opinion advertisements. They represent 2 million US citizens who have donated money to their cause.

The Bush campaign - with some degree of success - is trying to lump all 527 groups into the same basket. The issue is not that because Swiftboat Veterans have lied and distorted a person's war record that all 527s are bad.

But because the GOP is getting hammered by 527s they want to stop them all through the courts. They are much happier suppressing groups that actually represent the political opinion of millions of Americans. Whether you agree with moveon.org or not, that is what they are - an organization formed by normal people, and funded by small contributions from the general public.

I bet the GOP sure hopes they get one of those Activist Judges to hear this case...

Exactly.

[Drasta]

doesn't bush what to possible hold the election because of possible "terrorist attacks"?

[kyoukan]

I really thought you were smarter than this Voronwe.

wow, what a well constructed argument you just made.

I'm wondering though; why do you post?

[Adex_Xeda]

This is one issue where I'm very upset with Bush.

He signed that crap bill thinking the supreme court would not allow it thus him dodging the political negatives of canceling it.

All a sudden the SC allows the law and we get stuck with this restriction of free speech.

It's bullshit. 527s, should not be clamped down on, the campaign finance law needs to be thrown out before other speech restrictive laws are placed on the record.

[Marbus]

Personally, just like all the discussions we have for years on other message boards and in game, Voronwe tends to have some of the most conprehensable, well laid out and factual posts ever made. Unless it's a matter of opinion, which people will disagree on, I would suggest checking your facts before siding against him.

We disagree from time to time but I never worry about verifying his sources as I feel like I have to do with many others...