McSame as Bush (0.00 / 0)

Was a lot more effective ad. IMO. It clearly shows that they are the same not that they are just saying the same thing.

But yes. That is the strategy that seems to have been settled on. I got a mailing from my state party connecting Bush and McCain. And if that works it will be a blowout for us. But those 527's need to have a little more fundraising success so they can air those ads.

Also hopefully the Iraq Recession campaign will heat up beacuse that is the next strongest message. Maybe even stronger.

John McCain: Beacuse lobbyists should have more power

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by: Populista @ Tue Apr 15, 2008 at 00:38:37 AM UTC

527s confuse me (4.00 / 1)

So I seem to remember that around 2004, Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and MoveOn both ran ads against specific candidates, and both got fined, because apparently it's illegal or something to use a 527 to specifically advocate either for or against a candidate, if you do that you're supposed to register under the restrictions of campaign finance laws because otherwise 527s just become what "soft money" used to be. Right?

Now I see, first a couple Republican "independent groups" popping up over the last few weeks that seem to exist only to run attack ads on Clinton/Obama, now a left-wing nonprofit to match that seems to exist only to run attack ads on McCain.

Is this legal? Is there some loophole these things are falling under? Or do these organizations just plan to go ahead and violate election law while the FEC lacks a quorum, and then happily eat the fine the FEC eventually gives them as a sort of surcharge? I honestly don't know what's happening here. Can someone explain?

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by: mcc @ Tue Apr 15, 2008 at 01:07:27 AM UTC

I'd like to know too (4.00 / 1)

It seems the fines are laughable.  Here is the FEC press release:

The Federal Election Commission announced today that it has reached settlements with three 527 organizations accused of violating the federal campaign finance laws during the 2004 presidential election.  The League of Conservation Voters 527 and 527II, MoveOn.org Voter Fund, and Swiftboat Veterans and POWs for Truth have collectively paid almost $630,000 to settle charges that they failed to register and file disclosure reports as federal political committees, and accepted contributions in violation of federal limits and source prohibitions.  The Commission approved all three conciliation agreements by a vote of 6-0.  

New Jersey politics at Blue Jersey.

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by: Hopeful in NJ @ Tue Apr 15, 2008 at 01:11:39 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yeah (4.00 / 1)

the 527s just consider the fines part of the cost of running the ad.

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by: Valatan @ Tue Apr 15, 2008 at 01:36:03 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I think (0.00 / 0)

As long as they don't say "Don't vote for John McCain" it is technically legal but the fines are chump change compared to what is spent so it doesn't really matter.

John McCain: Beacuse lobbyists should have more power

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by: Populista @ Tue Apr 15, 2008 at 01:52:50 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

So like (4.00 / 2)

"John McCain is a crazy old man who will kill us all" is legal, but "John McCain is a crazy old man who will kill us all, don't vote for him" is not?

Wow

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by: mcc @ Tue Apr 15, 2008 at 03:14:06 AM UTC

[ Parent ]