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TechnoratiDemocrats Want Probe Into McCain Decision
Democratic Party officials want a federal judge to order an investigation into whether Senator John McCain violated election laws by withdrawing from public financing.
A lawsuit against the Federal Election Commission, to be filed today in US District Court in Washington, questions the agency's ability to enforce the law and review McCain's decision to opt out of the system.
The Republican presidential candidate, who had been entitled to $5.8 million in federal funds for the primary campaign, decided earlier this year to give up that money so that he could avoid strict spending limits between now and the GOP national convention in September.
Democratic National Committee officials said yesterday that the election commission is unable to act because four of its six seats are vacant. They want a judge to order the commission to begin an immediate review, or allow the Democratic Party to file a lawsuit against McCain's campaign, challenging his decision.
Tom McMahon, the party's executive director, said "there is a compelling public interest in determining whether Senator McCain agreed to participate in the matching funds program so he could get a loan for his campaign, then violated the terms of that agreement so he could ignore the spending cap and raise unlimited money from lobbyists and special interests."
The suit seeks civil fines or an order barring McCain from exceeding spending limits. The Republican National Committee called the suit "total nonsense." "It is now clear that the trial-lawyer Democrats' idea of campaigning for president is to hire lawyers and file frivolous lawsuits," said spokesman Alex Conant.
© 2008 Associated Press
12 Comments so far
Show AllMcCain will be lucky to make it to Nov.
He seems to be having a touch of Alzheimer's disease. Its sad to watch him at his age, this campaign may just kill him.
Who was the Dem candidate the Repugs had questions about his health as they slid Cheney in?
Can you envision a new Mount Rushmore with the chiselled features of the Bush family of presidents, John McCain and possibly little vignettes of Cheney, Rove, Katherine Harris. All work would be donated by the american people and those with the most hours would get an honorary supreme court nomination.
It is just a distraction to avoid going after the real criminals in the White House....another smoke screen.
There is so much corruption in Washington and within the government, they pick another worthless subject to chase...instead of the extremely relevant...like an illegal war...like the housing scam...like Bushco corrupt economics and lies....
One grows weary of these games--as the house burns.
The Real McCain ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og2zYIZbDgo
How about impeaching Bush and company? When it comes to campaign spending, the dems have McPain drowning in their money.
Be nice to the old guy. He was tortured in Hanoi, you know. They made him confess to killing innocent women and children, it was quite traumatic for him. Those women and children were really Communists, so they deserved it.
"I decided to opt out of what now ?" said the befuddled Republican candidate. "I thought this Straight Talking press conference was going to be about the Communists in Iran. I mean Iraq. No, I was right. Iran." said the War Hero candidate, barely suppressing a murderous rage.
Looking accusingly at a young reporter, the Senator snarled "Now, who took my Budweiser hat ?"
The past eight years should prove goverment buy outs mean only the elite really win. If they ever get what they deserve it will only be carried out in the depths of hell.
i'm sure there other investigations that should be underway.
no... not the baseball players using steroids thing.
Violated election laws? So?
bush has violated every law in the nation. So?
It's a complete joke. The Democrats want to probe something. They might as well sit around and pick their nose. That's the only 'probing' they know how to do anyway.
They can't even subpoena a White House aide.
McCain should come out and laugh saying "I broke the law! What are you pansy's gonna do about it?" The Democrats would then hide under their desks or point fingers at Republicans.
Democrats have no credibility left to say they are doing anything. Worthless bobbleheads.
wexlerwantshearnings.com
We CLEARLY NEED reform of our entire system of financing the presidential elections.
A start should be FREE ACCESS to the supposedly FREE AIRWAVES we originally had in this country before the corporations grew to such a level of power that THEY were making the rules.
We need a return of the FAIRNESS DOCTRINE that Reagan gouged away and that added to the continual decline in news coverage.
We need to REMOVE the OPT-OUT clause and REQUIRE that each campaign operate within specific guidelines.
And lastly, we need an END to the "Swiftboat" style of allegedly independent committees who routinely circumvent the pathetically weak laws we currently have.
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