Presidential Campaign Finance Abuse
I forget where I read this, but I did the experiment myself and found it to be true. I believe it demonstrates that the party machine is disguising donations to "the chosen few" Presidential candidates. Here's what I'm talking about:
Go to the www.fec.gov website where they list the individual donations to all the candidates - which are supposedly limited to $2300.
Always selecting on the basis of a large donation, click a candidate's name - then on the contribution by State map, pick a State - then on the next map level, click on a Zip code - [noting down the zip code if you don't know the States by the map]
You'll see a contributors list in alphabetical order. Cut & paste the contributors list from some of the viewable pages...
Repeat the above formula with another big-money-raising candidate from the same political party - using the same Zip code as you did with the previous candidate. You now have two lists of names from the same areas showing the contributors to two "1st tier" candidates. Compare the two lists. In just 20 minutes I found:
Rudy Giuliani
ALAGEM, BENY MR. BEVERLY HILLS CA 90210 03/30/2007 $2300
Mitt Romney
ALAGEM, BENY MR. BEVERLY HILLS CA 90210 03/30/2007 $2300
Mitt Romney
ALBRECHT, ANNE MRS. SAINT LOUIS MO 63124
02/06/2007 $2100
ALBRECHT, CRAIG R MR. ST. LOUIS MO 63130
05/14/2007 $250
ALBRECHT, CRAIG R MR. ST. LOUIS MO 63130
05/16/2007 $96
ALBRECHT, DOUGLAS MR. SAINT LOUIS MO 63141
02/06/2007 $2100
ALBRECHT, EDWARD D MR. ST. LOUIS MO 63130
05/15/2007 $250
Rudy Giulliani
ALBRECHT, ANNE MRS. SAINT LOUIS MO 63124
06/12/2007 $2300
ALBRECHT, CRAIG R MR. ST. LOUIS MO 63130
06/12/2007 $2300
ALBRECHT, DOUGLAS A MR. SAINT LOUIS MO 63124
06/12/2007 $2300
ALBRECHT, EDWARD D MR. ST. LOUIS MO 63130
06/06/2007 $2300
I'll bet the MSM isn't going to report on that!
Of course, this is common
During the general election, you'll find the same people funding both Republicans and Democrats. They are just community minded corporations and action committees that are dedicated to a fair and free election. (sarcasm).
The political party leaders pick the candidates they want, primaries are for picking the one of several that they think will be easiest to get elected, and control, plus getiting alot of free advertising on the news. Why in the world would Fred Thompson be so suddenly popular ? I never even heard much about him before and suddenly he is showing 15 - 30% in the polls ?
It seems unethical, but it's legal
On the FEC website, it's stated that one can contribute $2300 per candidate per election.
of course it's legal -- that's the point
It's legal, and it makes no sense if these people are truly supporters of one of the candidates. Would you give $2k to another candidate as well as Ron Paul? So yes, there's something interesting about this. I'd like to see a study of this comparing *all* the candidates. It would take a lot of energy to complete, but it might have some very revealing results.
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What is begun in anger, ends in shame.
Good catch.
I suspect nobody here is taking that bet, though.
JMR