Hillary campaign EXPLOITS and pushes legal limits of campaign finance law and skirts law

[Exilednight]

She said she supported campaign finance reform, I just didn't know it was to ease restrictions.

Hillary Clinton’s campaign plans to work in tight conjunction with an independent rapid-response group financed by unlimited donations, another novel form of political outsourcing that has emerged as a dominant practice in the 2016 presidential race.

On Tuesday, Correct the Record, a pro-Clinton rapid-response operation, announced it was splitting off from its parent American Bridge and will work in coordination with the Clinton campaign as a stand-alone super PAC. The group’s move was first reported by the New York Times.

That befuddled many campaign finance experts, who noted that super PACs, by definition, are political committees that solely do independent expenditures, which cannot be coordinated with a candidate or political party. Several said the relationship between the campaign and the super PAC would test the legal limits.

But Correct the Record believes it can avoid the coordination ban by relying on a 2006 Federal Election Commission regulation that declared that content posted online for free, such as blogs, is off limits from regulation. The “Internet exemption” said that such free postings do not constitute campaign expenditures, allowing independent groups to consult with candidates about the content they post on their sites. By adopting the measure, the FEC limited its online jurisdiction to regulating paid political ads.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/05/12/how-a-super-pac-plans-to-coordinate-directly-with-hillary-clintons-campaign/

[Renew Deal]

1. Get back to me when she breaks the law

[cali]

6. she's just skirting the law. And she and her advisors know that the FEC isn't

even remotely functional. Her campaign is virtually indistinguishable in this regard from her republican counterparts. Riddled with sleaze.

[DanTex]

15. In other words, she's running a smart campaign.

[cali]

32. sure, if you think ethics are quaint and pointless

[DanTex]

43. Umm, there's nothing about ethics here.

It's about campaign finance regulation, and her efforts to maximize her campaign's effectiveness without breaking the law. It's not like she's pocketing the money people give her.

And given the severity of the consequences if a Republican wins the white house, personally I'm glad we have someone who takes campaigning seriously and isn't just playing games.

[Renew Deal]

17. OK

[tymorial]

51. Cognitive Dissonance: For some its easier to redirect than reflect.

It is the root of all hypocrisy and why people who love their political candidates find reason to condone actions that they previously condemned.

[Scuba]

56. Democrats are excoriating Scott Walker for doing the same thing ... 107 recs on this DU post ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024638239

[forthemiddle]

26. Scott Walker is under investigation

via John Doe II law in Wisconsin for coordination during his recall election. Are you ok with that too?
He claims that he broke no laws also.


There goes another campaign issue to use against Walker if he gets the nomination, after all Hillary does it too!

[Renew Deal]

35. Get back to me when you get a conviction.

Same with Rick Perry's indictment.

[forthemiddle]

38. the point isn't the conviction

Of course he will get away with it (along with Rick Perry). Look at the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
My point is that how do you bring it up as an ethic complaint against him in the general election if our candidate is doing the same damn thing???

[Renew Deal]

44. We're not running against our candidate.

We're running against their candidate.

These types of issues only get people's attention when you've got Hastert style problems. People aren't worried about inside baseball political stories.

[forthemiddle]

45. Maybe I just hate hypocrisy

And I hate the idea of taking any issues off the table.

Maybe I don't think everything the presumed candidate does is ethical, even if it's legal. Inside baseball or not, she was the one that claimed we have to get money out of politics. Maybe she should have added "after I win the next two elections, that is".

[LanternWaste]

37. It can be difficult for the biased to perceive relevant differences when it invalidates that same bi

It can be difficult for the biased to perceive wholly relevant differences when it invalidates that same bias, and makes their bumper-sticker philosophies look like, well... bumper-stickers. Good luck!

[gopiscrap]

2. Any Democratic candidate needs to

you don't think the repukes are doing it also? If that's the case, then you need to wake up to reality. In order to win, we need to be as dirty as they are, if not more so!

[Exilednight]

3. Against other Democratc candidates?

[SidDithers]

4. Don't hate the player, hate the game...

She has to compete on a level playing field with the Republicans. To do anything else is idiotic.

Sid

[cali]

7. that doesn't mean her campaign has to.work closely with these sleazy super pacs.

[DURHAM D]

10. You think David Brock is sleazy? nt

[Segami]

13. Yes.

[Nye Bevan]

5. Accurate subject line: "Hillary campaign scrupulously complies with campaign finance law".

The article itself says that her campaign is abiding by a 2006 FEC ruling. So it doesn't appear that it is skirting new legal boundaries.

[cali]

18. bullshit

Worth of Hillary's own propaganda

[Renew Deal]

20. Your complaint is that everything she's done is legal.

I'm pretty sure people can live with that.

[Nye Bevan]

21. Thank you for that detailed rebuttal. Plenty of food for thought there.

I need to mull over all of those salient points you made.

[Exilednight]

22. You missed this part.

However, the FEC rules specify that online activities are exempted from campaign finance rules if they are conducted by "uncompensated" individuals, campaign finance lawyers noted. It is unclear how Correct the Record, whose staff will be paid, plans to navigate that restriction.

[Nye Bevan]

27. Read the article again; they have posted an update.

They are not relying on the internet exemption that you are referring to.

[Exilednight]

31. Of course they're not going to admit to it.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. Is this the same Hillary who was recently talking about the corrosive influence of money

in politics?

[MisterP]

52. she can say what she wants and the media can report Sanders as the me-too-er

still won't convince anyone other than a few hardliners

[NCTraveler]

9. "pushes legal limits of campaign finance law"

Huge difference in that and breaking the law. Huge. She understands the importance to women, minorities, and the middle-class when it comes to a republican in the white house. This election is serious business and means life and death for some.

"She said she supported campaign finance reform, I just didn't know it was to ease restrictions. "

It doesn't mean to ease restrictions. Very strange comment that really doesn't fit the reality of the situation. Are all of the other candidates only working under the regulations they wish to see with respect to campaign finance. Any name that would be an answer to that is guaranteed to never have the chance to do campaign finance reform at the executive level. After that comment, please let me know the candidate that is currently operating under the regulations they have championed for campaign finance reform.

[Exilednight]

11. The name you seek: Bernie Sanders.

[NCTraveler]

14. Incorrect. Sanders currently has pacs working for his benefit.

As does Hillary with loose affiliations. Until recently, no affiliation. So you are saying that one aspect alone is the deal breaker and makes it to where Hillary will roll back regulation while Sanders will strengthen it. That one thing. That thought process is flawed severely.

[cali]

19. big difference. he is wholly unconnected with them

[NCTraveler]

24. I agree.

Even stated that. If you look at the conversation, I was directly commenting to the fact that this is some kind of proof that Hillary wants to deregulate campaign finance further. A position that requires an impressive display of mental gymnastics. My question was, after the comment the other poster made, which candidate will campaign under the regulations they want, not that are in place. The answer is that no candidate on our side will. When I say our side, I mean progressives. Hillary, Sanders, O'Malley.

[Exilednight]

29. If this goes to court, and it will, her team will have to argue how

The rules shouldn't be applied since the staff at the SuperPAC are paid. That's an expansion, not a retraction of regulation.

[NCTraveler]

34. Has zero bearing on the initial claim of campaign finance reform once elected.

Zero.

[Exilednight]

39. It ruins her credibility. That's the impact.

[NCTraveler]

41. Working within the law to keep racist, biggoted, assoholes out of the executive branch...

will not hurt her like you think. I'm not sure why you think that it would. The fact she is know as a fighter is why she is so popular and loved by so many. Right wingers have been telling me about her awful credibility since the 90's. Didn't buy it back then and not buying it now. She just keeps getting more popular so it appears ignoring Starr and Gowdys thoughts on her credibility have served me well.

[Exilednight]

25. If you read the article, you will know the difference. Connection vs discinnection.

[whatchamacallit]

12. Haven't you heard? She's going to reform campaign finance!

Just as soon as she's done exploiting every abuse.

[MohRokTah]

16. I APPLAUD her campaign doing this!!!!!!

BRAVO, MRS. CLINTON!!!!

If you don't play the game by the rules presented, you lose because the other side will.

Period.

[cali]

23. she's making up her own ethically dubious rules.

[Sheepshank]

33. lol.....apparently it's so annoying that Hillary can works the rules to her benefit

and not actually cross the line to break them...it has some repeatedly upset.

[Exilednight]

53. Read the article again. It's questionable, at best, if this is legal.

[Sheepshank]

54. I did read it...could not find that there was anything illegal.

If maybe I missed something, I would be open to having you point it out.

I often drive 5 miles over the speed limit. That is actually very illegal. I don't think this article could even come up with something this innocuous that has actually crossed any lines of legal vs. illegal.

[MohRokTah]

48. No, she's following the rules in place to the letter.

Any candidate that does not is a fool.

[bigtree]

28. an internet rapid response organization?

...I don't see why this should be such a concern to anyone. It makes sense that she coordinate with them in their responses to accusations and reports offered by folks with their own compromised political baggage. I have no problem with that internet operation being a part of the campaign and neither does the law, apparently.

[Exilednight]

30. You didn't read the article either, I see.

[upaloopa]

36. Thanks, everytime someone responds to this

post it puts Correct The Record in front of more people.
Thanks

[Exilednight]

47. Agreed! Everyone should see how ethically dubious this organization is

[bigtree]

40. I did read the article

...it appears they're adhering to the letter of the law. I don't really think it matters whether the candidate coordinates with this specific internet activity and I don't believe their responses to these reports and accusations (which come from all sorts of compromised sources) constitutes an advertizement under the campaign law.

Funny how differences of opinion can draw a response like yours.

[LanternWaste]

42. Driving 54mph is also pushing the legal limits of driving along a 55mph zoned stretch of road...

Driving 54mph is also pushing the legal limits of driving along a 55mph zoned stretch of road...

[Exilednight]

49. Apples to oranges comparison.

[brooklynite]

46. Filing a complaint with the FEC...

http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures/complain.shtml

Don't be shy; if you think her campaign is breaking the law report it. Or just keep posting anonymous slams.

[Exilednight]

50. Thanks. I was looking for this info.

[cali]

55. why on earth would anyone bother? it's no secret

that the FEC is completely and totally nonfunctional

[wyldwolf]

57. The Clinton's FEC is aiding her