BREAKING: Carson's campaign manager and communications director resign "effective immediately"

[dixiegrrrrl]

Ben Carson's communications director Doug Watts in statement confirms resignation: 'Yes, Barry Bennett and I have resigned from the Carson campaign effective immediately'

posted on Twitter and on Latest Breaking News a few minutes ago.

[Rex]

1. Probably one of the hardest jobs in the world, communicating with Ben Carson.

On any level!

[pengu]

2. Carson's been done since the grain pyramid comments

Good riddance. Too bad the rest of their candidates are also awful.

[Sanity Claws]

3. what does this mean, if anything?

It could mean the campaign doesn't have the money to pay him but I thought I saw an article where Carson got millions recently.
Does it mean infighting in the campaign?

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. Usually, the managers are professionals.....

so they leave a sinking ship as soon as they can in order to find a sounder ship.
Almost always a sign of a doomed campaign.

[gratuitous]

5. What dixiegrrrl said

In addition, coming as it does on the heels of Ben Carson's and Armstrong Williams' earnest protests last week that there was nothing wrong with the campaign, and everything was going well, it suggests that Carson's surgical skills didn't translate to the political arena quite as seamlessly as he'd like to project.

Curious timing of the announcement on the last day of the year. Maybe they're hoping it will slip through relatively unnoticed in this famously dead week for news. In any case, I think the Carson campaign will be "suspended" some time in the next six weeks.

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. He had already suspended it in Oct. to go on book tour.

Seems pretty obvious he is in the race for money.

[Backwoodsrider]

6. life force has left the campaign

Its like dead man walking when MSM covers Carson now. Can Carson keep all the money donated or is it earmarked for campaign only and he has to give it back if he stops running?

[dixiegrrrrl]

10. Under Super Pac rules, he can keep all the money.

Does not even have to closely account for it, just categorize spending areas.

On edit:
Carson campaign raises $23 million in 4th quarter
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141300310


FWIW, Palin is STILL collecting on her Super Pac, made over a million last year.

[Backwoodsrider]

13. thats messed up

And I do not feel sorry for Carson he is probably going to win millions from losing. Trump would probably not be running if this wasn't a cash cow so guess I am not surprised. Oh and you had to bring up Palin?? hehe going to be a great 6 weeks before the primaries!

[awake]

15. If Ben's campaign raises the money not a Super Pac can Ben keep the money?

[dixiegrrrrl]

18. As i understand it, the campaign has much more stringent rules about money.

Which is why Super Pacs were formed.

[awake]

20. But if the candidate can not be connected to a Supper Pac how does he get the money?

[dixiegrrrrl]

21. They can get money thru campaign donations.

Go to a candidate's page, you will see a donation request, in prominent place.
Fund raisers, book sales, many ways to get money besides going thru a Super Pac.

[awake]

24. Your are confusing me

in post 18 you you said "As i understand it, the campaign has much more stringent rules about money" so if it the funds came through the campaign page not a Supper Pac can the candidate still keep the remainder of the funds once he/she drops out?

[dixiegrrrrl]

26. I think I see the confusion....

I just checked and found this:

State and local governments have their own rules, but those running for federal office — including presidential candidates — must abide by strict FEC guidelines when it comes to their extra campaign money.
They can donate an unlimited amount to a charity or political party. They can also, within limits, make contributions directly to other candidates. A campaign committee can give up to $2000 per election to each candidate. If the committee is converted into a political action committee, the limit jumps to $5000 – but to be established as a PAC, the committee would have to be in existence for six months, receive contributions from 50 donors, and make contributions to five recipients.

What candidates can’t do with leftover money is use it for personal expenses. Retiring federal lawmakers used to be able to pocket extra cash and use it for cars, vacations, clothes, pet grooming, whatever — but that changed in 1989 with the passage of the Ethics Reform Act.

http://www.factcheck.org/2008/02/leftover-campaign-funds/

Now, as Colbert explained on his show one evening, you can take Super Pac money and give it all to a foundation ( which has been set up for you personally). Then you can spend that foundation money anyway you please, because it no longer belongs to a Super Pac.
So in essence, a Super Pac can be a money laundering scheme.

I also checked on Palin, since I know she is still running her Sarah Pac. She got over a million bucks last year and ony spent 3% of that money on any candidate.

Here is more info on the issue:
http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2010/03/the-retirement-announcement-la/

[awake]

30. Thank you for this helpful info

[Vinca]

7. Now they have the overwhelming job of rebuilding their reputations.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

16. On the contrary. They'll be in highly sought after due to their ability to raise $$$

$23 million in 4Q!

[Vinca]

25. Doesn't Carson have an arrangement with a group (that is pretty much taking advantage of them)

to raise cash only the contracted firm gets about half the take? I think that's what I read. Just last week there was a story about Carson taking in $8 million and spending $9 million. So the reported $23 million might only shake out to about $12 million for Carson.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

27. I would think that only reflects poorly on Carson

$23 million is $23 million.

[TlalocW]

9. The constantly living in fear...

... of being stabbed finally was too much for them.

TlalocW

[UTUSN]

11. Bwah-ha-HAH!1 DUzy for the whole thread!1 n/t

[Brother Buzz]

12. It's hard work rearranging deck chairs on a pyramid

[Gregorian]

14. Back to making brain salad surgery.

[lpbk2713]

17. "It's my way or the highway."

"Well OK. Since you put it that way. We have what's left of our careers to consider."


I can imagine how the scenario was played out. I can empathize.

Katherine Harris was also another unapproachable tyrant at the end.

[TeamPooka]

19. The only thing left of Carson's campaign is a great SNL parody by Jay Pharoah. nt

[Xipe Totec]

22. This is how you stab with a knife, Carson; in the back. nt

[CAG]

23. Sounds like they just "buckled" under

[no_hypocrisy]

28. What's inexplicable to me is why Carson kept Armstrong Williams.

[tabasco]

29. Circling the drain.

What fascist wannabe dictator will be left standing when the clown car crashes at the off-ramp?