Ad draws big fine for GOP group

[Freddie Stubbs]

Elections board levies record penalty for pro-Ballantine spot

SHARIF DURHAMS

Raleigh Bureau


A Republican group got slapped with a $196,260 fine Thursday -- the largest in state elections history -- for using illegal contributions to run ads boosting GOP gubernatorial candidate Patrick Ballantine.

The group, the Washington-based Republican Governors Association, said it would probably appeal the ruling by the N.C. Board of Elections. The group's director, Ed Tobin, said the ruling wasn't based on the law, but based on the power of the incumbent Democratic governor.

"This fine is yet another example of Governor (Mike) Easley's friends changing the rules in the middle of the campaign in an effort to shut down a full discussion of the issues," Tobin said in a statement.

Board of Elections Chairman Larry Leake said staff members are still looking into whether a group of Democratic governors who call themselves the State Capitol Media Project broke the law as well by running an ad slamming one of Ballantine's votes.

more: http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/9625703.htm

[Gman]

1. Appeal, delay then its a cost of doing business

they plan on these fines and more have more than enough cash to cover the fines. They consider it a cost of doing business.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

2. Bringing morality back to politics,

one illegal contribution at a time.

[Moderator]

3. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=815386