Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Instead of allowing Mitt Romney to run for President shouldn't we be putting him in jail?

"How much illegal campaign money have I accepted? Let's see here...."
As I am sure many of you remember "Mitt the Twit" went on a gaffe riddled overseas trip to London, Israel, and Poland last month.

Now part of the reason why was to get cool footage for some new political ads, and to demonstrate his foreign policy bonafides. (Yeah THAT worked out well!) But also to raise a little spending cash for his campaign.

U.S. presidential candidate Mitt Romney has reversed course and will let reporters cover his remarks to donors at a fundraiser in Israel.

Gee letting the reporters he invited along to cover his trip, actually cover his trip. What a guy!

But wait, isn't there a possible legal problem with accepting donations from people who are NOT American citizens when you are running for office?

Why yes it appears that there is a problem. A problem that takes the form of the Campaign Reform Act of 2002 that was recently cited in the 2011 Supreme Court case Bluman v. Federal Election Commission. The pertinent portion of which says the following:

(a) Prohibition 

It shall be unlawful for — 

(1) a foreign national, directly or indirectly, to make — 

(A) a contribution or donation of money or other thing of value, or to make an express or implied promise to make a contribution or donation, in connection with a Federal, State, or local election; 

(B) a contribution or donation to a committee of a political party; or 

(C) an expenditure, independent expenditure, or disbursement for an electioneering communication (within the meaning of section 434(f)(3) of this title); or 

(2) a person to solicit, accept, or receive a contribution or donation described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) from a foreign national. 

2 U.S.C. § 441e(a).[fn2] The statute continues to define "foreign national" to include all foreign citizens except those who have been admitted as lawful permanent residents. Id. § 441e(b).

Um, aren't people overseas, who do NOT prove dual citizenship, considered illegal donors under this  statute? And is THAT possibly why Romney has adamantly refused to identify his top bundlers?

And lest you think I am overreacting here, take a look at this article from Veterans Today:

If you go outside the US, if you stay inside the US, if your contributor is living in the US but not a citizen, any money you get can mean years in jail. 

Romney went the whole way, personally campaigning outside the US, soliciting foreign citizens, and humiliating himself and his country with his ignorance and flagrant attempts to trade illegal cash for promises of illegal war. One could hardly break more laws if one wanted. 

Romney has raised millions in foreign cash at fundraising events across Israel and London, those that we know of so far. One table alone gave him a million in cash. None was from American citizens. Fewer than 10% of Romney’s contributors in Israel are estimated to be “dual citizens.” Others may have just flown the money in.

So again I ask, and I don't want to be a dick about this, why is Mitt Romney still allowed to run for President of the United States? And as an addendum, why the fuck is he not being prosecuted?

Anybody?

(H/T to Addicting Info)

P.S. And before anybody raises the issue of the 2008 Obama campaign accepting donations from prepaid credit cards that made it hard to trace the source, let me remind you that has already been addressed:

Lawyers for the Obama operation said yesterday that their "extensive back-end review" has carefully scrubbed contributions to prevent illegal money from entering the operation's war chest. "I'm pretty sure if I took my error rate and matched it against any other campaign or comparable nonprofit, you'd find we're doing very well," said Robert Bauer, a lawyer for the campaign. "I have not seen the McCain compliance staff ascending to heaven on a cloud."

And lest you think this is comparable to what Romney is currently doing, let me remind you that Romney actually TRAVELED OVERSEAS seeking his contributions.  And that he has not yet offered to demonstrate any transparency or accountability for who donates to his campaign.

By the way if President Obama DID actively seek out donations from foreign supporters, as it appears Mitt Romney is doing, he would probably out raise the Republicans, including their SuperPACS, ten to one. 

55 comments:

  1. Citizen's United comes home to roost.

    Blatantly.

    You'll find that all those foreign nationals didn't give him any money. It was their Companies, who have branches in the U.S. that gave the money. And under Citizen's United, they can do that, through a bundler and SuperPac and whatever other loophole there is.

    Just wait and see.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous2:15 PM

      They just funneled it through Sheldon Adelson

      Delete
  2. Anonymous10:37 AM

    Where's the evidence foreign citizens contributed to the Romney campaign?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:47 AM

      Why do you think he went on this little European and Israeli jaunt? It was in all of the newspapers. Try to keep up with the news, please.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:55 PM

      There is no evidence. That's the point.

      Delete
    3. You're an IDIOT. Maybe you ought to educate yourself. MORmON Rmoney, wanted to ban reporters to HIS ISRAELI FUNDRAISER. It was after he embarrassed himself in London. Keep up!

      Delete
    4. Anonymous3:29 PM

      Where is the evidence that a foreign national gave Romney money in one of the fundraiser events?

      Delete
    5. Anonymous3:43 PM

      Here's info on Obama's fundraising abroad from Business week. In that report, the estimate is $600,000+ raised abroad FOR Obama.

      http://www.businessweek.com/videos/2012-07-26/romney-vs-dot-obama-foreign-policy

      Delete
  3. Why is it that all the things the GOP accuses the Dems of is stuff they actually do? From voter fraud (voting from your son's unfinished basement, really Mitt???), to "foreign donations" ...hypocrisy, they name is Republican. Sheesh.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous10:50 AM

    When I look at Romney, he just repulses me! He lies constantly, seems slimy sneaky and from what we are learning has ALWAYS done everything within his power NOT to pay his income taxes!!

    They proved he was a liar as to residency when he ran for Gov of Massachusetts via his tax returns.

    And, now he has picked for his slate a man that he disagreees with publically as to the Ryan Budget and his stand on Medicare! Can you even begin to imagine President Obama and VP Joe Biden not agreeing w/each other publically like that? Gadfree, the Republicans would crucify them!

    Thank god we have amazing President Barack Obama and VP Joe Biden!

    If people across the nation are paying attention to Romney and the history of Ryan (Rachel Maddow did an outstanding show on him yesterday as to his tenure in Congress/House), there is no way they will be elected. They should lose in a landslide!!!

    OBAMA/BIDEN 2012

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous10:52 AM

    Isn't kinda odd that all these so called religionist have such trouble doing the right thing and being ethical? They just pretend at being godly

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:29 AM

      If better than half the people in America still believe in sky fairies, does it baffle you to think that being hypocritical morons who follow Romeny, would be so hard to do? I mean really, if you still believe in sky fairies you'll be capable of any kind of weird behaviour!
      luv from Canada.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:10 PM

      What are sky fairies?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous1:34 PM

      Uhh rhat would be god.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous2:13 PM

      @12:10 God. Are you new to the "internets"?

      Delete
    5. LOL "sky fairies" are god, saints, the afterlife brigade, all the invisible imaginary friends that religionists insist exist.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous3:18 PM

      No, not new to internets. Just hadn't heard the term sky fairies, ok?
      from 12:10

      thanks 2:48

      Delete
    7. Anonymous3:19 PM

      @11:29 am
      "luv from canada": Really? You are full of shit! You aren't from Canada, and certainly not full of 'luv'!!! Fuck you!

      Delete
    8. Anonymous3:42 PM

      @3:19 Yeah, FUCK YOU!

      Delete
  6. Anonymous10:58 AM

    Oops...maybe Romney will have to disqualify himself from the Campaign on his way to JAIL! Which might open the nomination to the only one standing - Ron Paul. Now that would be an interesting primary, hun?!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:27 AM

      Isn't this when the skies light up and Sarah descends on a cloud, with Mansour on her right, and 1st pimp toad is kissing her hem ? (enter stage center) Damn! Who cut the lights?

      Delete
  7. Anonymous11:14 AM

    Lego Hair will be on Greta show tonight- get your popcorn and see if her wig will take off to the Convention. LOL

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous11:18 AM

    This would be outstanding news and jail time for sure except ... unfortunately as a commenter pointed out they will get away with it because it will all have been fundle through "corporations" that have a "mailbox" or "basement" set up here in the U.S. and since corporations are people too they can contribute to the campaign.

    Also does the law apply to PACs and SuperPACs? probably not - it may just apply to the campaign directly - and as long as no one wrote a check to Romney's campaign directly they can't arrest him either.

    Lying and stealing for "God" (the Mormon church) is ok in Mitt's world and any other extreme right so-called Christian too - so it won't matter to them.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous11:21 AM

    Why don't we get Cheney and Bush? Who wants to leave out the Palins?

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous11:27 AM

    The trouble is, what Mitt has done is regarded by the American people as the entrepreneurial spirit. Yes, it's true, even though your politics alone makes it distasteful.

    And the trouble also is, Obama is a black man who is hated by just too many racists, along with a lot of people who truly believe that he was not born in Hawaii.

    To think that anyone will even remotely believe that Romney needs to be thrown in jail is nothing better than delusional. Granted, if the truth were known he probably is guilty of many tax cheating crimes. It's just not American to suspect him. Too bad!

    Get out of the house more and listen to how people are saying that this race is not anywhere near a sure thing for either candidate. Check out a few sites that are slanted right and get an idea on how close this whole ugly political gongshow race this is going to be.
    And what an ugly joke it's going to be if Obama is defeated and you Americans manage to elect someone so bad that he'll make Bush2 look like a walk in the park.
    luv from Canada.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:22 PM

      using the electoral college (each state is alloted votes by population) Obama is projected to win easily. Teabaggers, as we know from the Palinbots will believe what they want to believe.

      With Ryan on the ticket, its easy to point to the Republican desire to end Medicare. And relatively easy to stir up senior anger on that topic. Romney won't make it in November.

      The "down-ballot" races in the House and Senate are now doubly important, but you can breathe easy on the Presidential election. The media wants us to think its a heated race, but that's because they want those big advertising dollars.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous4:38 PM

      I still don't understand why so many 'hate' President Obama due to being a black man! For christ's sake, he is half white!!

      I wonder how many of those white, fat, nasty Republican men throughout the USA have black blood in their family history? Many do and they don't even know it!

      Assholes!

      OBAMA/BIDEN 2012

      Delete
  11. Look, I don't like Romney one bit, but he could have been raising money from expatriates, which is perfectly legal.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous2:10 PM

      But we don't know and he won't tell us. That's the rub.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous2:20 PM

      The US citizens accept the cash from the non-citizens and donate as their own.Else why hold the fund raiser in Israel?

      Delete
    3. Kimosabe3:32 PM

      The Washington Post reported that the folks at romneys fundraising gig in Israel were Americans living there. Not sure I buy that.

      Delete
  12. Anonymous11:47 AM

    Ah, gee wilikers! You know those rules and regulations only apply to the LITTLE people! Rmoney is above all that!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous11:58 AM

    Outraged Mom, Easy enough to check IF he'd release his list of donors. He won't so you can't check. Just the same as him not releasing more of this tax returns. He knows if he does he is a felon probably for both issues (tax dodger and illegal campaign funding.)
    This is just more of his flim flam, hide the salami shit.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous11:59 AM

    In my estimation Rmoney should have been in jail for impersonating a police officer when he wore the state trooper outfit and pulled people over. He is a slimy, entitled scumbag with a wife who matches him perfectly. At least one of his sons did not want him to run for president. Maybe he was afraid Daddy would spend too much of his inheritance buying the position? Completely out of touch with real people.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous12:07 PM

    Is it another Republican?
    O/T
    “I’m running for Congress. How many congressmen or people running for Congress have you heard, put a fence up and start shooting? None? Well you heard it here first. Put troops on the border and start shooting, I bet that solves our immigration problem real quick.” http://tinyurl.com/8vhp9d2

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous3:13 PM

      Yes, that is McCain's "hero" Joe the plumber (who was not a plumber) He lied about owning a plumbing company and he was not even certified, so he is PERFECT for the gop.

      Delete
  16. Anonymous12:24 PM

    Sadly, even though what he is doing probably IS illegal, investigating it and prosecuting it won't happen before the election.

    Trying him in the court of public opinion, yes, lets go for it!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous1:04 PM

    During a quick stop off in Denison, IA on the first day of President Obama’s bus tour across Iowa, there was a young supporter who had to get to the bottom of something that had been puzzling him for some time.

    “Are you Spider-Man’s boss?”

    And the President’s response…

    “Well, I’m the Commander-in-Chief. But Spider-Man is a free agent.”

    http://theobamadiary.com/2012/08/14/i-know-hes-had-other-things-on-his-car/

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous1:06 PM

    Out to lunch today at a restaurant in North Salem, New york. about five minutes after we sat down , in walks Dick Morris and another man. They sit at a table cross the aisle from us. I am fascinated (and appalled, I am there to eat lunch, not heave lunch) and try to eavesdrop discreetly. The man with Morris is a middle-aged character who used to be a Dem but has now 'seen the light' and wants to become a Rethug consultant! Dick tells him he can introduce him to Reince Priebus, yaddda, yadda.

    They then start to speak about the Presidential race. Dick looks around the room, lowers his voice and tells the guy that the Ryan pick is "a disaster" for the Romney campaign. He says that Romney was a lock for a win and coasting to victory (taxes Dick taxes!) and now the outcome is very bleak. The only thing that scared me about what he said is that he's wrong about 90% of the time. When will he be on Faux praising the Ryan pick as a stroke of genius? Stay tuned!

    http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/08/13/1119748/-Dick-Morris-Ryan-pick-a-disaster

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous1:08 PM

    I am not altogether kidding when I say that I don't believe Romney actually wants to be President. It's the best explanation I can come up with for the absolutely idiotic things he says and does ("Obama spent too much time at Harvard!", etc). Maybe he can't stand the thought of the pay cut. A politically astute friend of mine amplifies on the idea: he thinks the campaign is a ploy to ward off later prosecution and jail time for campaign and/or tax malfeasance. A person does have to wonder what's buried in those years of reports he refuses to release.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous1:31 PM

      I kind of agree that maybe Mitt has seen what a mess the country was left in by 'w'. and even magic mitt cant fix it.
      Just like McCain let Palin take the hit for losing, Mitt will let Ryan be the fall guy.
      Obama by 62%
      and last Tuesday I predicted that he's pick Ryan so I hope I am right again.
      And I hope the greedy little prick loses his Rep. seat that he is also running for, 'ya know just in case this VP thing doesn't work out'. Hope he quits and goes rogue like
      the quitter did.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous4:32 PM

      Today on the trail, Romney looks tired and unenthused. He looks like he is forcing himself to campaign.

      I suspect he can hardly believe what is happening to him on this campaign. He picked his VP candidate thinking he had the right guy and that theory has gone to hell very, very quickly. He cannot dig himself out of all the holes he has created himself!!

      Ryan is another politician that isn't what he was built up to be. His long (and only job to speak of) career in Congress is now being reviewed and torn apart showing who he 'realy is'! After they lose the election, it is quite likely Ryan has ruined his career.

      Look at Romney photos taken when he first started running and look at them today - he's aged considerably - has bags under his eyes, etc.

      Where, on the other hand, President Obama, after almost four years of receiving nothing but blocks and crap from Republicans in Congress, always keeps his head up, continues to do his job well and campaigns on top of it!

      He looks wonderful in spite of the fact he has turned completely gray! He always has the positive attitude and beautiful smile.

      Plus, he has great body movement when entering a room or going to the podium where Romney appears odd and stiff.

      Another four years of President Obama and VP Biden serving will allow them to continue improving things for ALL Americans. They won't have to worry about another election. And, they know the ropes far, far better than four years ago.

      I still think President Obama will have a place in history for not only being the first half-black man to be our President but also for being one of our best!

      OBAMA/BIDEN 2012


      Delete
    3. Anonymous5:30 PM

      Poor Romney. He's so used to having people agree with him all the time and used to only being around people like himself. The world is a rough, unruly place and it so obviously disagrees with him. As a big CEO, he's used to passing down decrees and having things done. It just doesn't work that way with us and he's learning that, although his sense of self-inflated denial seems to be made of rubber.
      M from MD

      Delete
  20. Anonymous1:22 PM

    Colbert On ‘Bold’ Paul Ryan Pick: ‘White, Christian And Male!’






    0
    inShare.

    share










    David Taintor-August 14, 2012, 8:39 AM6745
    Paul Ryan for vice president was no safe choice for Mitt Romney. There was another word for it, Stephen Colbert said Monday: Bold.

    “So daring! I mean, white, Christian and male? That’s a triple threat of not threatening to me.”

    It’s the youngsters who are most excited for Ryan, Colbert added. “After all, he’s the chairman of the House Budget Committee. Or as the kids call it, the ‘budge.’ This dude wants to cut government entizzlements.”

    Watch the video:

    http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/08/colbert-paul-ryan-vp.php?ref=fpnewsfeed

    ReplyDelete
  21. Gryphen, there you go again. Always putting Mittens down simply because he's better than your precious Barack HUSSAIN Obama.

    Don't you understand that when Mittens is inaugulated in January, he isn't ONLY going to be representing rich people in Amercia? He's going to be the representing rich people from all over the world, from every walk of life.

    Unlike that Obama fella, Mittens'll be looking out for the interests of a wide range of people from the lowliest shipping magnate to the workaday media mogul to the struggling oil potentate to the downtrodden hedge fund master of the universe without any regard to their race, religion or country of origin or country of residence. When you make a campaign contribution to Mittens, Mittens' got your back!

    And THAT is why I have endorsed Williard Milliard Mittens "Mitt" Rmoney for president in 2012.

    MITTENS/THAT OTHER GUY 2012!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous3:30 PM

      I LOVE you!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Delete
    2. Anita Winecooler8:15 PM

      Vote Mittens/That Other Guy 2012!!!

      Free Bernie Madeoff, he's just a misunderstood millionaire capitalist, exceptional American Patriot!

      Amiright, comrade Beldar Torus Klaatu ?

      (If that's his real name, though I have my doubts!, I mean "Made off"/ Madoff/ Maddow DO sound kind of similarly far fetched!)

      And yeah, I like you, I REALLY like you in a cyber platonic Sally Fields flying nun gidget kind of way.

      Delete
  22. Sharon2:05 PM

    I am waiting for the rest of Ryan's voting record on women's issues to start. One wonders who will provide for all these unwanted babies they insist be born. There is never an answer from those no abortion fanatics, they are gutting every single safety net for the poor. I was a divorced mother of 2 toddlers and had a good job with benefits, and it was really hard to raise those kids, I landed up selling my house to get them both thru college. I am very aware of the life of a single mother and it was filled with side jobs for 20 years just to keep all the balls in the air. There were no vacations or new cars or new anything except for them. I consider myself lucky I was able to work myself to death 7 days a week...but what about the women who can't, what happens to them? To those unwanted babies? Why doesn't anybody talk about that, their smaller government is willing to devote all their time and money voting and enforcing anti abortion laws but not a word about supporting them after their born. No healthcare, no foodstamps...no nothing. These people are the least Christian and are just evil monsters...maybe they should bare the burden of raising these children.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sharon,

      Very well said.

      Delete
    2. Anita Winecooler8:23 PM

      Thanks, Sharon. Women are just line items to be slashed to pay down the debt and lower millionaire Tax Rates. Fetuses are people, but your entire post rebuts the GOP ticket.

      Delete
  23. Anonymous2:12 PM

    'Stars Earn Stripes,' NBC Reality Show, Criticized By Veterans And Military Reporter

    Veterans Trash Todd Palin Reality Show: 'I Hope It's Canceled'

    HuffPost Live's Ahmed Shihab-Eldin was joined by military veterans and HuffPost's Pulitzer Prize winning Senior Military Correspondent reporter David Wood Tuesday morning for a discussion on NBC's new reality show, "Stars Earn Stripes." The veterans, including US Army veteran Jennifer Hunt, Afghanistan veteran Matt Zeller, and retired US Army infantry soldier Joshua Flashman, criticized NBC for the show, which puts celebrities into quasi-basic training-like situation and features Todd Palin among its contestants.

    "I hope it's canceled, and I hope it's replaced with a nightly review of the casualties lost that day," Zeller said, while Hunt focused her critique on the disservice the show pays to female service members.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/14/stars-earn-stripes-nbc-re_n_1776653.html

    ReplyDelete
  24. Anonymous2:47 PM

    The Obama Campaign Calls Romney a Hypocrite For Outrage Over Biden Remark

    Tired of playing games, the Obama campaign has called out Mitt Romney for his hypocritical outrage over Joe Biden’s in chains remark.

    The Obama campaign had a strong response for Mitt Romney’s latest attempt to avoid talking about the issues.

    Here is the statement from Obama For America:

    For months, Speaker Boehner, Congressman Ryan, and other Republicans have called for the ‘unshackling’ of the private sector from regulations that protect Americans from risky financial deals and other reckless behavior that crashed our economy. Since then, the Vice President has often used a similar metaphor to describe the need to ‘unshackle’ the middle class. Today’s comments were a derivative of those remarks, describing the devastating impact letting Wall Street write its own rules again would have on middle class families. We find the Romney campaign’s outrage over the Vice President’s comments today hypocritical, particularly in light of their own candidate’s stump speech questioning the President’s patriotism. Now, let’s return to that ‘substantive’ debate Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan promised 72 hours ago, but quickly abandoned.
    The Romney campaign has been doing their best to gin up outrage over Biden’s, “in chains” remark today. In fact they are trying to get any controversy going that doesn’t involve discussing how Mitt Romney feels about Paul Ryan’s record, Ryan’s budget, Ryan’s stance on Medicare, or Paul Ryan in general.

    It’s pretty easy to see what’s going on here. This is another attempt to try to change the narrative of the day, and put the Obama campaign on the defensive.

    The Romney campaign is reeling right now. To the surprise of no one but the Romney folks, the selection of Paul Ryan has been controversial...

    http://www.politicususa.com/obama-campaign-calls-romney-hypocrite-outrage-biden-remark.html

    ReplyDelete
  25. hauksdottir2:51 PM

    It will be at least a couple of years before anybody gets around to investigating Romney's overseas contribution problem. Candidates rely upon accountability being long after the election.

    We may not know who is contributing how much, but we do know this: those fundraising parties (rooms, tables, catering & service), transportation, hotels, advertising, postage, are contributions "in kind". Deliberately going outside the US to raise millions of dollars for a candidate reveals all the worms in the canning factory.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anonymous3:35 PM

    I received a begging letter from the Romney campaign today. The mailing address is Massachusetts. I thought he was living in Utah. Anyway, I wrote a note telling the campaign people that I would never vote for Mitt Romney, that I consider him a hypocrite, that his career of company gutting and employee sacking was disgraceful, that his hiding money in foreign accounts to avoid US taxes was unpatriotic. I told them never to send mail to my address again and never to call my phone number. I also added that my campaign contributions were going to Obama/Biden 2012. I think Mitt Romney is despicable.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Anonymous11:02 AM

    Interesting... if you look at Obama's tax records, he even lists foreign income. Oh, this commentary is full of whole and facts.

    ReplyDelete

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