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Subscribe to RSSAt President Obama’s birthday fundraiser in Chicago tonight his supporters can see and be seen at a dinner and concert (featuring pianist Herbie Hancock, among others) at a cost of up to $35,800 per person. The money will be divided between the president’s re-election campaign and the Democratic National Committee.
But this event is different from Obama’s 2008 fundraisers in that it’s part of the first presidential campaign conducted under the freewheeling rules set by the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United decision – a ruling Obama denounced, saying would “open the floodgates for special interests.”
That decision allows donors to give undisclosed amounts of money to groups that run TV and radio ads calling for a candidate’s defeat or election. It also allows corporations, trade associations and labor unions to directly spend money on ads calling for a candidate's election or defeat.
NBC's Domenico Montanaro reports.
The law prohibits these groups from coordinating their activities with a candidate’s campaign. (In July, NBC's Domenico Montaro took a look at the Super PAC impact, watch here).
Aided in part by the Citizens United ruling and prior ones, independent groups unconnected with a particular candidate or political party spent than $300 million in the 2010 midterm elections. They’re likely to play a big role in 2012 as well.
So do such fundraisers such as Obama’s Wednesday night event at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago fade in importance in the 2012 campaign because so much money will likely be spent by those outside groups operating under the Citizens United ground rules?
Short answer: Not at all.
Here’s why: as a presidential candidate, “you want to have control of your message, you want to call the shots and be able to spend the money where you want to spend it,” said Michael Beckel, an analyst with the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, a Washington group that tracks money in campaigns.
And in the era of Citizens United, a robust campaign treasury is needed to provide a shield or counterstrike capability when the outside group suddenly unleashes a barrage of negative ads in a decisive state. “Any candidate will be fearful that outside groups will spend money against him, and therefore he’d want to be able to have enough money to defend himself,” Beckel said.
Larry Noble, the former general counsel at the Federal Election Commission who’s now in private practice at the Skadden, Arps law firm in Washington, said, “I’m sure they (those running the presidential campaigns) are very happy that there are independent groups out there supporting them. The practical reality is that it’s not hard for those independent groups to know what the campaign is doing and to make sure their activities are supportive of the campaign. But at the same time, the campaigns would rather have control of the money themselves.”
But he added that independent groups can do what the campaigns themselves are sometimes reluctant to do: run caustically negative ads attacking an opponent. “They can say things the campaign wants to keep a distance from,” Noble said.
This may be especially true in Obama’s case since he appealed to some independent voters in 2008 as the man who said he wouldn’t engage in “the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long.” independent groups can dispense those three Ps -- petty, partisan poison -- as much as they’d like.
But consider this hypothetical under the current campaign finance law: a strategist working for the Obama campaign has a discussion at the local Caribou Coffee with a strategist working for a well-funded outside group supporting Obama.
If the Obama strategist were to casually mention, “We don’t anticipate we’ll be investing in TV and radio in Missouri or Georgia….” and if the outside group then went ahead and spent money on TV ads in those states, would that be considered coordination – which is prohibited by campaign finance law?
“As hard it may be to understand why, that may not be coordination,” said Noble. “There’s still some disagreement at the FEC over exactly what that means…. Under the new FEC coordination rules that may not be coordination. You’d have to look at timing and whether you are talking about specific ads and what those ads said.”
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"But this event is different from Obama’s 2008 fundraisers in that it’s part of the first presidential campaign conducted under the freewheeling rules set by the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United decision – a ruling Obama denounced, saying would “open the floodgates for special interests.”
Guess it's like the guy that stapled his 'nads together.
He said " If you can't lick 'em, join 'em."
Like the old saying goes; if you can't beat - join em!
Just take a look at obscene amount of money the Koch Brothers are spending up in WI in the recall elections?
They're not doing that out of the 'goodness' of their heart - it's all about protecting their investment (Gov. Walker)!
True, it's the only way to have a fighting chance.
The only way your guy can win is through advertising?
Jody, um, he is the President. He can "take it to the people" whenever he wants.
Unfortunately he has taken it to us, and we are a little worn out.
There also is that small matter of his actual record. See no more Hope, we got results.
And I presume all you libbies are good with those results? He has kept nearly all his promises.
Wait, has he kept any?
Well , in any event advertising or no, he's all good right?
Psst: Hillary 2012.
So the righties are mad because President Obama is playing by their rules?? Go figure
President Obama 2012
OMG!!! drive by. You owe me a new keyboard. Too funny!
Obama's re-election is a referendum on his record, and it's not good, not good at all. No amount of money will change that fact.
President Someone-Else 2013
Ditto what Matthew said. LoLoL
Oh Spanky butt,
There you go again putting the pres down. How far would you get in a tug of war with a majority (house) always saying no. We also forget how little power any president really has, look at all the things they can not do alone because our system requires a vote of the house and senate. So you say look at all the bad he has done, if there is any other than in your mind he had GOP help somewhere intended or not. I am sure some of your libbies are not happy with everything he has done, but at least he is trying. Better than sitting on your butt and saying NO to everything and taking a vacation every third week because saying NO is so stressful. I see your spelling has improved, must have cooled off a little, collected your thought to bitch another day. Do you have anything positive to contribute or is your life really this sour?
Spell check, every fourth post.
Obama is the president. You can't blame the House. Or how about this, as my buddy dangerfield has pointed out, there are only a total of 65 nasty tea party freshmen, and of those only a few voted against the debt ceiling bill.
Yet there are 80 Progressive caucus memebers and even more CBC members.
But sure Tis he has tried and that's the problem. His ideas do not work. They don't work here, and they sure did not work in Europe.
ere screwed by debt now - 10 years we spent $28 trillion. But Obama says we will spend $43 Trillion over the next ten years.
Tis - how's that going to work out for you? I'm thinking it will be very sucky.
Now this one was not spell checked. :)
The President had a House and Senate that said YES for 2 solid years.
Thank GOD we finally got someone in DC to say no. Seems it was catchy, as Harry, Scary and Barry got in the act this time around.
And what did compromise bring us? A lousy bill, no real reduction in spending, new lows in childishness on both sides, and more debt that all of Europe and Asia (ok, I am guessing on that last one!)
Oh I don't know Spanky. Germany has low unemployment, are about to close down and decommission their nuke plants, they take the whole month of August off, are about to get off imported oil, they have Oktoberfest, have socialized medicine, a high Unionization rate......
Living standard sounds pretty high to me cupcake.
How do you s'pose all this escaped the notice of the republik Party, hmmmmmm?
Germany also has some kick ass tax policy.
Check out how they tax manufacturing that is exported.
How did that escape the dems?
We'll see how Germany does, the poor bastards now own Greece, Portugal and Spain.
Tell you what also - they make soerockin' automobiles. New 911 is due out in November. :)
Spanky, are you familiar with how our system works at all. Take for example submitting a budget, does the president have the power all unto himself to pass whatever budget he wants? Don't think so. How does he spend 43 Trillion all by his lonesome, NOT
As for his Ideas working again you are not specific, from my count he has not had many ideas passed to know if they would work or not. Every GOP complains about healthcare but I have yet to here what is not working there either. Don't forget about all the crap your buddy Bush left us with that did not work, like a multi trillion dollar debt and no way to pay for it that we did not have when he took office, how about all the lies he told us like WMD in Iraq to justify his showing dad how to win a war, hows that working for ya Spanky butt. You really want to throw stones from that glass house you live in. How about Bush being tried for war crimes, he can not even travel out of the US safely for fear of being arrested, boy do you know how to pickem. Now rather than your normal BS come back with specifics on your claims of what Obama ideas have not worked that have been put into LAW.
Spanks: first, spell check. Try it.
Second: seems like everything was okey-dokey until 1980 came round, and our trade policy was changed by Reagan,....and that other republik Party guy,...what was his name,...oh yeah, Clinton.
Paul F. I guess we know what the F stands for. Which Party has put a NO vote to everything, gee GOP! Bad compromise, what compromise. GOP, give me what I want or I will let the country go down in flames no biggie. Pull your head out and get some air you TParty moran, that how you spell it, I saw it on TV.
a Lousy bill the Boner is happy with because as he stated on TV he got 98% of what he wanted so who's lousy bill it is crack head.
Tis - that figure $3 trillion is from the White House's website. Plus there has not been a budget for over 800 days, as you know, and yet we as a country have gone through a whole lot of $ in that period. So where is the Senate's budget? There is a law that requires the Senate to pass one every year.
One specific example is Obaamacare - remember that pesky little tax on medical devices? The one we said would cause job losses? Yep, Merck is about to lay off 2000 workers in their medical devise division. His law, his consequences.
So will he come up with a plan? Won't it be fun to find out.
Oh and one final thing - you do realize, "Tis the Season" that Spanky is not actually my name? Perhaps spanking people's butts is a fetish of yours, but I just thought you might want to consider that fact as you formulate a response.
So now I don't hear Obama apologizing for doing the same thing he criticized others for doing... Funny how that Supreme Court decision worked out for him as well. And it must be nice to take off from work to celebrate your b-day... I'm glad all the country's problems are solved that you had time to eat some cake and collect more money from big donors...
OMG......I see the first crack in the liberal (Wisconsin recall issue) The big 14 are setting up the failure excuse! Its going to be the Liberal Cha Cha all over again.....Koch Koch Koch cha cha cha! Can we get a Rove Rove Rove......and then maybe a few Bush Bush's Thats the way you do the hokie pokie! You guys amaze me! I mean really, all you have to do is look up the US recall history and see how many people have been successfully recalled. I think 1 (single) person has been since 1929! Wonder what the Vegas odds would be?
I have a very simple solution to all of this. Change the law so that only those eligible to vote in an election are allowed to contribute to candidates in that election. That means that only people in a congressional district can donate to candidates for that congressional seat; only residents of a state can donate to senate candidates in that state; and only legal US residents with the right to cast a ballot for president can donate to a presidential candidate. This will take all of the corporate money out of politics and give the government back to the people it is supposed to represent. Shut down all the PACs and special interest groups that take money from anyone and use it to manipulate elections to suit their purpose.
Another alternative would be to go to publicly funded elections. Each person who gathers enough signatures to be put on a primary ballot would be given a set amount of money for their primary campaign. Following the primaries each nominee would be given a set amount of money to use in their general election campaign. This would take money completely out of the decision process and prevent a wealthy person from trying to buy an election. Although they both failed, we saw two very egregious examples of this in CA in the last election cycle. Two billionaires, Carly Fiorina and Meg Whitman, tried to use their wealth to buy public offices.
Let's make our elections about the people that are supposed to be represented again.
I think that what has all of the Republican's panties in a wad is that President Obama is playing their game by their rules and beating them.
Looks like the real money knows that President Obama will be reelected and they are either supporting him or not wasting money on losing campaigns.
Obama's buddy Soros and all the others were there. Isn't it nice--he is always campaigning on our dime? Spend us into oblivion Obama and Clinton's mandates of giving home loans to unqualified buyers. You guys are great at getting votes, but terrible for the economy.
Citizens United--the gift that keeps on giving. Big money has been in politics since our early days. The only thing I would like to see is the donors names and dollars made public and any political ads must contain in print that can be read and be spoken on air stating exactly who paid for the ad.
I know this article is about the big money donors; however, it should be noted there will also be a celebration for the far less wealthy which President Obama will attend.
You're correct Jody - I believe the tickets for the Aragon Ballroom were $50.00 and they are sold out!
Sort of shoots the NJ nut jobs theory don't it? lol
Jody
Agreed, I do not like that big money is involved to begin with but I could live with it if their was full disclosure. We had a chance to correct the Citizens United decision but the GOP filibustered the "Disclosure Bill" and now they are mad because President Obama is going to play by their rules. - Hypocrites.
Indeed, just like when the President outflanked them and refused public finance money in 2008. Unfair. Unfair.
And when Michele Bachmann's husband accepts Medicaid dollars to repurpose gays, she said words to the effect of, "why not," it was legal, wasn't it?"
Just depends on which side your bread is buttered, in more ways than one ;-)
Yo AM - that's why I like mine buttered on both sides.
That whole butter is bad for you was proven to be a myth, right?
I'm glad all those unemployed people will be able to afford that $50 a ticket celebration for Obama. Let's see...buy groceries for the family or go see Obama...YEAH...I'm going to see da man! Too funny! More nonsence from the left!
Coming in 2016, the President of the United States, bought to you by BP, Shell, Microsoft, GE, Halliburton, Boeing, GM, Ford, Chrysler, Lockheed Martin, Northrup Gumman, AARP, BlueCross Blue Shield, et. al.
Why not - after all they bought the 2010 elections for the GOP/TP.
Navy,
Two wrongs don't make it right.
Navy,
So you are admitting that Obama is no better than the Republicans? I'm shocked! You best not let all your liberal buddies read that...you will get kicked out of the club...
Obama hasn't been able to do much of what is necessary to fix the economy thanks to McConnell and Boehner but he is still a better choice than anything the Republicans have to offer. They have all become hipocrites. They lie at every opportunity to gain the upper hand in a conversation and they lie without regret. I have been watching them in the news showing a massive amount of disrespect towards our president. I am ashamed they are fellow Americans. Their personality and politics is better suited in countries like Syria.
Golly I wonder AnaB - did you not used to watch the news back when Bush was pres.?
There was a little disrespect back then too. Were you disappointed that Pelosi and Reid, to name a few of the disrespecting people were not shipped to Syria?
Of course you sere not. It never seems to be the methods you dislike, just the side they are being used against.
Classic.
Spanky,
Dig up a video of Pelosi or Reid saying Bush lied while congresss was in session or out of session. Dig up a video where Bush was disrespected by "deadbeat dad" Joe Walsh like representative or senator for that matter. Dig up a video where Pat Buchanan or any pundit called Bush or any other president "your boy". Dig up a video where any Congress manufactured a crisis at the cost of much money and jobs just to make sure a President is a one term president and stated so on TV. Dig them up and share the links. I'm not talking about the cheezy Breitbarts of the world I'm talking about Senators and Representatives. Like McConnell and Walsh and Wilson, etc. etc. etc. Don't bother with any Bush is a war criminal video because he is. It is clear as day he is a war criminal and should be prosecuted for it. He can't even travel to Europe because of it. He realizes he can be arrested and stand trial for his crimes. So anyone calling him a criminal was factually correct. If I had a problem with Obama about anything it would be the fact that he didn't push for the prosecution of Cheney and Bush for war crimes. But dig the rest up and post the links.
Maybe a little disrespect, but not the all out 24/7 faux's why we hate the president.
I use to watch faux in those days and I can't remember faux ever being negative about Bush. I remember them pushing his every wish.
You would be lying through your teeth if say bush went through anything near what Obama has.
Bush deserved it, look at where our debt is today due to the out of control republican spending. Tax cuts, the wars all unfunded the debt climbing and never the thought to raise taxes. The now born again fiscal conservatives brought us this mess. The republican management brought us into a recession.
Any money Obama has spent so far is trying to get us out of the mess the republicans got us into. I say republicans rather than bush because a lot of them are still in congress acting dumb like they don't know how the debt got so high.
Are you kidding?
Bush 'Assassination' Film Makes Waves Across the Pond
If that is not enough for you nothing will do.
AnaBanana,
Are you sure you live in the US?? Because the last time I checked you are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law of a crime, but alas if you said it's true then then it must be! It's truly amazing what a fringe minority like you believe with that idiotic claim. I bet you believe that the Earth is flat, right? And if someone was delusional to actually believe you, then every member of Congress that voted to go to war should be held equally liable, but then that would include some liberal buddies.
And your point?
By the way, that particular logical fallacy is called "pointing to another wrong."
But Congress didn't lie to the President. HE lied to them.
Anna Molly,
Congress had the intel as the President... You liberals can stop anytime with not admitting complicity in your so-called war crimes nonsense...
Obama wrote: "In February 2007, I proposed a novel way to preserve the strength of the public financing system in the 2008 election. My plan requires both major party candidates to agree on a fundraising truce, return excess money from donors, and stay within the public financing system for the general election. My proposal followed announcements by some presidential candidates that they would forgo public financing so they could raise unlimited funds in the general election. The Federal Election Commission ruled the proposal legal, and Senator John McCain (R-AZ) has already pledged to accept this fundraising pledge. If I am the Democratic nominee, I will aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election."
What happen next? He backed out.
Seems kinda like his take, as a senator, on the debt ceiling.
Consistently inconsistent.
John McCain did not agree to the proposal. Obama is not a fool.
How's that FEC Audit going?
Senator Obama's speech on the debt ceiling was not inconsistent. He as an adult looked at the spending for the wars, no indication the republicans would raise taxes. Any person who cared about our country would have spoken up. He didn't try and hold our country hostage, he gave his speech and voted.
Well now it seems, Senator Obama was right. The republicans in charge should have done something then because look at where we are today.
Got that Senator Obama was correct in his speech. He saw what was coming, the republicans wouldn't listen and now you try to paint Obama as the reckless one.
WOW Americans First...
NICE SPIN!!! Man...you should be in Obama's upcoming campaign!! They could use a guy like you!
Americans First,
What are you talking about? Did I miss something?
You guys have missed a lot.
Instead of mocking it, try reading his speech and see if what he said is true. When I read it after being posted here by a conservative trying to make the president look bad. The first thing I though was they should have listened.
Americans,
The simple truth is that he flip flopped on the issue of voting to raise the debt ceiling. Either he was grandstanding when he was a senator or he's grandstanding now. So which is it? I know you would like to spin it otherwise, but you can't. He should have just admitted he was wrong (either then or now) and move on...
[Consistently inconsistent.]
Much like yourself, right Schpanky?
Lucious
Read and get an EDUCATION.
"McCain kept his promise to stay in the public financing system," said spokesman Brian Rogers. "Obama broke his out of pure political self-interest and went on to raise $150 million in one month."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122455082328052539.html
Ditto what Ana says. It's totally ridiculous, how can Obama be blamed or not creating jobs when everything that the Democratic House sent to the Senate has been filibustered or threatened to be filibustered. If anything is Un-American it's the Rep/Tea Party who are.
You need to get your facts straight, but you won't.
..
rep joe walsh should pay his child support. if he is not paying his court ordered child support what else is he not paying? hmmmm maybe taxes?
I GUESS ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE PRIVILEGES.
He should not be allowed to vote until he fulfills his legal obligations.
Old Joe Walsh also thinks that the government shouldn't pay it bills either.
Trust me AF - the line is already forming outside for Joe's town hall...
This dead beat a@@hole will be lucky if he's able to sit down for a week after, his constituents are done with him! ;o)
PS: Thank you for the kind words earlier on First Thought's - glad you're on board!
When they caught up with my dead beat husband after 10 years, they emptied his bank accounts and turned his drivers license off. He had to pay me the rest before he could his drivers license back.
Joe is getting his.
Who says Karma's not real.
Who would have guessed, in deep blue state Illinois, a conservative like Joe Walsh got elected to Congress?
Guess having wacky moonbats like Feisty in their district drove sane Democrats and Independents to the GOP !
Bob,
Your constant hate eats at your soul. If you tried typing what you believe instead of thinking you always have to have a slur about someone people might read what you type. Honestly Bob, most of your post are so toxic I can't read them.
Can you answer like a human or does the hate machine go on?
To any of you big shots in Washington, "any party is fine".
I have been out of work and can't find one in 2 years
How about a round trip ticket for me & my wife to Hawaii for one week vacation with all expenses? Hotel, breakfast, lunch, diner, car rental?
I will be waiting for your reply.
Thank you so very much.
All I can say is what is good for the goose is good for the gander as they say back home in Kentucky. BIG MONEY spent on spreading the truth is well spent when lies fly like confetti on D-Day from the far right day after day. Someone has to assure balance and fairness when the rules are manipulated, bought and paid for by the Koch Bros and written by scum like Grover the grifter.
Mr. President you have a hard row to hoe ahead of you so campaign with the laws you have not the laws you would like. You know, like Rummy going to war a few years back.
I just cannot understand why all the shock and awe schreehfest is coming from the authors of the new rules when the new rules are applied to the opposition too in this fair land of ours. They just do not get that balance and blind justice thing do they?
Happy Birthday Mr. President! You deserve a break today. Hope you gather tons-o-cash tonight to help in the fight ahead.
Think about it for a moment.
The pathway to the holy grail of smaller government just happens, just by accident, to lie in the amazing revelation to the rich, they had no ideal, is to never raise taxes on the richest again. You know they were just as surprised as I was.
What will those smaller government people think of next?
Get back to me when you figure out just who is the puppet.
Due to Republican tax cuts, the "job creators" created a job today at noon. However, a pink slip was issued for the job at 5:00 this evening, over concerns about Tea Party sanity. Republicans were ecstatic for five hours.
In related news, a 75 year old male was cornered near Republican headquarters with an M-1 rifle. A witness said he was screaming, "Where the hell is my trickle down, I can't wait any more!". Reportedly, the man also defaced a Reagan campaign button by repeatedly stomping on it
Republicans have just over a year to complete the destruction of the economy. 1.8 million jobs are projected to be lost under August 2 cuts. The Tea Party is prodding Republicans to accelerate the process in order to validate their predictions that jobs would be lost under the Obama presidency.
Hi folks!!! Just reading some of these posts, amused at all you self educated "experts" trying your best to rationalize your views with names and numbers, etc...
You're all like little puppets, repeating the spin, propaganda and nonsense of your favorite T.V. personalities.
The bottom line is, many people in this country are scared about what the future holds. Your hotshot Obama turned out to be a gasbag, a man with no work ethic whatsoever. You can scream and moan all you want about Reagan and Bush, but that hardly matters to most of the voters in this country RIGHT NOW!!!
Obama will lose next year, absolutely. Unfortunately, all you hard core liberals will still be unsatisfied, now and forever. You seem to have no hope, no drive for the betterment, or even that possibility.
Perhaps you should all vote Republican next time, give them a shot at it. The far left idealism isn't working, and it never will. Now, I presume, I'll be called a bunch of names from hopeless, angry people.
Nobody here remembers the last republican president. From the line up of the new ones, bush was the pick of the litter.
We had 8 years of republicans spending our country into oblivion. Just when has this left idealism had a chance to work? So far all we have done is try to catch our country before she falls off the cliff.
These great republicans you want to give another chance have been doing nothing. Worse than nothing, actually blocking bills that could do something. If they can't do something now, when? What are they waiting for?
I got it, we are all such children, don't blame anyone con the republicans are so fond of. You talk down so well to us. Sorry I disappointed you and didn't call you a name.
If you love your social security or hope to retire someday vote all Democrats 2012
John just what do you think coming here and telling lies does?
I can only hope you don't believe all this delusional stuff you spew here.
If you do, turn the radio off, turn the television off now and give your brain a chance to heal. All that hate and emotion being pounded at you day in and day out has caused an emotional stress disorder.
.
Big bucks is right, obama and his corporate donors and rich buddies that are exempt from his regulations.
There is no dignity in politics. I remember when the candidate would base his/her campaign on what they could do, not on what is bad about the other guy. No dignity, just dirt.
In the end, is it not MY VOTE that elects these fumbling fools into office and not MY DOLLAR? When will we wake up to the fact that a system that once worked has broken down and will never be the same again? Over my life time these scum have created an unwanted personal tax liability for each of us and our offspring exceeding well over $100K and continues to rise. They have the nerve to call it my tax liability to a debt deficit they created without any help from me.
Then these SOBs have the nerve to beg me for campaign donations. Go to hell.
I do not like President Obama. It's nothing personal, I just don't agree with a majority of his policies. That being said, I wonder if there will ever be a political story on our President that doesn't spark massive, vitriolic comments across the entire media spectrum.
Ooh he goes on vacation. So what, the man is aging in dog years because of his job and I'm pretty sure he could direct a global war from his golf cart if needed. Ooh he attends fund raising events. Last I checked, political campaigns cost money, maybe way too much and probably under rules that are absurd and only serve to add a "slime" factor to our election process, but those are the laws.
So, you can disagree with Mr. Obama and unfortunately hate him if you choose too, but this nit-picky crap (from both sides) continues to rise and rise beyond what people should consider to be disgusting. The democratic process in this country seems to be barely one notch above what you might see in Russia or some third world country.
john stephens: You are correct. The national debt is now more than the GDP. We have a president who just flat lies and all his supporters could careless. And as far as the debt limit bill it could be good it could be bad who knows. It's like the HCR bill no one really knows what the heck it is and no one cares as long as they can say I won.
I don`t have a problem with Obama`s fund-raising. It seems to me to be what the Supreme Court approved. Organizations are individuals. Are we sure that the complaints aren`t because he has more money by far than his opponents? Look at Romney, who just collected a cool million from a firm that had about the wierdest history I`ve seen.
Was Bin Laden really killed - funny no one ever saw the body........