WASHINGTON, August 7, 2008

McCain Camp Reviewing Bundler's Donations

Looking At Donations From Florida Businessman After Disclosures Of Possible Fundraising By His Jordanian Business Partner

  • Meghan McCain and Cindy McCain applaud as Republican presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speaks during a town hall meeting at the Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008, in Lima, Ohio.

    Meghan McCain and Cindy McCain applaud as Republican presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speaks during a town hall meeting at the Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008, in Lima, Ohio.  (AP)

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(AP)  John McCain's campaign began on Thursday to review donations brought in by the prominent head of a Florida oil trading company following disclosures that his business partner, a foreign citizen, also may have engaged in fundraising.

The campaign is looking into hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions to make sure that they are appropriate, a spokesman said.

The campaign sent a letter spelling out legal requirements to all donors who sent their contributions through Harry Sargeant III, the finance chairman of the Florida Republican Party.

It's illegal for foreigners to contribute their own money to U.S. campaigns.

The New York Times reported Thursday that Sargeant allowed a longtime business partner, Mustafa Abu Naba'a, to bring in some $50,000 in donations in March from members of a single extended family, the Abdullahs, in California, along with several of their friends.

A House committee chairman is looking into Sargeant's defense contracts for shipping fuel to U.S. bases in Iraq as part of a probe into whether contractors are engaging in overcharging.

McCain spokesman Brian Rogers said Mustafa Abu Naba'a is not a bundler for the campaign, although Sargeant is.

"He wasn't registered, and he hasn't contributed," Rogers said of Mustafa Abu Naba'a.

The campaign letter to donors notes that federal law bars contributions from foreign nationals and that donations cannot be reimbursed.

Eight months ago, a top fundraiser for Hillary Clinton, Norman Hsu, was indicted for making contributions to various political candidates in the names of others.

McCain is co-sponsor of the campaign finance reform law that bears his name and he is trying to resolve any questions involving Sargeant.

McCain has "a deep commitment" to strictly following campaign finance law, said Rogers.

According to The Times, Abu Naba'a is a dual citizen of Jordan and the Dominican Republic.

Federal election regulations bar foreign nationals from participating in campaign decision-making involving donations.

Regarding donations from the extended Abdullah family in California, some couples contributed thousands of dollars to Clinton, a Democrat, and Rudolph W. Giuliani, a Republican. Other Arab-Americans in California contributed thousands to a longtime friend of Sargeant, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, a Republican.

©MMVIII, The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Add a Comment See all 28 Comments
by zerato-2009 August 8, 2008 12:31 PM EDT
Posted by DemWatcher at 03:04 AM : Aug 08, 2008

You like to through mud but it is nothing but a few dops of mud.
Lessig is a law professor at stanford.
Malley a lawyer that works for crisis international and with the clinton administration as a negotiator.
Ayers a chicago university professor and dohrm a lawyer were casual acquaintances of obama introduced by alice palmer a former state senator, whom obama defeated.
Frank marshal davis a journalist and poet, had unverified accusations of being a member of the communist party and might have known obama in the 1960''s in hawaii. Davis died in 1987
Rezko a campaign fundraiser to Obama''s Senate campaign who was convicted on corruption charges having nothing to do with obama.
Wright obamas former pastor at the TUCC.

Is this you have is innuendo and guilt by association. I guess you republicans are desperate for anything and will take such weak rumors and attach them to rumors. Since bush mccain has bankrupted the US, devalued the dollar and continue to fight a never ending war. And you are embarrassed that mccain accepted donations from the abdullah family
Reply to this comment
by idnnsg August 8, 2008 10:24 AM EDT
"Researchers have found that most of his online money is coming from China, Saudi Arabia and Iran." - DemHater

That is absolutely a complete fabrication!
Reply to this comment
by idnnsg August 8, 2008 10:21 AM EDT
cbsfan73 asked, "McCain: Is he chewing tobacco? It looks like something in his jaws."

He has malignant melanoma. The swelling is from when the saliva glands were removed from the left side of his face. Just last month, he had another growth removed from the right side of his face. Statistically speaking, the cancer will kill him before 4 years are over. So, if you vote for McCain, not only are voting for an insane man who will continue the Bush/Cheney doctrine of world conquest and destruction, but you are really voting for his as-yet-undisclosed VP... could it be the Magic Underwear Man?
Reply to this comment
by excoachken August 8, 2008 10:07 AM EDT
terrorislamv: Time to change your medication!
Reply to this comment
by excoachken August 8, 2008 9:56 AM EDT
O.K. Dummy the watcher: The lies that you posted were just as worthless as the suggestion in this story, that McBush would be influenced by such a backer. Can''t we stick to the facts, instead of middle name nonsense or Paris Hilton stupidity. America needs a different direction from an intelligent, energetic, sane person. Obama is the only one of the candidates who meets those qualifications. Intelligent voters, who are not swayed by the racist bigotry that outsiders try to interject into the campaign will realize that. In January 2009, we will finally be able to escape the Bush Doldrum Days.
Reply to this comment
by cbsfan73 August 8, 2008 9:13 AM EDT
McCain: Is he chewing tobacco? It looks like something in his jaws.
Reply to this comment
by ioweign August 8, 2008 6:57 AM EDT
The Homeless will be watching movies with tickets the Democrats gave them to stay out of sight during the Democratic Convention in Denver.

Posted by denn034 at 09:48 PM : Aug 07, 2008

Mostly veterans no doubt - what have the Republicans given us - doubled the National Debt - outsourced jobs - and the Newest of Welfare States - Iraq...
Reply to this comment
by closethippy1 August 8, 2008 6:53 AM EDT
Are you or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?
Are you or have you ever been a member of the Muslim Party?
Are you or have you ever been a member of the Black American or Interracial Party?
Are you or have you ever been a member of the Foreign Sounding Name Party?
If anyone has been a member of any of these parties they should be persecuted, prosecuted and never be allowed to be in leadership positions in the US.
Never!
Seig Heil Bush!!!
Reply to this comment
by demwatcher August 8, 2008 6:04 AM EDT
"All of these right wing nut xenophobes must be biting their lip on this one. Their worst nightmare coming true. Mccain accepting a large amount from muslims. LMAO. I wonder how hollow there islamofast comments are going to sound.

Posted by zerato at 09:42 PM : Aug 07, 2008"

Not near as hollow as Obama''s attempts to spin the fact that he hired a Communist as an advisor, had communist and radical mentors, and you know, the rest of the story:

Frank Marshall Davis
William Ayers
Bernadine Dohrn
Alice Palmer
Frank Chapman
Robert Malley
Rashid and Mona Khalidi
Antoin "Tony" Rezko
Rev Wright
Larry Lessig

And then, there is the internet trail of his online donations. Researchers have found that most of his online money is coming from China, Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Reply to this comment
by clovisbuford August 8, 2008 4:06 AM EDT
After McCain beats Obama, the media will finally dig into the true origins of Barack Hussein Obama''''s funding. That will be very illuminating. I bet George Soros, Ted Turner, and Hamas will be at the top of the list.
Posted by liberty_1776 at 12:09 AM : Aug 08, 2008
and this by well hell13 or Wiccan Swill yourself in all the money you can McCain...nobody should care whether it''''s oil or energy money or corrupt Muslim money....
They sure don''''t care that Obscamma is swilling it!
Get the money and spend it!!! Yehawwww!
Posted by WellHell3 at 12:37 AM : Aug 08, 2008
followed by this from a washingtom post article
"Spread John McCain''s official talking points around the Web -- and you could win valuable prizes!
That, in essence, is the McCain campaign''s pitch to supporters to join its new online effort, one that combines the features of "AstroTurf" campaigning with the sort of customer-loyalty programs offered by airlines, hotel chains, restaurants and the occasional daily newspaper".
see its all clear , they are shooting for a vega trip


Reply to this comment
by clovisbuford August 8, 2008 4:00 AM EDT
After McCain beats Obama, the media will finally dig into the true origins of Barack Hussein Obama''''s funding. That will be very illuminating. I bet George Soros, Ted Turner, and Hamas will be at the top of the list.
Posted by liberty_1776 at 12:09 AM : Aug 08, 2008
Yanno are those supposed to be any bigger bogie men than Exxon , big Parmaceutical? Walamrt , Insurance companies? ,hell Iwould rather take on Hamas mano a mano than an dayumn lawyer for an insurance co. trying to screw you out of coverage . Or big oil in their relentless quest to ben us over the pump ...just me I know .. however liberty ,really you sound a little shrill , have you considered Paxil? ..jsut saying
Reply to this comment
by wellhell3 August 8, 2008 3:37 AM EDT
Swill yourself in all the money you can McCain...nobody should care whether it''s oil or energy money or corrupt Muslim money....

They sure don''t care that Obscamma is swilling it!

Get the money and spend it!!! Yehawwww!
Reply to this comment
by liberty_1776 August 8, 2008 3:09 AM EDT
After McCain beats Obama, the media will finally dig into the true origins of Barack Hussein Obama''s funding. That will be very illuminating. I bet George Soros, Ted Turner, and Hamas will be at the top of the list.
Reply to this comment
by randynason August 8, 2008 2:46 AM EDT
Gramps McSame looks like he is wringing his hands because he really needs to go to the bathroom... BAD! Ooops... too late!
Reply to this comment
by denn034 August 8, 2008 12:48 AM EDT
The Homeless will be watching movies with tickets the Democrats gave them to stay out of sight during the Democratic Convention in Denver.
Reply to this comment
by zerato-2009 August 8, 2008 12:42 AM EDT
All of these right wing nut xenophobes must be biting their lip on this one. Their worst nightmare coming true. Mccain accepting a large amount from muslims. LMAO. I wonder how hollow there islamofast comments are going to sound.
Reply to this comment
by Stratmaster7 August 8, 2008 12:09 AM EDT
Obama will now begin to widen the gap. McCain''s camp made a critical mistake. They complained that Obama was getting all the attention. We all know that media attention anymore is sensationalist and overwhelmingly negative and scandal related. Now that they are turning toward McCain, he is a goner once they take a closer look.

Be careful what you ask for, as you just might get it.

And yes, I did notice that this page is sponsored by Exxon/Mobil. Very good observation.
Reply to this comment
by rave_on3 August 7, 2008 11:55 PM EDT
Has anyone noticed who this page is ''Presented'' by?
Reply to this comment
by jsilver2th August 7, 2008 11:52 PM EDT
nextGenMan:

"Is Obama REALLY going to return the $33,500 donated by Monir and Hasam Edwan, the brothers who support Hamas? The donations that came in from Gaza? The donations that were not reported to the FEC because of a "glitch"?

Posted by LARYSINCLAIR
--------

Say this is not accurate- the "contributions" were reported to the FEC the issue was whether or not the return of the contributions was reported timely- the brothers claim they were not donation but the had purchased tee-shirts from the Obama web site for resale

Any proof that this really happened? A link maybe? A news article?
Reply to this comment
by jsilver2th August 7, 2008 11:37 PM EDT
What the FEC ought to follow is where the cash actually came from - not the donor names used- it is pretty obvious from the original reporting on this story that the contributors did not even know they had contributed- please the main stream press should report this.

Can you imagine what the right wing nut jobs would be doing if this was Obama?

Reply to this comment
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