WASHINGTON, Oct. 6, 2008

RNC Seeks Probe Of Obama's Fundraising

Republican Party Plans To File A Complaint With The FEC

  • Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., on the tarmac in Denver, Colo. Monday, Sept. 29, 2008. Photo

    Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., on the tarmac in Denver, Colo. Monday, Sept. 29, 2008.  (AP)

  • Photo Essay Barack Obama

    A look at the life and meteoric rise of the president-elect.

(AP)  The Republican National Committee plans to file a fundraising complaint against Democrat Barack Obama's presidential campaign Monday, alleging it has accepted donations that exceed federal limits as well as illegal contributions from foreigners.

RNC officials acknowledged Sunday that they do not have a list of foreign donors to Obama's campaign. Instead, the complaint is based largely on media reports, including one from the conservative Web site Newsmax.

The complaint asks the Federal Elections Commission to audit Obama's campaign fund, RNC chief counsel Sean Cairncross said in a conference call with reporters.

Cairncross said little is known about many of Obama's donors because the campaign is not required to disclose detailed information about people who give less than $200.

The Obama campaign, which is not accepting public funds, has raised more than $468 million. About half has come from small donors, a point of pride for the Obama campaign.

The Obama campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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by ibzjem October 6, 2008 11:25 AM PDT
"RNC officials acknowledged Sunday that they do not have a list of foreign donors to Obama''s campaign. Instead, the complaint is based largely on media reports, including one from the conservative Web site Newsmax. "

Typical.... make stuff up so the RNC doesn''t have to face it''s failures and it''s losing of this campaign.
Reply to this comment
by ramos937 October 6, 2008 11:32 AM PDT
The Republican National Committee plans to file a fundraising complaint against Democrat Barack Obama''s presidential campaign Monday, alleging it has accepted donations that exceed federal limits as well as illegal contributions from foreigners.

RNC officials acknowledged Sunday that they do not have a list of foreign donors to Obama''s campaign. Instead, the complaint is based largely on media reports, including one from the conservative Web site Newsmax.The complaint asks the Federal Elections Commission to audit Obama''s campaign fund, RNC chief counsel Sean Cairncross said in a conference call with reporters.
----------------------------------------------

Wonderful idea.Bully great news. I very much hope that the FEC starts the audit ASAP.

ONE CAVEAT - Since the RNC is initiating the complaint, it should bear the cost of the audit if the Obama campaign is found to be substancially in compliance.

Since there are millions of donors such as myself (I contributed $150) on record, this audit would cost millions. I am positive that the RNC would be glad to bear the cost if there are no real violations.

Reply to this comment
by cruzn66 October 6, 2008 11:37 AM PDT
Desperate times call for Desperate measures!!! since the RNC can''t win this election season straight up, let''s look in every nook and cranny until something sticks. such is the lot of a party that supported Greed and Stupidity in government!!!
Reply to this comment
by dnsallday October 6, 2008 11:44 AM PDT
Same thing the RNC does every single election. Time for the GOP to reinvent themselves. We all know each chapter from the Karl Rove dirty playbook and we don''t like it.
Reply to this comment
by mikeant50 October 6, 2008 11:46 AM PDT
ramos937,

I too have donated about 300 dollars to the Obama campaign and will donate another 100 when I get home tonight. If the RNC want my information, I''ll be glad to send it to them. I''m an Military Retiree who has seen my retirement account lose much of it value because of the mismanagement of the economy. Since the market is in the tank today, I can contine to count the losses. According to McCain the fundamentals of the econmy is strong and we have turned the page on the econonic crisis.
Reply to this comment
by dnsallday October 6, 2008 11:47 AM PDT
John McCain''s campaign said Thursday it is returning $50,000 in contributions solicited by a foreign citizen. The move follows the disclosure that the money was being raised by a Jordanian man who is a business partner of prominent Florida Republican Harry Sargeant III, who has collected hundreds of thousands of dollars for McCain.

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 in California, the Abdullahs, along with several of their friends.

The Abdullahs and other Arab-Americans in California also contributed tens of thousands of dollars to Republicans Rudolph Giuliani and Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, a longtime friend of Sargeant.

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

It is illegal for foreigners to contribute their own money to U.S. political campaigns.
Reply to this comment
by dnsallday October 6, 2008 11:48 AM PDT
Sargeant, who does extensive business with the federal government, is facing problems on Capitol Hill.

A House committee chairman, Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., is looking into Sargeant''s defense work shipping fuel to U.S. bases in Iraq as part of a probe into whether contractors are overcharging the Pentagon.

Sargeant and Abu Naba''a are being sued in Florida by a former partner, the husband of a half-sister of the King of Jordan. The lawsuit alleges that Sargeant and Abu Naba''a swindled the business partner out of his share of the profits from valuable contracts with the U.S. government.

The plaintiff, Mohammad Anwar Farid Al-Saleh, says he obtained authorization from Jordan to permit Sargeant''s company to ship oil across Jordanian territory to U.S. bases in Iraq
Reply to this comment
by antoniof123 October 6, 2008 11:50 AM PDT
The Republicans have tried to throw so much mud and it is being met with each attack and the Republicans can''t understand why Obama''s numbers are going up and theres are going down.

Hey here is the reason, we don''t beleive a word you say. Remember the swift boat it only works once that is why you will lose.

But they are of course getting desparte and will try anything.

Good luck with that this time around.
Reply to this comment
by neenga October 6, 2008 11:54 AM PDT
Total desperation ... pretty pathetic, actually. And yes, the RNC needs to pay for this.
Reply to this comment
by dnsallday October 6, 2008 11:54 AM PDT
Prominent Florida Republican HARRY Sargeant (WHO HAS COLLECTED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR MCCAIN) allowed longtime business partner, Mustafa Abu Naba''''a, A FOREIGN CITIZEN FROM JORDON to bring in some $50,000 in donations to the JOHN MCCAIN CAMPAIGN .

The Abdullahs and other Arab-Americans in California also contributed tens of thousands of dollars to Republicans Rudolph Giuliani and Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, a longtime friend of Sargeant.

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

It is illegal for foreigners to contribute their own money to U.S. political campaigns

Sargeant, who does extensive business with the federal government, is facing problems on Capitol Hill.

A House committee chairman, Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., is looking into Sargeant''''s defense work shipping fuel to U.S. bases in Iraq as part of a probe into whether contractors are overcharging the Pentagon.

Sargeant and Abu Naba''a are being sued in Florida by a former partner, the husband of a half-sister of the King of Jordan. The lawsuit alleges that Sargeant and Abu Naba''a swindled the business partner out of his share of the profits from valuable contracts with the U.S. government.

The plaintiff, Mohammad Anwar Farid Al-Saleh, says he obtained authorization from Jordan to permit Sargeant''s company to ship oil across Jordanian territory to U.S. bases in Iraq

Reply to this comment
by antoniof123 October 6, 2008 12:05 PM PDT
Since there are millions of donors such as myself (I contributed $150) on record, this audit would cost millions. I am positive that the RNC would be glad to bear the cost if there are no real violations.

Posted by ramos937 at 11:32 AM : Oct 06, 2008

I totally agree with this one the GOP will moderate or we will moderate them.
Reply to this comment
by gop4luzers October 6, 2008 12:06 PM PDT
I also donated a hundred dollars to the Obama campaign several times over the last month. Will probably do so again. I worked hard to earn it but consider it very well spent. We cannot afford four more years of RNC nonsense.
Reply to this comment
by hawksprings October 6, 2008 12:09 PM PDT
I wonder if Obama is tapping the same Communist Chinese donors that the Clintons use?
Reply to this comment
by whitmore69 October 6, 2008 12:11 PM PDT
The RNC is a bunch of SLEEZEBALLS! And the American Public is tired of them.
Reply to this comment
by shoebox119 October 6, 2008 12:16 PM PDT
The wider Barack Obama builds his lead over John McCain, the dirtier the Republicans'' campaign tactics become. If you can''t debate the message then go after the messenger.

Fear-mongering and smear tactics are all the GOP have left in their arsenal. Desperate times requires desperate measures, I guess.
Reply to this comment
by October 6, 2008 12:19 PM PDT
If you can''t win on your own merit then cast suspicion.

But, OH, poor Sarah, lets stop that investigation.

The Republican party is showing it''s true self this election. Aholes
Reply to this comment
by inventagod2 October 6, 2008 12:22 PM PDT

This from the most corrupt political party in history.

Waaaaa!
Reply to this comment
by emelder October 6, 2008 12:25 PM PDT
Politics. Big deal. Audit both campaigns ... both have donations which should, and will, be returned when examined more carefully. McCain needs to focus on issues and stop this non-sense of going after Obama''s character. I am sick of the negativity of Palin/McCain team!
Reply to this comment
by October 6, 2008 12:30 PM PDT
More scare tactic inuendos. Obama received "foreign" money ergo he must be unAmerican. This is the kind slanderous *** we can expect from now on by the failed Republicans who having destroyed our country''s economy and our reputation in the world and can only the boast that they have an AAA in smear campaigning.
Reply to this comment
by timesupreps October 6, 2008 12:33 PM PDT
The more McSame uses smear, the more I donate. Lets investigate McCains campaign and donations and use of his money as well. I welcome both to open the books, not just one, otherwise you are a hypocrite. Also, funny the RNC has no evidence to make a statement, they just say something and hope the media broadcasts it without any investigation. NO, THEY USE A SOURCE OF A RIGHT WING SWIFTBOAT RAG MAG!! THE RNC BECOMES MORE AND MORE DESPERATE DAY BY DAY AND IT WILL BACKFIRE. CAN NOT WAIT UNTIL THE ECONOMY, LOOK AT STOCKS TODAY, ONCE AGAIN BECOMES THE NEWS IN TOMORROWS DEBATE... YOU LOOSE MCSAME!!

OBAMA/BIDEN 08''
Reply to this comment
by October 6, 2008 12:33 PM PDT
If any of you dumb repubs have any real curiosity of now Bush''s deregulation smashed our economy to bits, go to this article and read all about it.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/03/business/03sec.html?ei=5070&emc=eta1
October 3, 2008
The Reckoning: Agency''s ''04 Rule Let Banks Pile Up New Debt
Reply to this comment
by walt1944-2009 October 6, 2008 12:34 PM PDT
It has been learned that the neocon Fascist Nazi Republican National Committee has filed a complaint with the Immigration and Naturalization Service claiming that Obama is not a resident of this planet, but really comes from Mars!

Although the Fascist Nazi RNC does not have any DIRECT proof that Obama is a Martian, it does have articles written by the National Inquirer and The Globe tabloids that state that Obama has been seen entering and leaving a UFO and was present at human experiments conducted on heavily drugged human subjects by Martian "doctors".

At last report, when presented with the complaint, officials at the INS laughed so hard they believed it was a "Saturday Night Live" joke, and although they have promised to investigate, they expect to get around to the complaint sometime in the 24th century!

SIG HEIL, WHAT DISASTER CAN I CAUSE NEXT??, BUSH!!!
sig heil, I''M TAKING THE GLOVES OFF, AND MY SHOES TOO!!, McBush!!!
sig heil, I ALWAYS THOUGHT HE WAS A TERRRRRRRRORRIST!!!, Palin!!!

Reply to this comment
by briannorwood October 6, 2008 12:36 PM PDT
Great news! The RNC wants to investigate every one of Obama''s voters.

Let''s see. I too, am on that list of over 1.5 million donors. I figure it''ll cost about 10 bucks a donor to investigate. That''s $10.5 million the GOP won''t have to spend on congressional races.

I say, investigate away boys!
Reply to this comment
by inventagod2 October 6, 2008 12:38 PM PDT

It''s amazing the lengths to which a dying elephany will go to stay alive.

You had eight years, Republicons...
Reply to this comment
by bbinfla October 6, 2008 12:43 PM PDT
Why just because nobody wants to donate any money to McCains losing campaign.
Reply to this comment
by ethiopia93 October 6, 2008 12:44 PM PDT
Doesn''t the RNC realize that Obama is untouchable. The ultimate tephlon candidate. It was interesting watching Fey make fun of Palin for not saying her "ing''s" on SNL the weekend. Not once have they made fun of Obama for not saying his "ing''s". In my world, if you''re on a presidential ticket and can''t make the "ing" sound at the end of a word, you''re either butt lazy, or you think America is stupid box of rocks to whom this will sound folksy. Since at least one candidate on each ticket can''t say his/her "ing''s", we lose no matter which party gets in office.
Reply to this comment
by jazz_jeff2 October 6, 2008 12:47 PM PDT
This is nothing more than the Republicians flapping around, trying to hit any target like lose bullets as they find their own support dying.

The next four weeks will just show the world how desperate they are as they try EVERY dirty tactic in the book.

Thats some presidential manner to elect to any office - NOT!
Reply to this comment
by jaxspp October 6, 2008 12:48 PM PDT
I''m voting on family values. You have family man Obama and family man Biden vs adulterer McCain and adulterer Palin. Very simple choice, really.
Reply to this comment
by gangesdak October 6, 2008 12:51 PM PDT
I''''m voting on family values. You have family man Obama and family man Biden vs adulterer McCain and adulterer Palin. Very simple choice, really.
Posted by jaxspp at 12:48 PM

Well said. God bless.
Reply to this comment
by downtowner97 October 6, 2008 12:52 PM PDT
Not enough is being said about the fact Obama is not taking public funds for his campaign. I think that''s very admirable. McCain is taking our money to run his campaign.
Reply to this comment
by rinnie5 October 6, 2008 12:54 PM PDT
HMMMMM.....
I wish I had friends like that to fund MY LIFE.


msgtsteve: You probably simply just "wish" you had "A" friend.
Now go back to NewsMax and get your jollies. Unimpressive drivel you spout is beneath contempt!!
Or better yet....go to factcheck.org if you have the "nards".
Reply to this comment
by kabaam1 October 6, 2008 12:55 PM PDT
I''d like to know just what FBI knucklehead would act on such a flimsy, transparent, and politically motivated request. The "media" cited by the RNC is the Republican Party%u2019s neo-con website, Newsmax. Geez...there''s a real credible news outlet!! This incredibly obvious ploy, by all measures, is not going to catch the imagination of the undecided voter. Stop with these infantile actions! If McCain doesn''t start talking issues soon - like today - he''s toast. Along with that mimicking parrot of a running mate!
Reply to this comment
by homespunlady October 6, 2008 12:55 PM PDT
In the MEANTIME:

"Official: Kashkari to be tapped to head bailout
Oct 6, 9:47 AM (ET)

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER

WASHINGTON (AP) - An official says the administration has decided to pick a key Treasury Department official to be the interim head of its $700 billion rescue effort for financial institutions.

The official said Monday that Neel Kashkari, Treasury''''s assistant secretary for international affairs, will soon be announced as the interim head of Treasury''''s new Office of Financial Stability. The official asked not to be identified by name because the selection has not been announced publicly.

The 35-year-old Kashkari is a former Goldman Sachs Inc. banker, the investment giant once headed by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson. The new office was created by the emergency legislation enacted Friday to fund the largest government bailout in history"


So does Goldman-Sachs NOW OWN THE U.S.???
Reply to this comment
by bhrater-2009 October 6, 2008 1:00 PM PDT
1981, nobomas second year in college taking dope, suddenly takes a world tour to visit family, Indonesia, Pakistan, Africa, WHERE DID THE TRAVEL MONEY COME FROM? Comes back, starts at Columbia, WHERE DID THE TUITION COME FROM?
Apparently, according to the Obama campaign, In 1981 -- the year Obama transferred from Occidental College to Columbia University -- Obama visited his mother and sister Maya in Indonesia. After that visit, Obama traveled to Pakistan with a friend from college whose family was from there. The Obama campaign says Obama was in Pakistan for about three weeks, staying with his friend''s family in Karachi and also visiting Hyderabad in Southern India.
So it would seem he stayed with family and friends!
Reply to this comment
by nbredwhty October 6, 2008 1:01 PM PDT
Another Witchhunt without any merit to it...the GOP is pathetic!
Reply to this comment
by bhrater-2009 October 6, 2008 1:02 PM PDT
WHERE DID THE TUITION COME FROM?
It''s called a loan, you may have heard of it!!!
Reply to this comment
by gangesdak October 6, 2008 1:02 PM PDT
Well since we are going to lie here, OK. biden is a plegarist and killed his wife, oboma is a dope smoking pedofile muslim.... Oh wait, I was going to lie, but in the end told the truth.
Posted by msgtsteve at 12:54

You don''t know the difference Pedro, but we do. Your McCain has been caned; Palin got paled.
Reply to this comment
by rinnie5 October 6, 2008 1:12 PM PDT
OK, here is his platform, he wants change, and will give hope, he will start hundreds of new programs and not raise taxes, everyone will have all the healthcare they need and as a matter of fact no one has to work any longer. Most of the time we will sit around and sing coombahya while holding hands together in big circles, then rev wright will give us a sermon on the evil white man.... oh wait, this is noboma''''s platform. sorry


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Posted by msgtsteve at 01:10 PM : Oct 06, 2008

Desperation from the "lunatic fringe"!! LOLOLOL
Reply to this comment
by txlakeside October 6, 2008 1:13 PM PDT
hate mongering, lieing crooked repubs do more to elect a dem than your little ignorant closed mind can understand.

Please keep posting, bashing, lieing and running from the truth.

Thanks loads .... DEMS WIN IN 08
Reply to this comment
by gocubs58 October 6, 2008 1:16 PM PDT
This is TYPICAL GOP in action folks! They know their candidate can not win on his own merit and their VP candidate is a joke, so they do what they always do in a situation like this - they attack. Obama has at least 2 ads out now where he doesn''t even mention McCain....he talks issues. Seriously, has anyone seen a McCain ad lately that states what he will do for the country? I haven''t. America will not be swiftboated again.
Reply to this comment
by martin9p2 October 6, 2008 1:16 PM PDT
GOP pulled out of Michigan and they''re going down in Minnesota any day now, as well. As the GOP ticket flounders, look for more hair-pulling and below-belt kicking. Answer it with dignity, but don''t give up the fight until election day.
Reply to this comment
by repub4you001 October 6, 2008 1:19 PM PDT

If Obama wins I''''ll move out of this country. Pls vote for John McCain. Please
Reply to this comment
by be_real October 6, 2008 1:19 PM PDT
I just send OBAMA another $50 bucks
Reply to this comment
by repub4you001 October 6, 2008 1:21 PM PDT
I just send OBAMA another $50 bucks


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Posted by Be_Real at 01:19 PM : Oct 06, 2008

Please don''t, I''m serious. Send the money to McCain, ok? If Obama wins this Republican is moving out of the country. Please vote for McCain, ok? Please. Give him a chance, just 4 years.
Reply to this comment
by repdemapart October 6, 2008 1:21 PM PDT
!!!HILLARY !!! HILLARY !!! HILLARY !!! HILLARY !!! HILLARY !!! HILLARY !!! HILLARY !!! HILLARY !!!
!!!HILLARY !!! HILLARY !!! HILLARY !!! HILLARY !!!HILLARY !!! HILL!!!HILLARY !!! HILLARY !!! ILLARY !!! HILLARY !!! HILLARY !!! HILLARY !!! HILLARY !!! HILLARY !!!!!!HILLARY !!! HILLARY !!! HILLARY !!! HILLARY !!!HILLARY !!! HILLARY !!! HILLARY HLLARY !!! HILLARY !!! HILLARY !!!
Reply to this comment
by gocubs58 October 6, 2008 1:22 PM PDT
Ask the libotards, they are responsible for this mess. billy clinton signed the bill that has led us to this, of course helped along by the libotard led congress. libotards should be killed and burned for fuel.

Posted by msgtsteve

-----

I love this! 8 flippin'' years later and the neo''s are STILL blaming Clinton!! LOL! Even if McSame is voted in and another 4 years go by they will still blame him. BUSH is to blame for the mess we are currently in....don''t doubt it. And if they took us Libs and burned us for fuel all of their oil buddies would lose money....can''t have that!
Reply to this comment
by repdemapart October 6, 2008 1:22 PM PDT
DON''T WORRY REPUBLICAN, a lot of HILLARY supporters for John McCain!!!
Reply to this comment
by nycsense October 6, 2008 1:23 PM PDT
msgtsteve, I guess you have nothing better to do than to make stuff up. But, ok let''s look at Mcain. Being locked up in a POW camp makes him qualified to be president in what way? Being shot out of the sky 3 times qualifies him to be president how? If you had gone to college you would know that if youo are acceptionally smart you win scholarships. Obama got into school with scholarships like I did. That''s where the money came from. He wnet to visit his the family that he didn''t really know to find out about his root, and this is bad because? McCain however was a senator for 30 years and what exactly did he accomplish? Nothing. He just kept up with the status quo.
Reply to this comment
by repdemapart October 6, 2008 1:23 PM PDT
DON''T WORRY REPUBLICANS, a lot of HILLARY supporters will vote for John McCain!!!
Reply to this comment
by credibility2 October 6, 2008 1:25 PM PDT
"I just SEND...." geez, what hood do you hang in? The correct tense is "sent", not send. I guess I shouldn''t expect more coming from an Obama supporter.
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