…And How Transparent Are the Republicans Being With Their Small Donors?
EmailSen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., has been taking heat for not disclosing his small donors and for some questionable donations made to his campaign.
But looking through the RNC’s new search engine, I mentioned earlier today, it’s pretty weak. The only fields are first name, last name, and amount.
That means, as a search engine, it’s fairly useless unless people have unique names, because you can’t verify an address or employer.
So, as a Democratic operative points out, when you search "Joe Smith" you have no idea of knowing whether it’s Joe Smith the Republican state representative in Missouri, Joe Smith who’s on death row in Florida, Joe Smith of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Joe Smith who’s a relief pitcher for the Mets, or Joe Smith the actor who played "Connie Hawkins" in the 1996 TV movie "Rebound: The Legend of Earl ‘The Goat’ Manigault."
As for the McCain campaign’s transparency, it’s indisputable that it’s better than the Obama campaign’s when it comes to small donors.
But as Marc Ambinder at The Atlantic points out (HERE and HERE) the McCain search engine of small donors indicates that that campaign has some transparency issues — and anonymous contributors — as well.
To wit:
NAME CITY STATE ZIP CODE AMOUNT DATE
Anonymous Annandale VA 22003 $1.00 7/28/2008
Anonymous Annandale VA 22003 $25.00 5/8/2008
Anonymous Scottsdale AZ 85257 $25.00 8/26/2008
Anonymous, Anonymous Anonymous XX 99999 $30.00 8/13/2008
Anonymous, Anonymous Anonymous XX 99999 $20.00 1/18/2007
Anonymous, Anonymous Anonymous XX 99999 $0.10 1/29/2007
Anonymous, Anonymous Anonymous XX 99999 $5.00 1/30/2007
Anonymous, Anonymous Anonymous XX 99999 $6.00 1/30/2007
Anonymous, Anonymous Anonymous XX 99999 $1.00 2/28/2007
Anonymous, Anonymous Anonymous XX 99999 $0.01 3/2/2007
Anonymous, Anonymous Anonymous XX 99999 $10.00 3/6/2007
Anonymous, Anonymous Anonymous XX 99999 $5.00 3/6/2007
Anonymous, Anonymous Anonymous XX 99999 $7.25 3/21/2007
Anonymous, Anonymous Anonymous XX 99999 $1.00 3/21/2007
Anonymous, Anonymous Anonymous XX 99999 $20.00 3/21/2007
Zip code 99999?
They also have some contributors from Zip code 00000.
And, as Obama spox Ben LaBolt points out, the McCain campaign’s donor database also contains "fraudulent contributors with names like ‘Jesus II’ –- we hope and expect that they will implement a rigorous review process like we have, to make sure their contributions are appropriate."
As Ambinder writes: "The point isn’t that McCain is violating election law … it’s that, with hundreds of thousands of donors, compliance is just really not that easy. That foes for McCain … but especially for Obama and his millions of donors. Both campaigns have full-time compliance staffs … but it’s tough for ten people to pour through millions of donors. …"
Now, that all said, I still haven’t heard a good reason as to why the Obama campaign isn’t even trying to disclose these names, if even in the weak way the RNC is attempting, or the imperfect way the McCain campaign is.
- jpt
Sen. DeMint: GOP Race Could Go Until Convention 
Obama Avoids Questions on Contraception Rule
I think Obama should disclose his smaller donors but I understand the magnitude of that task.
The RNC of course is being dishonest and playing a political game rather than actually caring about transparency.
Maybe if the Bush admin hadn’t under funded the FEC they would be in a better position to conduct reviews.
Posted by: Ryan C | October 21, 2008, 11:40 am 11:40 am
But McCain isn’t pulling in the kind of money Obama is, so it really isn’t as questionable.
Posted by: Maria | October 21, 2008, 11:43 am 11:43 am
Yep, we bad. We just gotta get a handle on those one centers. Rolleyes.
Posted by: Lynn | October 21, 2008, 11:44 am 11:44 am
Obama got the last laugh!
Posted by: David | October 21, 2008, 11:44 am 11:44 am
The McCain campaign still needs to explain to the American people why he picked Sarah Palin.
Posted by: doug | October 21, 2008, 11:45 am 11:45 am
As compare to Obama’s Out of the country donors.
That he does not record
Will he donate them to his favorite charity like the Rezko money.
What about obama having foreigners work the phone lines for him?
Posted by: seah | October 21, 2008, 11:46 am 11:46 am
Seriously someone donated a penny? Guess I can’t say anything that’s more than I gave LOL. Figure they have more money than me, so why should I give them mine.
Posted by: samhiguchi | October 21, 2008, 11:47 am 11:47 am
“But McCain isn’t pulling in the kind of money Obama is, so it really isn’t as questionable.”
Right wing hypocrisy on display.
Posted by: Ryan C | October 21, 2008, 11:49 am 11:49 am
McCain Employing GOP Operative Accused Of Voter Registration Fraud
John McCain’s campaign has directed $175,000 to the firm of a Republican operative accused of massive voter registration fraud in several states.
The managing partner of that firm is Nathan Sproul, a renowned GOP operative who has been investigated on multiple occasions for suppressing Democratic voter turnout, and throwing away registration forms.
As Republican Congressman Chris Cannon summarized during a joint hearing for the subcommittee on commercial and administrative law back in May 2008: “The difference between ACORN and Sproul is that ACORN doesn’t throw away or change registration documents after they have been filled out.”
Posted by: Say it ain't so "Maverick" | October 21, 2008, 11:51 am 11:51 am
ROFLMAO.
I can’t believe right wingers are still buying the Berg fantasy.
Posted by: Ryan C | October 21, 2008, 11:51 am 11:51 am
Al Quaeda attacked the US in 1993, the first year of President Clinton.
Al Quaeda attacked the US in 2001, the first year of Georg W. Bush.
And if their history repeats itself, Al Quaeda will probably try again next year, the first year of the new President.
So what else is new?
I noticed that trend in 2001, after 911. That’s Al Quaeda’s M.O.D.
They want to test the new President. That’s why they did it in the first year of Clinton’s and Bush’s presidency.
Hope to god we do not have to rely on the teleprompter guy!!!!
Posted by: HP Boston | October 21, 2008, 11:52 am 11:52 am
YOU GUYS ARE QUICKLY TURNING INTO OLBERMANNN AT MSNBC.. ABC IS TOO SERIOUS A CHANNEL TO BE PART OF THIS CHARADE.. ITS ALL NEGATIVE ABOUT MCCAIN–ALWAYS.
IM BEGINNING TO WONDER IF HILLARY REALLY DID POORLY IN PLACES LIKE INDIANA..OR MAYBE VOTER FRAUD?
IT MAY NOT BE OBAMA HIMSELF BUT THERE IS SOMTHING GOING ON HERE
SOMEONE IS TRYING TO BUY THE US PRESIDENCY.
THEY ACCUSE MCCAIN OF BEING ERRATIC AND HILLARY WAS ALSO PORTRAYED AS A “CRAZY” WOMAN.
OBAMA IS ALWAYS “COOL”.
IF MY COLLEAGUES ARE ALL GETIING LIKE $10 MILLION A MONTH AND I AM GETTING $50 AND THEN $150 MILLION, I WILL REMAIN COOL AND PRESIDENTIAL TOO. OBAMA HAS NOT VERITABLY BEEN TESTED IN ANY WAY. HE GOT A FREE RIDE..SOME CLAIM HE WOULD BE EXCEPTIONAL.
ID BE “EXCEPTIONAL” TOO IF YOU GAVE ME UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY EVERY MONTH.. AND NOTHING TO MY ADVERSARIES.
OBAMA IS A SMOKER AND MANY SMOKERS HIDE A RESTLESS NATURE BY SMOKING.
IF AS THIS ELECTION COMES TO A CLOSE, OBAMA WITH ALL HIS $600 + MILLION BEGINS TO FALTER, THE COOL ONE WOULD GIVE WAY TO THE REAL OBAMA..
THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT OBAMA THAT FOLLOWS HIM AROUND.ITS CROOKED, RADICAL, DISHONEST..
IT MAY NOT BE HIM BUT IT IS SOMEONE, SOME PEOPLE SURROUNDING HIM TRYING TO BUY THE US PRESIDENCY
HE NEVER KEPT ONE PROMISE HE MADE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. WORST FLIP FLOPPER EVER..THATS WHY HE HAD $604 MILLION AND STILL COUNTING. MCCAIN IS STUCK WITH HIS WORD THAT HE KEPT.
Posted by: TJ, THE CLINTONITE | October 21, 2008, 11:52 am 11:52 am
HP,
84% of Hillary’s supporters are now voting for Obama.
Guess the “solidarity of 18 million strong” wasn’t so stromg after all.
Seems most folks realized there were real issues at stake more important than petty grudges.
Sorry about that. I know how much you enjoy hating Obama.
Posted by: Newest Poll | October 21, 2008, 11:53 am 11:53 am
Check out the donations from ‘No Name’ in the RNC’s database.
Posted by: neil | October 21, 2008, 11:54 am 11:54 am
“They want to test the new President. That’s why they did it in the first year of Clinton’s and Bush’s presidency.”
Even more reason to have Obama at the helm vs John “I have no idea what I am doing” McCain.
Posted by: Ryan C | October 21, 2008, 11:54 am 11:54 am
“But McCain isn’t pulling in the kind of money Obama is, so it really isn’t as questionable.”
Right wing hypocrisy on display.
————————–
Funny how rationalization makes it all ok, isn’t it?
Posted by: GO Hypocrisy knows no bounds | October 21, 2008, 11:56 am 11:56 am
The pen is mighter than the sword, isn’t it?
———————-
Perhaps, but your keyboard certainly isn’t
Posted by: Shakespear | October 21, 2008, 11:57 am 11:57 am
Obama campaign is smart no to post donors like me. so my name is not posted on a humiliating laughable list like this which is representative of McCains incompetant campaign.
Posted by: watching | October 21, 2008, 11:57 am 11:57 am
Also: Joe Wurzelbacher
Posted by: neil | October 21, 2008, 11:57 am 11:57 am
“Hope to god we do not have to rely on the teleprompter guy!!!!”
You should be hoping to God that we don’t have to rely on the Jesus freak.
Posted by: JR | October 21, 2008, 11:59 am 11:59 am
Pubs are trying so hard to find any reason why they are getting their butts kicked. So many consporacy theories now.
Sorry but every poll in the nation shows Obama kicking butt. Or did they “fraud” the Fox polls as well?
Palin has a 30% national approval rating. So we can just look to your candidates for the answer of why Pubs will lose.
Obama has 259 SOLID BLUE ELECTORAL VOTES, 27 more leaning blue, and 98 battleground.
And at 270 = PRESIDENT OBAMA!
Posted by: Only number that matters = 270 | October 21, 2008, 12:03 pm 12:03 pm
the average contribution to obamas campaign was $86… and despite that low figure, he is getting record breaking results… all those darn working class and middle class people are supporting him, how dare they out support mccain and his rich donors
Posted by: earthisnotflat | October 21, 2008, 12:04 pm 12:04 pm
I’m confused about how this is to be reported. I have donated to obamas campaign and if you Google my Name and City my, name, address and how much $ I donated comes up – to me that’s almost an invasion of my privacy but what else would you want from me finger prints?
Posted by: mike | October 21, 2008, 12:08 pm 12:08 pm
Maybe it is just my opinion, but the public does not have the right to see my name address, or anything else about about me for donating.
If there is anything that looks illegal, then the Feds are free to subpoena the records.
There has been a lot about socialism lately on these blogs, I would like to add one more comment about that. Public Financing of the election is about as Socialist as one can get.
Posted by: Thinking | October 21, 2008, 12:09 pm 12:09 pm
I’m not trying to be an apologist for Obama, but let me be an apologist for Obama. Come on, Mr. Tapper, you’re better than that.
The sheer number of the questionable donations is much higher on the Obama side of the ledger. Also, now that we’re in the general campaign season, McCain is obiding by the strictures of the campaign financing laws governing his funding by government funds. The Obama folks are still raking it in and spending it with abandon and daring us to suggest that any of it is obtained by less than honest methods.
Posted by: moderate | October 21, 2008, 12:12 pm 12:12 pm
Why isn’t the press asking Obama to show the same transparency? Oh, gosh, for a minute there I had forgotten that the press is just an arm of the DNC. Sorry, I forgot. Seriously, Jake. Why not ask the Obama campaign to open their books?
Posted by: Fallon | October 21, 2008, 12:22 pm 12:22 pm
“Obama and DNC admit all allegations in Berg v. Obama lawsuit.”
Nutcase Berg again makes grand proclamations and right wingers fall for it.
2 weeks ago right wingers were in a twitter because Obama had supposedly been subpoenaed. Only that was an unsigned order by Berg himself.
The lesson for today? Right wingers are gullible.
Posted by: Ryan C | October 21, 2008, 12:27 pm 12:27 pm
And what about voter fraud??
Sen McCain has been trying to link Sen. Obama to ACORN. Now we learn that Sen McCain has hired Lincoln Strategy for purposes of “registering voters.” The managing partner of that firm is Nathan Sproul, a renowned GOP operative who has been investigated on multiple occasions for suppressing Democratic voter turnout, throwing away registration forms and even spearheading efforts to get Ralph Nader on ballots to hinder the Democratic ticket.
Sproul will have first hand access to Sen McCain. That means all of the dirty tricks we see coming from the McCain camp will be sanctioned by McCain.
How disgusting!!!
Posted by: VanLear | October 21, 2008, 12:39 pm 12:39 pm
Are these the only anonymous donations? Lets see a list of Obamas.
Posted by: Maria | October 21, 2008, 12:40 pm 12:40 pm
I think Obama should disclose all his donors.
Posted by: Yes! He should. | October 21, 2008, 12:41 pm 12:41 pm
God help us if Obama is elected!
Posted by: Carol | October 21, 2008, 12:43 pm 12:43 pm
CHECK OUT FOX NEWS WEB SITE MCCAIN IN LEADING IN TROOP SUPPORT 3-1, CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT. OUR TROOPS THAT ARE FIGHTING THIS WAR BELIEVE MCCAIN CAN AND WILL END THIS THE RIGHT WAY. WHERES MSNBC AND CNN? THEY WONT REPORT THIS
Posted by: RICK | October 21, 2008, 12:48 pm 12:48 pm
At least we can see where McCain’s donor problem lie. That’s a giant step in transparency, even if imperfect. I don’t expect any campaign to not have problems, I just think it’s helpful to know about them. And telling when they won’t share.
What’s with the $.01 contributions?
Posted by: MayBee | October 21, 2008, 12:51 pm 12:51 pm
“CHECK OUT FOX NEWS WEB SITE MCCAIN IN LEADING IN TROOP SUPPORT 3-1,”
What a shock FoxNews lying.
The Center for Responsive Politics, which analyzes campaign finance data, reports that a surge of donations for Mr. McCain in the final months he was able to accept campaign contributions moved him into the lead. By the end of August, Mr. McCain received $461,350 from military donors to $450,950 for Mr. Obama.
One of the interesting trends of the election was that anti-war candidates, not only Mr. Obama but also Ron Paul, were getting more support from the uniformed military than hawkish Mr. McCain. That remains the case. Mr. Obama received $340,400 from members of the uniformed service branches compared to $321,500 for Mr. McCain. Mr. Paul had taken in $213,000 from uniformed service members.
The report also shows that Mr. Obama also is ahead of Mr. McCain in military donors with overseas addresses, both those working for the Department of Defense as well as members of the uniformed services. A total of $74,650 came in for Mr. Obama from those posted overseas to $16,600 for Mr. McCain.
Posted by: Ryan C | October 21, 2008, 12:54 pm 12:54 pm
There is no need to reveal donors info below $200…the average donor for O bama is $87.00…most of his donors are donors that do not give me a lot of money…this proves to you how much support he is getting….
O bama 08
Posted by: carl | October 21, 2008, 1:02 pm 1:02 pm
A man who has nothing to hide, hides nothing. Open up the books, Obama.
Posted by: Joe | October 21, 2008, 1:21 pm 1:21 pm
I’ve donated a little over $100. I prefer to keep that information between me and the Obama campaign.
It’s very likely that if my information was released regardless of how much I donated (i.e. below $200), I would not have donated.
Of course, that’s probably the goal of the Republicans. They don’t want transparency (which the Obama campaign has actually been better at), no, they just want to supress donations.
What a joke they are.
Posted by: Russ | October 21, 2008, 2:04 pm 2:04 pm
I posted a perfectly sound reason on your other thread. Perthaps Jake is trying to discourage donations from people who DON’T live in secure houses in secure neighborhoods with security alarms and someone always home. Those might be DEMOCRATS, right?
So let’s go back to only encouraging campaign contributions from people who can list their business, or accountant’s business, as their address, right?
Posted by: Tom J | October 21, 2008, 2:20 pm 2:20 pm
“I’ve donated a little over $100. I prefer to keep that information between me and the Obama campaign.”
While I understand a desire for privacy, you should know that if you donate a penny to Obama, the FEC has to be notified.
The FEC has all these records, Obama is not hiding them.
They just haven’t made donations under $200 public because there is no legal requirement and the task itself is enormous.
Posted by: Ryan C | October 21, 2008, 2:26 pm 2:26 pm
“As for the McCain campaign’s transparency, it’s indisputable that it’s better than the Obama campaign’s when it comes to small donors.”
Is that damning with faint praise intentional? “Yeah, it may be a big list of people named Anonymous Anonymous, but at least there’s a list”. The Obama campaign should put out a similar list with “we don’t know” filled in for the name, and they would match the pristine standards of the McCain campaign.
Posted by: ExRepublican | October 21, 2008, 2:46 pm 2:46 pm
They probably aren’t releasing those names because they know if they have incomplete data like McCain, the Conservative media will infer those were donations from terrorists overseas.
Posted by: Sean Braisted | October 21, 2008, 4:54 pm 4:54 pm
“A man who has nothing to hide, hides nothing.”
That certianly explains the way in which McCain “released” his medical records.
Posted by: Jack | October 21, 2008, 5:34 pm 5:34 pm
“As for the McCain campaign’s transparency, it’s indisputable that it’s better than the Obama campaign’s when it comes to small donors.”
————————————-
From Open Secrets:
Obama: Full Disclosure 92.4%, Incomplete 2.2%, None 5.5%
McCain: Full Disclosure 86.8%, Incomplete 3.1%, None 10.1%
So Jake, if it is indisputable Obama is worse on small donors, then I guess you mean to say that McCain isn’t disclosing at all when it comes to large donors?
Posted by: Mike | October 21, 2008, 8:14 pm 8:14 pm
I think that anyone in the news business ought to have learned by now to take anything the RNC says with more than a grain of salt.
Posted by: Mike | October 21, 2008, 8:21 pm 8:21 pm
McCain released over a thousand pages of medical records. Obama? Obama released a one page check up, no medical records at all. And speaking of not releasing documents. Why has Obama sealed, SEALED his college records?
Posted by: Joe | October 21, 2008, 11:22 pm 11:22 pm
WHY NOT ASL OBAMA TO PLEASE MAKE THE SAME INFO AVAILABLE ABOUT HIS DONORS!
Show us you are not hiding anything. We can catch funny donations for McCain and check if they are returned. Since Obama is the one, we will be able to prove he has done no wrong as ABC wants to believe.
OBAMA IS SILENT BECAUSE HE CANNOT MAKE HIS DATABASE PUBLIC. THE PRESS IS COVERING. THIS WILL COME OUT AT SOME POINT.
THE PRESIDENCY IS WORTH A LIE OR CHEAT RIGHT?
Posted by: Sally Ann | October 21, 2008, 11:35 pm 11:35 pm
“it’s tough for ten people to pour through millions of donors”
Another examples of OBAMA AUDACITY!
May I suggest that a part of the $ 150 million for Sept. be used to clean it up before it does become public?????
Posted by: Sally | October 21, 2008, 11:47 pm 11:47 pm
Open your eyes MIKE when you read and repeat information!
From Open Secrets:
Obama: Full Disclosure 92.4%, Incomplete 2.2%, None 5.5%
McCain: Full Disclosure 86.8%, Incomplete 3.1%, None 10.1%
….. is for MORE THAN $200 DONORS not small donors of which Obama has millions?
The facts I saw is that 80% of Obama donors go UNAMED!
Posted by: Sally Ann | October 21, 2008, 11:51 pm 11:51 pm
I think Obama should disclose his PLACE OF BIRTH and his REAL vault BIRTH CERTIFICATE.
He is an Illegal Alien, not qualified to run as President.
ABC Must report on this and expose the basis of the 6 yes SIX current civil suits filed against Osamabama to produce his Birth Certificate.
Osaamaba has produced 3, yes THREE variants of his Birth ‘extract’, all proven fakes or tampered with, which makes them INVALID, and in addition are NOT the actual Vault copies to prove place of Birth.
There are many Traitors out there today who are not upholding the US Constitution.
Dont prove yourself to be one of them.
Foxy.
Posted by: Foxy | October 24, 2008, 11:32 am 11:32 am