SCHWARZ FILES NINE-POINT F.E.C. COMPLAINT AGAINST CLUB FOR GROWTH
The Schwarz for Congress campaign committee today filed a formal, nine-point complaint with the Federal Election Commission, the federal agency charged with maintaining the integrity of elections, against Club for Growth Inc., the Club for Growth Inc. PAC, and the Walberg for Congress Committee. The nine point complaint outlines violations including:
• The illegal coordination of campaign resources between Club for Growth Inc. and at least four Club for Growth-endorsed candidate committees including Walberg for Congress.
• Club for Growth Inc. and Club for Growth PAC funneling illegal campaign contributions to the Walberg for Congress committee.
• Club for Growth Inc.'s failure to register as a political action committee and failure to file legally mandated reports of receipts and disbursements.
• The violation of federal campaign law by Walberg for Congress committee for accepting in-kind contributions in excess of $5,000.
"Whether you are Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative, everyone must adhere to our nation's campaign finance laws," said U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz (R-Battle Creek). "As a Congressman, I have sworn to uphold the laws of the United States and when I have found clear evidence of any laws being broken, I must report that Club for Growth has flagrantly violated the laws, not only in Michigan but in races across the nation."
"In multiple races around the country in this election cycle, Club for Growth and candidate campaign committees employed the same vendors, including Red Sea LLC (and its subsidiary Basswood Research), National Research Inc. and Blue Point Consulting," Congressman Schwarz said. "If the club and its candidates share the same pollsters, media buyers and consultants, it is pretty obvious there is coordination occurring."
The complaint found that in addition to sharing vendors on the Walberg for Congress Committee, Club for Growth shared consistent vendors with the Laffey for Senate campaign in Rhode Island, the Sharron Angle for Congress campaign in Nevada, and the Bill Sali for Congress campaign in Idaho.
(snip)
The Federal Election Commission is presently suing the Club for Growth in the U.S. District Court for the District of
Columbia (FEC v Club for Growth) to force the club to cease and desist from a number of the practices that form the basis of the complaint by the Schwarz for Congress committee.
Included in this federal complaint are charges that Club for Growth has failed to properly register as a political action committee. The organization seeks to influence elections and does so by illegally funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars to campaign committees. According to the non-partisan Michigan Campaign Finance Network, 85.8 percent of Walberg for Congress campaign funding was funneled through the Club for Growth.
Schwarz has called for Club for Growth to lose it's PAC status and basically be forced to cease operations. For me, that's only the first part. If Walberg gained his spot on the ballot through violations of campaign finance laws then he should lose that slot. One of the major problems with our election laws is that even if Schwarz's allegations are proven true, Walberg's primary victory will still stand. Time and again we see how in politics cheaters are allowed to prosper and it's helping to create the rot in our political process that all of us can recognize the symptoms of. Some people hate sports analogies in politics, but if the offense commits pass interference in football and scores a touchdown it gets called back and they receive an extra penalty (either loss of yards or loss of down if I recall correctly). If the allegations of illegal coordination are true, Tim Walberg should lose his spot on the ballot or a special election should be called if he wins in November to replace him. I also think we should look at jail time for campaign officials and candidates found in violation of election and campaign finance laws. The sanctity of our electoral system is the fundamental part of our democracy- without free and fair elections we cannot maintain the open society based on justice and equality our country's founders created.
You can get more info here.
Support Walberg's opponent: Sharon Renier.
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When Hugo Chavez won the Presidency of the oldest democracy in Latin America (Venezuela), GWBII sent Condum Rice out to rant about poor quality elections in Venezuela.
When a young coca farmer won the democratic election of President of Bolivia (Evo Moralez)GWBII sent Condum Rice out to rant about poor quality elections in Bolivia.
When the candidates supported by the "Club for Flagrant Growth" get caught in the spotlight, rest assured that Condom Rice will be all over the situation in short order!
We've already reviewed Ponzi schemes, but we still have time for "Pyramid" and the time-honored "Holding Company" apparatus that propelled our robber barons into world leadership (or dominance. I can't remember which one claims title to the Monroe Doctrine). Were the contracts for the "Great White Fleet" competitively bid, or was Haliburton around back then?
Renier's website is lame. If the Dems want to capture another house seat, here is their opportunity but they need to put some resources behind Renier starting with a public affairs person to rewrite her bio and issue statements. Her list of endorsements is weak too. She claims to have worked with Lee Iococa, but she should have an endorsement from him. For touting an environmental background, she does not seem to have support from such groups. She and the Dems have a great opportunity to leverage Schwarz's allegations to their advantage and whip Walberg's ass. But then, the MDP and national party are too narrow minded and support only their favorites that would likely win regardless. It reminds me of the veteran that ran for congress against the wicked bitch in Ohio recently. Because the distict had a GOP history, the dems did not offer much help to the candidate and he lost in a very close race. Renier stands to become another victim of neglect.
Conventional wisdom says this is a safe GOP seat even though it went for Clinton twice and could easily turn back Walberg since Schwarz refuses to endorse him and he's much farther to the right than the voters in the district- a tight Governor's race and Senator Stabenow on the ballot might help Renier as well. The MI 7th CD did give Bush 54% against Kerry but it's likely his approval is below 45% there just as it is almost everywhere. Renier only managed 36% against Schwarz in 2004 but a certain percentage will likely move from the moderate Republican Schwarz's column to Democrat (or not bother to vote at all) with a flaming lunatic like Walberg on the ballot.
Even though Walberg tactics repulsed me, he ran a great campaign. If the Club and Wahlberg violated campaign finance law, then they should be fined by the FEC like any other group/candidate that does this.
Many moderate 7th District Republicans will be spliting their ticket come November. I doubt they will be able to do this in significant numbers to affect the outcome, but stranger things have happened. Heck, even the 7th District GOP Chairman is voting for Renier.
Actually, priests tend to be Democrats.
"Pulpiteers" on the other hand seem to be "cutting" a few strings to the guys who are "running" things.
Thanks for the information on the complaint, and the link to Walberg Watch. It's always nice to know other people are paying attention.
Jay, you said that "even the 7th District GOP Chairman is voting for Renier." I hadn't heard that before, and I'd be very interested to know where you got that. Is this private knowledge, or is he publicly urging support for another candidate?
fitzy--
Go and ask Troutman. He isn't publically broadcasting his support, but those in 7th District circles know this to be the case--he does NOT like Wahlberg.
The Dems could win this seat if they would put some money behind it: http://battlecreekenquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061011/NEWS01/61011013
Battle Creek Enquirer says the race is up for grabs with only a 8% lead by Walberg. Will the Dems step up and put money into this? It would be the best 500k they ever spent.
POLL PUTS WALBERG AHEAD, RENIER CLOSE
Despite having little money or name recognition, Democratic 7th U.S. House District candidate Sharon Renier is within shooting distance of Republican Tim Walberg, according to a poll released Wednesday by Glengariff Group Incorporated.
The poll, conducted October 6-8 of 600 likely voters with a 4 percent margin of error, showed Mr. Wal-berg ahead 43-35 with 22 percent undecided. But it showed Ms. Renier’s name identification at 23 percent, compared to 57 percent for Mr. Walberg.
Glengariff Group conducted polling for U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz (R-Battle Creek), but Richard Czuba, president of the Chicago-based company, said this poll was conducted independently because there had been little polling done yet in Michigan U.S. House races.
The poll showed Republicans favored Mr. Walberg 70-9 with 21 percent undecided, while Democrats favored Ms. Renier 65-15 with 20 percent undecided. Independents favored Ms. Renier 36-33 with 31 percent undecided.
And Mr. Czuba said independents could have a strong say in the race, with 43 percent of those who label themselves as such wanting to see U.S. House in Democratic hands, compared to 20 percent who want continued Republican control and 15 percent opposing either major party having control.
“While it is clearly regarded as a safe Republican seat, it is also a very independent seat,” he said. “They seem to be lining up with the Democrats.”
Of all those polled, 39 percent said they would prefer to see the U.S. House controlled by Democrats, compared to 37 percent for Republicans and 9 percent for neither party. Another 12 percent were un-decided and 3 percent declined to answer.
But he said it would still be a struggle for Ms. Renier to win. “It is an uphill fight for Sharon Renier to win this seat, but these numbers are far closer than most people would expect at this point,” he said.
Joe Wicks, spokesperson for Mr. Walberg, said the poll shows the campaign on track. “We’re ex-tremely pleased by the results, but Tim’s going to continue to run a positive campaign based on cre-ating jobs, cutting taxes and making America energy-independent,” he said. “Our message of creating jobs and defending traditional values resonates with the 7th District.”
But Ms. Renier was also positive about the poll results. “We’re really thrilled,” she said. “It shows that we’ve got a good chance of winning this race, we’ve just got to get our name out.”
She said a television spot launched on one of the district’s smaller stations this week would help with that and she plans future broadcast and cable spots if she can build on the $35,000 she has raised so far.
I've read where both parties are redistributing their remaining cash. The GOP has to now spend money on what were thought to be safe races for congress.
Today, the Enquirer reported that the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo TV stations will focus on "Wife Swap" and "How I Met Your Mother" during the gubernatorial debate on Monday.
I am very appreciative. Considering that I will have a huge task just voting for the non-voters of Hastings, distracting my proxy folks with pertinent information would just increase the tension.
I hope that this blog and the goobers will continue to ignore the issues posed by the proposals. If Dick and Jen were to express an informed opinion on any proposal other than the race issue my proxy voters would begin to defect and express a desire to vote for themselves. We can't have that!
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