Comments on: The Manchurian Candidate

By: Is Mitt Romney The Manchurian Candidate? « RealTalkUSA

Is Mitt Romney The Manchurian Candidate? « RealTalkUSA — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 19:12:30 +0000

[...] The Manchurian Candidate (politicalirony.com) [...]

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 17:52:12 +0000

They don’t have to donate money, they can create a Super PAC and just advertise on their own. Even foreigners have free speech through a PAC.

By: Don

Don — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 03:53:01 +0000

As my son just pointed out, Obama also raises money overseas. Check out

http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2012/06/viva-la-obama-george-clooney-to-host-obama-fundraisers-in-europe/

Can’t speak to who all will attend.

By: Don

Don — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 20:57:24 +0000

He’s in Israel raising money, as well.

By: Iron Knee

Iron Knee — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 18:38:18 +0000

I’m seeing ambiguous information about the event. Some sources say that these were bankers working for American firms, but working in London (in which case it would be legal since the firms are headquartered in the US). Other sources list attendees including the CEO of Credit Suisse (who was a co-chair). I’m guessing they didn’t allow him to donate money, in order to keep within the letter of the law. Or maybe banks with foreign headquarters have US affiliates, and they just have them making the donations. Loopholes.

Note that I worded my post carefully. I suppose that it is legal to take foreign money (like Sheldon Adelson’s) as long as the company is officially headquartered in the US.

Incidentally, PolitiFact has a ruling today that speaks to this issue, although I find their reasoning in this case highly suspect. See http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2010/jan/27/barack-obama/obama-says-supreme-court-ruling-allows-foreign-com/

This is also relevant, even though it was from before Citizens United — http://www.factcheck.org/2010/10/the-chamber-and-foreign-contributions/ Apparently a foreign corporation can donate money for political purposes, as long as it is done though a US subsidiary that has enough funds to cover the expense. So what Romney and the banks in England are doing may be legal, but I find it despicable. It should be illegal. At the very least, it should make voters wary of candidates that take money this way.

By: Arthanyel

Arthanyel — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 16:28:30 +0000

Thanks JamesM.

Time to sue Romney!!

By: JamesM

JamesM — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 16:21:22 +0000

Current federal law — legal eagles can find it at 2 U.S.C. 441e(b)(3) — prevents “a partnership, association, corporation, organization, or other combination of persons organized under the laws of or having its principal place of business in a foreign country” from making “directly or indirectly” a donation or expenditure “in connection with a Federal, State, or local election,” to a political party committee or “for an electioneering communication.”

By: Hassan

Hassan — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 15:45:55 +0000

Can Mitt Romney legally transfer the money donated for his campaign to his personal accounts? Like if he “loaned” his campaign lots of money in 2008 and now from his personal assets, so when people donate, he can pay back his loan?

May be he is just in for making up his money (lost in 2008), and winning presidency would be just bonus?