Clark May Have Broken Law in Paid Speeches

[Rhiannon12866]

Retired Gen. Wesley K. Clark may have violated federal election laws by discussing his presidential campaign during recent paid appearances, according to campaign finance experts.

Clark, a newcomer to presidential politics, touted his candidacy during paid appearances at DePauw University in Indiana and other campuses after he entered the presidential race on Sept. 17. Under the laws governing the financing of presidential campaigns, candidates cannot be paid by corporations, labor unions, individuals or even universities for campaign-related events. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) considers such paid political appearances akin to a financial contribution to a candidate.

Clark is getting paid as much as $30,000 for speeches, according to people familiar with his arrangement. He has two more scheduled for next week.

Clark, like any other candidate, would likely be permitted to deliver the paid speeches only if they did not "expressly" cover his campaign or his political opponents, the experts said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58717-2003Oct7.html?referrer=email

[Padraig18]

1. He returned the $$$... n/t

[Cush]

2. last I heard

This happened before he filed his papers, but he went a head & returned the cash

FEC said they weren't sure if he violated any laws are not

[zekeson]

3. Dupe

seesm like this one gets posted every day. The new ones say he paid it back

[bluestateguy]

4. This is now officially old news

the money has been returned and he is not doing it anymore. Can you challenge Clark on the issues.

[Rhiannon12866]

5. Thanks for the info. I don't usually post in this forum

so I was unaware that it had been posted before, though I did do a search before I posted it. I do try to follow the campaigns, but don't often come to this forum. I guess I had better come here more often! I post mainly in I/P. I have nothing against Clark; I just thought this was relevant news. Actually, I have liked much that I have heard him say, especially his criticism of Bush* and the war. As a retired military man, with his experience, people have to take him seriously! :-)

[JohnKleeb]

6. Thought so Rhi

[Rhiannon12866]

8. WHEW! Did I just narrowly escape being flamed, or what?!

You know that I prefer some candidates to others, but the most important qualification is that they can defeat George Bush*! If Clark has the following and the momentum to do it, so much the better. I was sorry to hear that Graham dropped out. He has really come out swinging against Bush*, lately, and I thought that this was a very good thing.:shrug:

[JohnKleeb]

10. Nah Rhi I would say you ran in to some of the least aggressive people

They probably only got mad because this is fairly old news and even so it appears that pad realizes you meant no harm.

[Rhiannon12866]

11. It's only from yesterday afterrnoon! I got it in one of my newsletters

that I put off reading because the headline, like all the others, was about the Schwarzenegger victory, not a topic I feel like reading anymore about! I always say DU people are the most plugged in, anywhere! I guess this proves it!:-)

But why did my search come up empty?:shrug:

[Padraig18]

7. No blood, no foul!

:hi:

[Rhiannon12866]

9. Thanks! When it comes to Clark or Dean, I guess I really have to

watch my step around here! Whew!:hi: