Night Before Senator Obama Leaves Condi Rice Bars Embassies from Aiding Travel
by mouser68
Mon Jul 21, 2008 at 10:41:54 AM PDT
According to Rawstory
http://rawstory.com//news/2008/Night_before_Obama_flies_abroad_Rice_0721.html'If they want to rent a bus, show them where they can rent a bus'The night before presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) left for Afghanistan, Iraq and Western Europe for a tour of US bases overseas, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice issued a cable to US missions forbidding them from holding events for presidential candidates or arrange meetings for them. this came from a memo that was leaked to the WaPo.
In a cable sent late Thursday, according to a copy leaked to the Washington Times, Rice enjoined American diplomats to treat the candidates as "members of Congress visiting in personal or semi-personal capacities," but "with additional restrictions based on rules related to political activity....
Provide de minimis assistance to the candidate with logistical arrangements," said the cable, according to the Times. "If the campaign staff wants to rent a bus for press, tell them where they can rent a bus."Rice never did this before Senator McCain's visit. Somehow McCain's visit was considered an official visit from congressmen. I am not sure what this is right now with Senator Obama, Jack Reed, and Chuck Hagel.
But she forbid them from any attempts to "hold or arrange receptions or public events for the candidate," "arrange the candidate's meetings" or "use official funds and resources, beyond a de minimis level, to support a political trip."
more at:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/7/21/12914/6796/700/554600