newsobserver.com projects - Reform group asks for PAC investigation - Comments

Re: This is getting hilarious

bnartist — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:07:08 -0400

There is no "North Carolina Alliance" and there is no mystery about the "Alliance for North Carolina" 527, previously known as the Pioneer Majority dealing with issues advocacy in Oklahoma. In 2006 it received $45,000 from the DGA. Since then it has received $24. Information is publicly available from the IRS.

The legal problems of the NC "independent expenditure committee" set up by the RGA arise because it did not receive the unlimited funds directly from individuals and that the funds came from a source commingled with unlimited corporate contributions to the RGA 527 Fund prohibited by NC law for an "independent expenditure committee". The RGA 527 accepted $135,000 in contributions this year from corporations in Charlotte and Winston-Salem.

Re: This is getting ridiculous

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 08:29:59 -0400

I have nothing to do with the editorials.

Those are written by the editorial board, which includes the publisher and a group of writers and editors in another part of the building.

Occasionally, I sit in on meetings between the editorial board and visiting politicians in order to write a news story, but I don't engage in any conversation about what opinions they should issue.

I'm willing to go back-and-forth with you guys on stuff I write, but if you're not happy with the editorials you're going to have to take it up with someone else.

— RTB

Re: This is getting ridiculous

Cdickson — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 08:24:04 -0400

RTB-

Today's editorial was a classic. Attack the guy that got $800 in donations from PACs give free pass to gal that got $225,000 in donations.

I agree that you should ask Bev how she managed to raise almost a quarter million in special interest money without talking to a single lobbyist.

Perdue is about to have a mysteriously funded 527 called the 'North Carolina Alliance' run by a high-powered Washington consultant with close ties to SEIU and the DGA attack McCrory.

If you don't take her to the woodshed on hypocrisy after that ad debuts I'll keep my paper subscription but the political reporters at the N&O will have fallen to the level of an access Hollywood 'reporter'.

Re: This is getting ridiculous

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 21:26:26 -0400

Yes, there is an equivalent Dem PAC, and yes a newspaper has bothered to report on it here:

The Teamsters' PAC has contributed $31,000 to the N.C. Democratic Party, filings show. The Democratic Governors Association has chipped in $112,000 for the state party, the filings say. There is no limit on contributions to state political parties.

You can also read about Perdue's money here, here, here and here; the potential involvement of the SEIU here, and the involvement of the N.C. Association of Educators here.

Maybe instead of canceling your subscription, you should just read up on some older papers...

— RTB

This is getting ridiculous

Senate — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:54:19 -0400

A quick scan of SBOE reports shows that there is an equivalent Dem Gov PAC. No paper has bothered to report on it.

No one has asked Bev if she is swearing off outside money, though the media has let her claim the high road by allowing her to claim McCrory is somehow on the low road because of what an outside organization is doing. In fact, she was the only candidate that got help from an outside organization in the primary - the teacher's union.

Then the supposedly nonpartison bob hall dogooders association only filed a complaint against the RGA and perdue propmtly jumped all over the complaint and proceeded to beat mccrory over the head with it.

For the first time in 15 years I actually thought about cancelling my N&O subscription today.

I just don't understand how the media can continue to let bev have her cake and eat it too. Don't any of you feel a professional responsibility to at least appear unbiased.

Part of this is that McCrory campaign is still in garage band mode and not handling the media well but part of it looks to be bias.

Re: Reform group asks for PAC investigation

ebetz — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:10:55 -0400

I wonder if they are going to investigate how much the value of the News and Observer's positive coverage of Pat McCrory's Democratic opposition candidate and the $ impact of the negative press the N&O has provided to McCrory? I recognize there is freedom of the press, but there oughta be some ability to compensate for the overbear favoritism the press shows one candidate based on political party affiliation and unfair negative press afforded to the opposing candidate based on political party affiliation.
It appears that this complaint is strictly politically motivatd just to generate negaive press for McCrory; when the the investigation finds nothing wrong there will either be no story or a back page 1 column inch filler in the sports section about it.

Reform group asks for PAC investigation

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 11:09:05 -0400

A campaign finance group wants an investigation over the Republican Governors Association.

Democracy North Carolina filed a complaint today with the State Board of Elections arguing that the method the national GOP group is using to raise money is unlawful.

According to campaign finance reports, the RGA's North Carolina 2008 Political Action Committee has raised nearly $390,000 to boost the campaign of Republican nominee Pat McCrory.

Democracy North Carolina head Bob Hall says the association raised money from out-of-state donors who aren't being told the money is going to North Carolina. He argues that state law doesn't allow that.

"The PAC is violating the prohibition against accepting contributions made "in the name of another," as well as laws regarding the proper disclosure of the true source of its money," he argues in the letter. "North Carolina law requires a clear and close nexus between the donor and the recipient."

Hall also says that he does not believe the RGA PAC is the only one, and an investigation would help clarify the law.

Elections Director Gary Bartlett said that the board will investigate the complaint.

Document(s):
DNC-RGA.pdf