Is It Legal for Obama and his Supporters to Pay Off Hillary's "debt"?

@ParaTed2k (22940)
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
June 27, 2008 1:29pm CST
Under the campaign finance laws, wouldn't it be illegal for Obama and his supporters to pay off her debts? Hillary incured those debts while running for office. The only reason she and her campaign owes so much is they CHOSE to charge everything instead of "pay as you go". Any "donation" for her debt repayment fund is in reality a campaign contribution. If anything proves how unfit she is for President, it is how irresponsibly she handled her campaign for the office.
2 people like this
4 responses
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
27 Jun 08
He's also telling his supporters to send money to her to help pay off her debt. Since when is it our responsibility to pay off someone else's debt? Well, I guess it is the mantra of the democrats that those of us who manage our money well are obligated to give it to people who can't manage their money.
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@cobracar (142)
• United States
28 Jun 08
I believe it would be illegal for him to personally pay them off (or his campaign), but if its his supporters giving money, its a loop hole around the law.
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@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
29 Jun 08
Any money given by anyone would be campaign contributions. There is no other honest, ethical or logical way to look at it.
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@ladyluna (7004)
• United States
28 Jun 08
Hello ParaTed, As I mentioned above, I believe that the legal loophole (or perhaps loophose is more appropriate) is the suspension of her campaign. I agree that it was terribly fool-hearty to finance her campaign on the hope that the funds would come in. This is a terrible mistake that far too many people make! And yes, it is indicative of how she would have 'managed' the national budget. Though, we should definitely not overlook Senator Obama's 'generosity' as it relates to other people's money. He's ponying up $2300 (the individual campaign limit) while at the same time asking vendors to 'write-off' Hillary's legally incurred debt, and urging the folks to 'bail her out' her personal losses. This portends very badly for the American taxpayer!!!
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@trell8402 (274)
• United States
27 Jun 08
If he wants to take on her debts, I think it's his choice. I'm not taking sides or trying to start an argument, but it may show he was the better candidate all along by helping out a person in need. She did do a lot of touchy/hurtful mudslinging against him, but if he finds it in his heart to help her, then I think that's good. Would it be a good decision to help her in her campaign debts? I don't think so, but that's on him.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
27 Jun 08
So what is to stop this from becoming a precedence? Would it be ok for all candidates to rack up a huge debt, then ask for "donations" to help pay off the debt after the fact? The debt was incurred during her campaign, so any "donations" are still campaign donations. There is nothing "better" or "heart felt" about breaking the law just to make yourself look good.
2 people like this
• United States
27 Jun 08
Like I said before, I'm not trying to start an argument or take sides. I'm just looking at it from a mutual point of view. I never said it was right to take on her debts, but if he wants to help her, that him. No, she shouldn't have racked up the debts. Yes, she should have paid as she campaigned, but I feel Obama can do whatever he wants with his money. My last sentence in my first post said that I didn't think it was a good decision for him to help her. That's the only personal feeling I shared in that post.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
27 Jun 08
I'm not arguing, I'm simply saying that there is no difference between donating to her campaign before the fact and donating to her debt relief after the fact. Both are campaign donations, which are subject to campaign finance laws. He can't skirt those laws just because she chose to put off paying for things until she lost.
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