Romney Campaign Donors Face Defamation from the President
By AnjaP
@Rollo1 (16679)
Boston, Massachusetts
April 28, 2012 8:42am CST
How would you feel if you donated money to a political candidate only to find his opponent had publicly denounced you and defamed you? How would you feel if the man who did this were someone with the power to investigate, audit, fine and jail you? Even if you were a private citizen who had committed no crime, no tax fraud and were completely above board, would the power of the person who is running against the candidate you support intimidate you? Of course it would.
That is exactly what is happening to donors to Mitt Romney's campaign. One of Obama's campaign websites posted a "list" of eight donors, all private citizens and intimated that they were on the wrong side of the law and that they were less than reputable. The article - "Behind the curtain: A brief history of Romney's donors".
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304723304577368280604524916.html
Do you think it is worrisome that the president not only has an enemies list but that it gets published and that hatred against private citizens is encouraged based solely on their choice of candidate for president? Can we have free elections if there is going to be undue influence coming from the powerful office of president to vilify private citizens who have committed no crime, hold no office, and who are targeted only because they support his rival?
2 people like this
4 responses
@thegreatdebater (7316)
• United States
29 Apr 12
Rollo, what the story doesn't say is these donors are doing this because they DON'T want you to know they are donating to this candidate. If they donated directly to the candidate we would all know who they are, and there has NEVER been proof that ANYONE has been intimidated for donating to a campaign.
While I was working out I saw this on FOX, and their legal "babe" (to use a Rush term) said that this is NOT illegal! As she said the information WILL get out, it just usually happens after elections.
How is donating hundreds of millions of dollars to a candidate with out anyone knowing who you are, or your motives considered a free election? If these guy are sending millions than it sure is free to them, is it?
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
1 May 12
Debater, you make my point for me with you "infamous Koch Brothers" remark. This is a perfect example of Obama picking out and labeling some bogeyman for the left to blame all the woes of the world on. Not only that, but Obama actually revealed private tax information about the Koch brothers, info that he could only have gotten if the IRS had told him which is against privacy laws.
While Bill Maher donates a million dollars to Obama's Super PAC (btw, Obama has changed his mind about those and doesn't hate Super PACs anymore, he loves the ones that bundle lots of money for him so you need to stop hating on Super PACs) and Bill Maher has been demonstrably and hideously misogynist, Obama does not denounce him for his war on women and takes his million with gratitude.
Yes, the Koch Brothers donate to conservative causes. And Obama has received more money from Wall Street than any President in history. There are more rich guys buying favors from Obama than there ever have been with any other candidate.
And so you return to the Bush years, so sad.
2 people like this
@thegreatdebater (7316)
• United States
1 May 12
Rollo, "you make my point for me with you "infamous Koch Brothers" remark. This is a perfect example of Obama picking out and labeling some bogeyman for the left to blame all the woes of the world on." You mean like George Soros? You know George, the right wings boggyman?
If Obama gave out illegal information than the Koch Brothers own enough representatives that they could have charges brought. They own John "I might just cry right now" Boehner, and I am sure he has the power to call for an investigation. So why hasn't he? Because there is no case here!!!
Look at what those PAC's did during the republican primary to other republicans. It is sad that one person with deep pockets can keep a candidate in a race. Do you really think they are doing this because they like the guy?
The Koch Brothers have done A LOT more than just donate, they provide funding for the Heritage Foundation, which make Rush look like a liberal. They have also made millions trading with Iran (What a slap in the face when you have a company run by people who are Jewish, helping a country run by someone who wants them all killed) which is not illegal, but surely unethical!!!
Do you have proof that Wall Street has sent more money to Obama than any other president?
I see you must moved right over the Swift Boat issue. What is wrong? Didn't help your case?
1 person likes this
@BalthasarTheRat (656)
• United States
29 Apr 12
I remember this argument, only John Adams was President and Thomas Jefferson was looking for votes. If these two men, as great as we see them in hindsight, had their way, "bad-mouthing" a sitting President would be against the law.
Does that help anyone deal with this now? Probably not, but casting Obama as some above and beyond demon, the likes of which we've never seen in politics is ludicrous.
This issue should be investigated with an eye toward how modern technology is changing the way politicians can vilify one another. Until it is found to have some illegal component, or a new law is created to stop such abuse, there is nothing we can do but whine.
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
29 Apr 12
It has nothing to do with bad mouthing the President, or even any candidate. They can vilify each other till the cows come home.
This is about a sitting president using his power and influence to intimidate private citizens who donate money to his political opponent.
1 person likes this
@clrumfelt (5490)
• United States
2 May 12
Obama is going to do everything he can to bad mouth Romney and anyone who associates with him for one reason. He has made such a mess of things in the last 4 years that he can't run on his own record. He will be continually trying to distract people from looking at it by stepping up the character assassinations against Romney's campaign.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
29 Apr 12
He tried this before when he wanted the email addresses of those who were bad mouthing Obamacare before it was passed.
http://patdollard.com/2012/04/obama-gives-out-home-addresses-of-romney-donors-asks-people-to-burn-down-their-houses/
Richard Nixon’s “enemies list” appalled the country for the simple reason that presidents hold a unique trust. Unlike senators or congressmen, presidents alone represent all Americans. Their powers—to jail, to fine, to bankrupt—are also so vast as to require restraint. Any president who targets a private citizen for his politics is de facto engaged in government intimidation and threats.
http://www.redstate.com/6755mm/2012/04/27/obama-has-an-enemies-list-of-romney-major-donors/
Now it's donors.
http://scottystarnes.wordpress.com/2012/04/20/obamas-truth-team-releases-obamas-enemy-list-tweets-information-to-o-bot-follower/
All this is is dirty politics, from the guy who promised a different Washington. His donations have gone down, what better way to discourage his opponent getting any of them to come on board or continue to support him?
Just like he'd never participate in the PAC feeding frenzy. He'a a liar and a crook, what more needs to be said?
