Well in his defense, campaign finance rules aren't in the Constitution.

I've never heard of anyone taking their campaign money and putting it into a for-profit corporation," campaign finance-reform advocate Fred Wertheimer told the Houston Chronicle.


well that's certainly true enough. Most politicans just keep the left over money for themselves and buy themselves a nice yacht or something.

To me, this was always the open question about the Paul campaign: his acolytes kept going on and on about all the money he was raising, and I never saw any evidence of what it was being spent on.

Now we know. I wonder how the Paul cultists will spin the fact he just fleeced them.

Weaver95: well that's certainly true enough. Most politicians just keep the left over money for themselves and buy themselves a nice yacht or something.

You know that that's not in the least bit true, right?

Raging_Primate: jake_lex: Do you say that about all political candidates, or just the ones you don't like?
What do you expect, a refund if your candidate loses or something? Pull your head out of your smarmy ass.

Read TFA. Using campaign money to fund a for-profit company is unheard of. Wasn't he supposed to be the "revolutionary" candidate? Well, he's revolutionary in his way to enrich himself off his campaign, I'll give him that.

Obdicut: Weaver95: well that's certainly true enough. Most politicians just keep the left over money for themselves and buy themselves a nice yacht or something.

You know that that's not in the least bit true, right?

I understand that some of them opt to just keep it in a big pile and roll around in it at night.

Weaver95: I understand that some of them opt to just keep it in a big pile and roll around in it at night.

How droll.

I'm still predicting that Paul winds up giving his money to the RNC, or uses it to otherwise promote McCain. This, however, makes me bet on him heading for some sort of drama instead, which will be a lot more interesting.

Obdicut: I'm still predicting that Paul winds up giving his money to the RNC, or uses it to otherwise promote McCain. This, however, makes me bet on him heading for some sort of drama instead, which will be a lot more interesting.

The RNC could use some drama. some of those asshats could do with a good scare.

Ron Paul wants to defy federal finance rules and take all $4 million dollars left over from his failed presidential campaign to start a for-profit libertarian publishing company take up residence in FPMITAP



/FTFY

He's already got a working title for the first book published: Blimping Your Way Out Of The Risk Of Achieving Public Office And Into The Pockets Of Suckers.

It mixes the usually exclusive genres of tragicomedy and nonfiction.

hillbillypharmacist: He's already got a working title for the first book published: Blimping Your Way Out Of The Risk Of Achieving Public Office And Into The Pockets Of Suckers.

It mixes the usually exclusive genres of tragicomedy and nonfiction.

Imagine what the Paulites would be saying if, say, Mitt Romney did the same thing with his leftover campaign cash.

He could always buy $4 million worth of these:

http://www.onision.com/photos/commercial/v-for-vendetta/v-for-vendetta-movie-x1. jpg

Why do you think he never dropped out? You can't collect campaign contributions if you're not campaigning.

I doubt anyone who donated cash to his campaign has a problem with this. I donated over $600 to his campaign, and I'm fine with it.

As someone who took a break from reading Ron Paul's new book, "The Revolution, A Manifesto" and came across this thread, I'm really getting a kick out of some of these replies.

If Paul really cared about this cause, he would take the Libertarian nomination and campaign for the 5% of the popular vote necessary for LP to get public funds in 2012.

Unless I'm completely wrong about these campaign finance laws.
In which case eat a dick

The free market at work. Next he'll start a religion.

At this point in his 'campaign' I think it is fairly tasteless to talk about using left over contributions, since he hasn't dropped out.

/Send 1 dollar to h­appyd­ud­eluap­nor­f­le­ece_­usc­om

Shaggy_C: The free market at work. Next he'll start a religion.

R. Paul Hubbard?

Jeffrey.Rodriguez: I doubt anyone who donated cash to his campaign has a problem with this. I donated over $600 to his campaign, and I'm fine with it.

Very much this. Unless you actually donated to Paul, you have no grounds to complain.

Starting a self-sustaining publishing company that could keep operating for decades makes plenty of sense, even if it's not what I'd prefer him to put it towards.

Jeffrey.Rodriguez: I doubt anyone who donated cash to his campaign has a problem with this. I donated over $600 to his campaign, and I'm fine with it.

Seconded, though not quite to the tune of $600

the old crow: If Paul really cared about this cause, he would take the Libertarian nomination and campaign for the 5% of the popular vote necessary for LP to get public funds in 2012.

Unless I'm completely wrong about these campaign finance laws.
In which case eat a dick

The LP doesn't accept government funds as a matter of principle.

But getting 5% would still be great. I was hoping there'd be a fairly smooth transition from Paul supporters to Bob Barr/LP supporters, but it doesn't look like that will happen. Paul's too worried that it'll screw up his grand plan to save the GOP from within.

So when the Federal Election Commission takes him to court the money will go to lawyers and fines. That's nice.

milk_plus: So when the Federal Election Commission takes him to court the money will go to lawyers and fines. That's nice.

Have you been hiding under a rock or did you miss the whole thing where McCain is breaking his own campaign finance law right now but the FEC can't do anything about it because they don't have a quorum.

Weaver95: I've never heard of anyone taking their campaign money and putting it into a for-profit corporation," campaign finance-reform advocate Fred Wertheimer told the Houston Chronicle.


well that's certainly true enough. Most politicans just keep the left over money for themselves and buy themselves a nice yacht or something.

wrong. about 15 years ago that loophole closed Politicians haven't been able to convert campaign war chests into personal use Cash since Jim Wright was speaker of the house.

And the idea isn't that crazy. His book is currently #3 on Amazon's Non Fiction list. It was up to #2 yesterday.

Churchill2004: do anything about it because they don't have a quorum.

Ron Paul has virtually no powerful friends in congress to cover his ass. McCain can get away with it over the short term (the Democrats won't raise a real stink about it until the general election when it will really hurt him) but Republicans and Democrats want Ron Paul marginalized. Democrats want the other anti-war candidate out of the race and the GOP doesn't want Paul followers siphoning off the old-school conservative vote.

Setting up a foundation with illegal money isn't a temporary thing like an election. He may get his foundation but this money is going to disappear down a big legal hole.

Why can't Ron Paul be like the other Republicans and pay their defense lawyer's fees with it?

Magorn: Weaver95: I've never heard of anyone taking their campaign money and putting it into a for-profit corporation," campaign finance-reform advocate Fred Wertheimer told the Houston Chronicle.


well that's certainly true enough. Most politicans just keep the left over money for themselves and buy themselves a nice yacht or something.

wrong. about 15 years ago that loophole closed Politicians haven't been able to convert campaign war chests into personal use Cash since Jim Wright was speaker of the house.

Wrong they can and do. ^{(^)}

milk_plus: Setting up a foundation with illegal money isn't a temporary thing like an election. He may get his foundation but this money is going to disappear down a big legal hole.

Maybe he'll fight to get McCain-Feingold overturned. That law was a big reason why he couldn't coordinate with and organize his followers.

If he was worthy of any respect at all he'd be putting every penny into the Libertarian party that he's allowed legally. That could be nothing, as I'm not up on finance laws, but if he can put even a dollar in he'd damn well better. I think they're nutty with the free market addiction (reverse communism doesn't work either!) but the two party system needs to end. Obama can't be president forever, and the dems are not likely to field a good replacement.

Churchill2004: Very much this. Unless you actually donated to Paul, you have no grounds to complain.

Nonsense. This could set a precedent. It's not just Paul, but every campaign from now on which has left over money.

Well, the whole idea of said self-sustaining company would be to spread the message that he was campaigning on, so it's not like he's putting it into his brokerage account or opening up a few Hooters franchises throughout Texas.

Falcc: If he was worthy of any respect at all he'd be putting every penny into the Libertarian party that he's allowed legally.

He's a Republican. He should donate it to the McCain campaign.

DamnYankees: Nonsense. This could set a precedent. It's not just Paul, but every campaign from now on which has left over money

So Paul can't do something that bothers no one because someone else might do it and bother someone...

Right.

Shaggy_C: He's a Republican. He should donate it to the McCain campaign.

He's a Republican. He doesn't support John McCain, nor do the people who donated that money. Ergo, he should not donate it to John McCain.

Churchill2004: Maybe he'll fight to get McCain-Feingold overturned. That law was a big reason why he couldn't coordinate with and organize his followers.

How exactly did that prevent him from organizing and coordinating his followers?

Smellvin: Well, the whole idea of said self-sustaining company would be to spread the message that he was campaigning on, so it's not like he's putting it into his brokerage account or opening up a few Hooters franchises throughout Texas.

Gosh, I wonder which well-paid congressman he would choose to run said organization. He may need trusted assistance from his family as well. Shoot, a company like that would take at least 3-4 months to burn through $4M, he may need more contributions. Pony up, boys and girls, it's a Paul Paul rEVOLution.

Ah ha ha, political fanboyz slay me.

Churchill2004: Very much this. Unless you actually donated to Paul, you have no grounds to complain.

I did.

Jeffrey.Rodriguez: I doubt anyone who donated cash to his campaign has a problem with this. I donated over $600 to his campaign, and I'm fine with it.

I do. I was, until I read this, fully prepared to give him my vote this week in the NC primary. My gut reaction, however, is that this is a little is a little shady and I'm not so sure he's going to get my vote now.

I could be wrong, but I want to know where the profit is going before I pass final judgement - at the ballot box. If I don't find an answer by Wednesday then when I vote on Thursday, it won't be for him.

Churchill2004: So Paul can't do something that bothers no one because someone else might do it and bother someone...

Right.

Oy. Read my freaking post. You said no one who didn't support Paul should have any say - and that's bullshiat. Whether or not we like this idea, everyone has a say since it has future impact.

I suppose he could just say that he was running for president in 2012 and use all the money for that "committee" and print up/distribute all the things he wanted to anyhow.

veedeevadeevoodee
Ron Paul wants to defy federal finance rules and take all $4 million dollars left over from his failed presidential campaign to start a for-profit libertarian publishing company take up residence in FPMITAP become the benevolent-ish ruler of Paulville (new window)

It's more likely than you think.

The economy sucks and people are struggling. Why would anyone give money to the rich blow hards responsible for this mess?

Hobodeluxe: Magorn: Weaver95: I've never heard of anyone taking their campaign money and putting it into a for-profit corporation," campaign finance-reform advocate Fred Wertheimer told the Houston Chronicle.


well that's certainly true enough. Most politicans just keep the left over money for themselves and buy themselves a nice yacht or something.

wrong. about 15 years ago that loophole closed Politicians haven't been able to convert campaign war chests into personal use Cash since Jim Wright was speaker of the house.

Wrong they can and do. (^)

Legal defense funds are one of the two allowable uses for left- over campaign funds, the other is to donate them to another campaign fund such as a PAC or National Party Committe. The idea behind allowing the legal defense funds is the theory that being in the public eye, elected officials are more likely than most to attract lawsuits and the like. what they are not allowed to do however, is use the funds to buy a house, a car, etc. You used to able to convert the cash to personal use but too many outgoing politicians were raising campaign war chests in the old days even after they'd announced their retirement.

RyanWillia
The economy sucks and people are struggling. Why would anyone give money to the rich blow hards responsible for this mess?

For the record, I've been saying since the beginning that someone really ought to hold Ron Paul responsible for starting this insane war and sending our economy down the shiatter . . .

/wtf?

I wondered why, if he was getting just so much in donations, he was never doing anything like running some farking advertisements or making a serious effort to actually win one state by concentrating resources. This would explain so much...

let's think about this guys. he has money that people donated for a cause. he can no longer promote his political ideologies through his voice alone. now he wants to take that money to continue to promote the libertarian stance.

or we could ignore this and bash him like it's going out of style

If he had just a few million more, he could buy a 6-month membership for UltraFark d sdafc _x
vjk^ln5g

^r4t
**CARRIER LOST**

bastaroid: let's think about this guys. he has money that people donated for a cause. he can no longer promote his political ideologies through his voice alone. now he wants to take that money to continue to promote the libertarian stance.

or we could ignore this and bash him like it's going out of style

The people who have always supported him and his platform, support this move. The people who have never supported him and his platform, do not support this move.

I care fark-all what the detractors, particularly those here, think.