Citizens Club for Growth to pay fine - Democratic Underground

brooklynite

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Wed Sep-05-07 04:51 PM
Original message

Citizens Club for Growth to pay fine

Source: AP

WASHINGTON - A conservative, free market group that worked on behalf of Republican candidates in the 2000 and 2004 elections has agreed to pay $350,000 in civil penalties for failing to register as a political committee.

The Federal Election Commission said the Citizens Club for Growth spent $1.28 million during the two election cycles advocating the election or defeat of federal candidates. The FEC said the committee acted as a political committee that should have publicly reported its contributions and expenditures.

The case has been pending as a federal lawsuit brought by the FEC against the organization. The agreement, if approved by a federal judge, would mark the end of the lawsuit.

In addition to the money spent directly advocating for or against candidates, the FEC found that the "vast majority" of the Club's $15.1 million in spending between August 2000 and the end of 2004 was on candidate research, polling and ads connected to federal elections.

Public accountability and openness? Next they'll want them to make ads that are truthful!

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LiberalFighter

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Wed Sep-05-07 04:56 PM
Response to Original message

1. Will they be required to file the names of the contributors with the FEC?

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Lasher

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Thu Sep-06-07 08:33 AM
Response to Reply #1

11. That was my first thought

I can find no mention of it anywhere. I'll bet the FEC agreement gives them a pass on this. $350K is chickenfeed to them but they wouldn't want to expose their wealthy contributors who often like to stay in the shadows.

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NoodleBoy

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Wed Sep-05-07 04:56 PM
Response to Original message

2. I hope the FEC knows that the job it's doing would be done much better

if it were done by a private company, and by having it run like we live in some godless socialist country is hurting the economy and destroying growth.

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Toots

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Wed Sep-05-07 05:04 PM
Response to Reply #2

3. I think Halliburton could do that job quite well.

In fact I bet Halliburton could even do what Congress does only much better and cheaper. Would never need to worry about any "cloiture votes" or "vetos". Why can't America understand how much better Private Business could do things? :shrug:

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woodsprite

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Wed Sep-05-07 05:32 PM
Response to Original message

4. I'm sorry, but everytime I see that name, I think "Hair Club for Men". n/t

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xchrom

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Wed Sep-05-07 06:05 PM
Response to Original message

5. ...

:rofl: :applause: :rofl:

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IthinkThereforeIAM

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Wed Sep-05-07 08:35 PM
Response to Original message

6. Club for Growth paid for ...

... those quasi-infomercial ads endorsing Thune vs Tim Johnson in the campaign that Johnson won by about 535 votes.

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Tesha

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Thu Sep-06-07 07:14 AM
Response to Original message

7. And money well spent, it was.

Every election cycle, count on another right-leaning group
doing things that it will, eventually, long after the election
is over, pay for. These fines are just "a cost of doing business"
for the Republicans.

Tesha

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tom_paine

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Thu Sep-06-07 07:46 AM
Response to Reply #7

8. Bingo.

Like Fox's "mistakes" tell the lie then count on the fact that no one will hjave heard the whispered retraction when the lie was trumpeted by the Mighty Wurlitzer.

Lie accomplished. For the Bushies, it's just that easy, and amazing to behold in it's efficiency.

They truly could have 15% of American believing 1 + 1 = 3 if they chose to launder that particular lie.

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Lasher

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Thu Sep-06-07 08:15 AM
Response to Reply #7

9. That's why this is bullshit

There needs to be jailtime for these infractions.

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Tesha

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Thu Sep-06-07 08:19 AM
Response to Reply #9

10. Precisely. (NT)

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corkhead

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Thu Sep-06-07 10:42 AM
Response to Original message

12. this slimy "club" owns my rep.

I met his newly announced serious Democratic challenger last weekend and offered to do all in my power to help him win

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mhatrw

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Thu Sep-06-07 03:15 PM
Response to Original message

13. Club for Growth vs. Howard Dean

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4-vEwD_7Hk

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