Clark will return payments from speeches since he became presidential cand

[bicentennial_baby]

Clark will return payments from speeches since he became presidential candidate

10-08) 20:33 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) --

Democratic presidential candidate Wesley Clark's campaign said Wednesday night that he will return payments he has received for speeches since declaring his candidacy and will no longer speak for money.

Clark spokesman Mark Fabiani issued a statement that said Clark's advisers reviewed federal guidelines and determined that his paid speeches were appropriate. "Nevertheless, to avoid any distraction from the real issues that matter to Americans, General Clark has decided to return the payments from these speeches," the statement said. It did not say how much money was involved.

-snip-

"Federal Election Commission spokesman Bob Biersack said it was not clear whether Clark did anything wrong. Unresolved are several questions, including whether the speeches were in connection with a federal election and who paid for them, said Biersack, who added that the commission hasn't been asked to review the matter."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/10/08/national2333EDT0919.DTL

[goforit]

1. Honorable man!!!.......Give credit to a rookie DUrs.

We need to hear all voices!!!

[pruner]

2. regardless of whether it's (legally) necessary or not…

I'm glad to see that Clark has made this choice.

[AWD]

3. Yes

He made the right choice. Better to avoid any questions of impropriety by eliminating the shadow of doubt.

Of course, it's MUCH worse that Dean once met a guy who forgot to pay a traffic ticket in 1997.

[pinkpops]

4. fill me in

Could someone explain the difference between speaking for a fee and $1000 a plate dinners? Not a trick question, just asking.

[pruner]

5. the $1,000 fee is an individual's donation

the speaking fee is paid by an entity (school, business, etc) and as such should be counted as a corporate campaign contribution.

[Demobrat]

8. One goes in the speaker's checking account.

The other goes to his campaign.

[newyawker99]

16. Hi pinkpops!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Kool Kitty]

6. Bravo, bravo, bravo!

Thank you, Wesley!

[madaboutharry]

7. Compare Clark's conduct

to Dick Cheney practically having to have his arms broken to cut his ties with Halliburton. (Oh, wait a minute, silly me......)

[Media_Lies_Daily]

9. Good...that's the correct thing to do.

[Julien Sorel]

10. That's a lot of loot to sacrifice when he didn't have to.

I think this should answer questions about his commitment to the campaign, as well. He could have kept the money and taken his chances with the bad publicity.

[truthisfreedom]

11. good. that was easy.

now he just has to win.

[catforclark2004]

13. He will, He will....(n/t)

[DoveTurnedHawk]

12. Good On Ya, General! (eom)

DTH

[robbedvoter]

14. Good move. Now all other candidates keeping their day job

and I'll start with W and the AF 1 and all the tax payers money that fund his fund raising junkets - he couldn't even be bothered to address the black-out while fundraising - when will THAT money be returned?

[Rowdyboy]

15. I'm really glad he did this....

They dropped the ball on this one. Glad they were alert enough to catch it immediately.