Presidential Donors Might Be in Diapers

[wyldwolf]

Elrick Williams's toddler niece Carlyn may be one of the youngest contributors to this year's presidential campaign. The 2-year-old gave $2,300 to Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).

So did her sister and brother, Imara, 13, and Ishmael, 9, and her cousins Chan and Alexis, both 13. Altogether, according to newly released campaign finance reports, the extended family of Williams, a wealthy Chicago financier, handed over nearly a dozen checks in March for the maximum allowed under federal law to Obama.

Such campaign donations from young children would almost certainly run afoul of campaign finance regulations, several campaign lawyers said. But as bundlers seek to raise higher and higher sums for presidential contenders this year, the number who are turning to checks from underage givers appears to be on the rise.

"It's not difficult for a banker or a trial lawyer or a hedge fund manager to come up with $2,300, and they're often left wanting to do more," said Massie Ritsch, a spokesman for the Center for Responsive Politics. "That's when they look across the dinner table at their children and see an opportunity."

Asked about the Williams family giving, Obama spokesman Bill Burton said, "As a policy, we don't take donations from anyone under the age of 15." After being asked by The Post about the matter, he said the children's donations will be returned.

Although campaign finance laws set a limit of $2,300 per donor per campaign, they do not explicitly bar donors based on age. And young donors abound in the fundraising reports filed by presidential contenders this year.

(Article also names Richardson and Romney)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/23/AR2007102301882.html?hpid=topnews

Yes, but do they wash dishes in China Town?

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. If the donor-of-record does not give money out of his or her own funds, how can it be legal?

Washington, at least, makes it blatantly illegal for someone who hand you money for the purpose of you giving that money to someone else. How can that be any different than me giving money in someone else's name?

[Devlzown]

2. I thought you were talking about the Republicans.

A lot of them will be in diapers, too, although there won't be a child among them.:evilgrin: