Obama asks Justice to investigate 'terrorist' ad

[Hope And Change]

August 25, 2008
Categories: Barack Obama

Obama asks Justice to investigate 'terrorist' ad

Just posted:

Sen. Barack Obama has launched an all-out effort to block a Republican billionaire’s efforts to tie him to domestic and foreign terrorists in a wave of negative television ads.

Obama’s campaign has written the Department of Justice demanding a criminal investigation of the “American Issues Project,” the vehicle through which Dallas investor Harold Simmons is financing the advertisements. The Obama campaign — and tens of thousands of supporters — also is pressuring television networks and affiliates to reject the ads. The effort has met with some success: CNN and Fox News are not airing the attacks, and some local affiliates have refused as well.

Obama has also launched his own response ad, directly addressing Simmons' attempt to link him to domestic terror.

The project is “a knowing and willful attempt to violate the strictures of federal election law,” Obama general counsel Bob Bauer wrote to Deputy Assistant Attorney General John Keeney last week in a letter provided to Politico. Bauer argued that by advocating Obama’s defeat, the ad should be subject to the contribution limits of federal campaign law, not the anything-goes regime of issue advocacy.

Bauer’s letter called on the Justice Department to open “an investigation of the American Issues Project; its officers and directors; and its anonymous donors, whoever they may be.”


By Ben Smith 06:01 PM


more...

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0808/Obama_asks_Justice_to_investigate_terrorist_ad.html#comments

[monmouth]

1. I believe fox has aired it "by mistake."...n/t

[Mz Pip]

14. Mistake, my ass.

Like misspelling Obama, Osama. Or labeling a (D) after Republican creeps. Right.

[nc4bo]

2. Good! Do not lie down and take it. fight back! GOBAMA! nt

[Pathwalker]

3. Thank you, Senator Obama. I HATE THAT AD!!!

It's playing here in Michigan day and night, night and day. I HATE IT!

[Qutzupalotl]

4. Good.

Glad we have a team that's paying attention to the law.

If it's too repulsive for Fox and CNN, that says a lot.

[LaurenG]

5. Yay! I am very glad that there was something he could do

legally. I wondered how low this rats would go. I would be very interested in finding out who finances them "anonymously."

[FVZA_Colonel]

6. This absolutely has to happen, but in the back of my mind

I can't help but be concerned that if this doesn't work out the Right will start screaming about Obama trying to "crush free speech!"

[jaxx]

9. There comes a time when you need to step out and do what is right,

and stop couching every move on what the rightwing will say or do. They're going to do it anyway, they're running shit ads. Are they going to stop because it makes the left mad?

This playing defense has got to stop, it makes us look weak and scared. Offense is the way to go, hit them hard and hit them often.

[FVZA_Colonel]

12. I agree.

That's why I've started studying up on these issues; I want to put my concerns, which I know are irrational, to rest.

[ProSense]

10. "concerned that if this doesn't work out the Right will start screaming "

The Right are assholes. Stop acting like they're our masters.

[FVZA_Colonel]

11. I don't think that at all. I know my concern is irrational.

That is why I am studying up about this, to lay my fears to rest.

[Hope And Change]

7. Kick!

[FatDave]

8. Yeah, good luck getting the Bush Justice Department to side with a democrat. (nt)

[TTUBatfan2008]

13. Exactly what I was thinking...

this administration is the most partisan ever. No way in hell they will stand up for the truth on this issue.

[mcg]

15. SourceWatch: American Issues Project

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=American_Issues_Project

[Life Long Dem]

16. The American Issues Project was founded - Saturday, 16 August 2008

Saturday? :hi: Welcome! :rofl: