Is Soros behind Dean's decision to forgo public financing?

[jobycom]

I'm not sure how the laws work here. I know Dean has bypassed public financing and that means that he is not bound by many of the campaign financing laws. Would this allow Soros to bankroll him, or would Soros still have a cap as to how much he could donate?

[neuvocat]

1. Possibly

I don't see why not, given that Soros already had a fundraiser for him.

[Tinoire]

15. C'Mon Nuevocat. Do a google re Soros and Clark

eye-opening information...

And ask yourself why the co-founder of moveon.org, John Hlinko, was also the co-founder of the illusionary draftclark movement.

John Hlinko, the guy who runs "Extreme Campaigns".

If Dean wins, they'll give him the money but they will make sure Dean doesn't win- not that he's not Centrist or corporation enough but he's not quite as controllable and not quite as aware of the entire gameplan. Dean is not their guy. I think we all know very well who is. They waged a Carlyle war in Yugoslavia together. Cheered the invasion of Iraq together. Drafted plans for the occupation of Iraq together.

For the record, I don't trust Dean but I totally distrust Clark so don't think this is some Deanie slamming you.

Dean is a babe in the woods. The big boys are on a desperate mission for their New World Order. Dean won't stop them because his platform is workable but IMO he won't actively, knowingly, help them either. They need someone who will help them so that rules out

1. Kucinich who will do everything in his power to stop them
2. Sharpton who cannot stand what they stand for and do so he's out
3a. Dean who hasn't seen the contract yet, hasn't signed the dotted line yet, and who, like Al Gore, seems to be starting to believe some of that populist "crap" he's spouting.

Nope, those three are out. Kerry? 3b? 2b? I go back and forth. The most socially progressive but I'm quesy about the whole Iraq thing. Ready to forgive him in a heart-beat though dependent on future developments.

Your man sounds awesome on paper but only the papers that have been written within the last 6 months. Everything before that was pure neo-con adulation. Everything since seems to be written in accordance with polls and "how to best appeal to a bunch of sincere, determined Progressives". Please take no offense. Primaries are upon us and our country's soul is at stake so there's no time to be anything but blunt.

[KissMyAsscroft]

2. Oh man, that would be sweet...

nt...

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[pruner]

4. Soros can only give $2,000… the same amount you or I can give

the only way Soros could "bankroll" Dean would be to hold $2,000 a plate fundraisers for Dean and invite all his rich friends.

[Tinoire]

16. Any rich person can give whatever they want.

Rules my friend are for little people. All that lovely money passing under the table... and no receipts!

But Soros isn't going to bank-roll Dean- not unless he's convinced that Dean will be amenable to his game and right now, they have someone else a lot more amenable.

Dean shoots his mouth off too much and just might be beginning to believe his own populist rhetoric. That's too dangerous- they're not sure how well he'll play ball and they might not quite make it to 3rd base.

[Orangepeel]

5. everyone has a $2000 cap

an individual can donate $2000. His/her spouse and kids can also donate $2000 each. A donor can also hold a fundraiser and convince others to donate money (that's how bush's "pioneers" and "rangers" get that status -- they collect checks from others and send them in as a bundle).

Before CFR, an individual could donate unlimited amounts to a party. They weren't allowed to earmark the money for a specific candidate, but, you know how that goes. I am not 100% sure now, but I believe that contributions to the national party are now limited but contributions to state and local parties are not.

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

13. Children under the voting age

cannot donate. Not sure if you meant that or not when you said his/her spouse and kids can also donate $2k.

[Adjoran]

18. Not exactly

An individual can donate up to $2000 every year for the primary campaign, if the candidate has a committee registered with the FEC. He can give another $2k for the general election, unless the candidate accepts public financing. Individuals may also contribute to PACs, which may give $5k to a candidate in each election cycle.

This was all the law since 1974, and has nothing to do with CFRA, which eliminated "soft money" to the parties, but allows it to flow to "independent" groups, such as Soro's latest $15 million gift.

Bill Clinton wasn't known to be particularly choosy about his donors, but he stayed the heck away from Soros. The man envisions himself as a modern day Bernard Baruch, with great influence over policy. he has his own agenda.

[DuctapeFatwa]

6. No, Soros does not support the sharon regime. Dean does

Soros made a speech the other day, you can go to the I/P forum and get the link to it.

He is vehemently opposed to the sharon regime's policies as well as US funding of those policies.

Dean is on record as being in agreement with both bush and AIPAC on the subject

=========================================

"...the former Vermont governor declared that, while the United States should become more engaged, he did not have any fundamental objections with President George W. Bush’s policies...

When asked by the Jewish newspaper Forward late last year as to whether he supported APN’s perspective, Governor Dean replied "No, my view is closer to AIPAC's view."..

He also rejects calls by APN and other liberal Zionist groups that Israel’s requested $12 billion loan guarantee be linked to an Israeli freeze on constructing additional illegal settlements on confiscated Palestinian land, arguing that such aid should instead be unconditional...

http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0226-04.htm

[CWebster]

9. I am so sick of this crap

They all support Israel--every damn one. It is the unspoken agreement that everyone of them bows to. If a cheerleading vote in support of Israel comes around, even Kucinich will refrain from voting rather than risk taking a stand.

I followed this issue for years and it was the one thing that caused me to hesitate when first considering Dean, but Dean was the ONLY one that went out on the limb and stated that to be an honest broker the US must be "evenhanded". And what a crime that was, how they pounced, and hey, Kucinich, anytime you want to jump in, in defense of the right thing, Sharpton, I didn't hear you while Kerry laid into Dean.

So when I see threads bashing Dean for his position on Israel from supporters of candidates who attacked Dean for his lone heroic stand in even mentioning a balanced approach, well, let's say I have no sympathy when their campaign crumble.

[DuctapeFatwa]

11. Bashing? It's his position, and the position of the Democratic party

I have not endorsed any candidate, I am sure that the supporters of other candidates are up to the task of emphasizing how their candidates adhere to the policy, or do not adhere to it, in the case of those candidates who have not raised very much money.

Now if you disagree with the policy, that is your right, as it is your right to agree with it, but I'm not sure that "bashing" is the best term to describe stating what a candidate's position on any issue is.

[DuctapeFatwa]

12. Bashing? It's his position, and the position of the Democratic party

I have not endorsed any candidate, and I believe that supporters of all the others are up to the task of spreading the word about how their guy adheres to the policy, or does not adhere to it, in the case of those that haven't been able to raise any serious money.

It is your right to agree or disagree with the policy.

I am not sure, however, that "bashing" is the best word to use to describe stating a candidate's position on this or any other issue.

[HFishbine]

7. You're not quite correct on your premise

Foregoing public funding doesn't change the campaignfinance laws one is subject to one bit. Contributions limits are still in place. No one can bankroll a campaing. The candidate and family members can loan their campaigns unlimited funds, but they cannot accpet more than $2,000 per contributor per election (the primary is an election and the general is an election) or $5,000 per election per PAC.

So, I think the anwer to your question is no, Dean didn't opt out because of Soros.

[hedda_foil]

8. NO.

[Rose Siding]

10. Maybe Dean is behind Soros' open wallet

If he's paying attention, he sees thousands less well off than he is who are willing to challenge Bush with their donations. If I were a billionaire, that would touch ME.

[Tinoire]

17. There are millions less well off now than they were a decade ago

There are millions around the world less well off now than they were a decade ago thanks directly to Soros. They are in Ukraine, Yugoslavia, Belorussia, Chechnya, Afghanistan, Thailand, Iraq, the UK. And also in America where Soros dumped so many tech stocks in ONE day that millions lost their shirts.

If he gave the money back to those people, that would touch ME.

[Adjoran]

19. Absolutely

there is a difference between those who make fortunes due to their own ingenuity and innovation, and those, like Soros, who are merely successful traders and speculators.

Soros has contributed millions to worthwhile causes worldwide. But where business is concerned, he does not consider the needs or values of communities; it is Soros first, Soros second, Soros only, Soros always.

I would not turn his money down in a campaign, but I would recognize, as Bill Clinton did, that he is just another fat rich bastard with his own agenda.

[Tinoire]

20. Check out Soros' LBN today... / Funding opposition parties to Putin?

Politics is making me sick. I really wish I knew none of this. How about you? Doesn't it get to the point where you just want to scream? Lol... Too tired and brain is much. Good-night and peace.

Arrested Russian Businessman Is Carlyle Group Adviser ...(Khodorkovsky)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=210004

Billionaire Soros: 'Ousting Bush central focus of my life'
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=211930

Soros's foundation left 'paralysed' after raid
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=214046


<snip>

The assault on Khodorkovsky and some of his associates, who make up a group of core shareholders in the company, is widely believed to have been orchestrated by Kremlin hardliners apparently alarmed by Khodorkovsky's political ambitions.

"I believe that he acted within the contraints of the law in supporting political parties. I am doing the same in the United States," said Soros.

http://in.news.yahoo.com/031104/137/292zw.html

[Lindsey]

14. WE MUST FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE

This is not "politics as usual." We are basically in a civil war. Why is it okay that * breaks fundraising records yet when it's a Dem - it's bad?!?!? Wolf Blizer made me sick tonight (I normally don't watch him) when he was nailing a dem. about campaign finance reform. Give me a break! It's so transparent I am simply aghast that they have the nerve to...I better stop or I'll have to take a xanax!