Can someone please explain to me the ethics of *returning* tainted funds?

[unblock]

Say I’m running for office. Somehow we have a system where we pretend it’s ethical for people to write checks to my campaign, but we’ll leave the quandary for another day.

Later it emerges that one of my donors did something horrible. He’s a sexual harasser or a racist or whatever.

So now people clamor for me to write a check to this horrible person???

Sorry. I understand writing a check to an appropriate charity, say a battered women’s shelter or the uncf or whatever, depending on the nature of the donor’s horribleness.

But giving the money back???

I don’t get it.

[safeinOhio]

1. Same thought crossed my mind too.

Wouldn't it better to donate it to an organization that counters what ever that donor stands for?

[wishstar]

2. I'm not sure a campaign donation can just be donated to charity or wherever recipient wants it to go

I would say the recipient just prefers to wash their hands and be able to say they did not accept but returned the tainted contribution rather than have a murkier process of donating the money, which may not even be possible under campaign finance rules?

[unblock]

5. Writing a check to such a horrible person only makes the matter worse, imho

And there has to be a way consistent with campaign finance laws. I could pay $1,000 to charity for a few t-shirts to hand out at my next campaign rally, for example.

[bettyellen]

3. I dont think they can transfer the money. And by design its to discourage relationships with shady

Folks by making it difficult to profit from any association with them. A shunning, and rejection of their influence in the public sphere.

[unblock]

6. So really, it acknowledges that campaign contributions are legalize bribery.

But that somehow writing a check to a horrible person is a lesser offense....

[RainCaster]

4. That only works if you are a Democrat

Republicans never have to apologize or give back the money.

[unblock]

7. Well there is that!

[Nitram]

8. It's all optics.

[delisen]

9. I think you have a good idea

Possibly, depending upon the law, a preferred ethical alternative can be presented to campaigns which find themselves in this position.

I believe federal law allows campaigns to give to charities but state laws vary.

[kentuck]

10. I think it might be more ethical to donate it to a charity.

I would agree.