'08 hopefuls net millions from piggy banks

[RamboLiberal]

Source: USA Today

At 8 years old, Matthew Mardirossian is too young to vote. But he and his 7-year-old sister, Karis, each contributed $4,600 to help Democrat Barack Obama win the White House.

In Arizona, 15-year-old actor Hunter Gomez gave $2,300 to Republican John McCain, his home state senator.

Under federal rules, minors can make political donations — as long as it's their money and decision to contribute.

Massie Ritsch, spokesman for the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics, said it's a way people "use their family members to circumvent the limits on individual contributions," which is $2,300 each for the primary and general elections.

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Obama doesn't accept money from anyone younger than 16, Burton said, and the donations were refunded "once we ascertained that they fell outside of the parameters for donations that we accept."





Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2007-09-11-Kidsmoney_N.htm

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I want these kids piggy banks. I have a feeling Repubs use this little trick more than Dems in the past - this year Repubs are far behind Dems here. Too be fair though if it truly is a kid's own money even if it's their trust fund - I say let them donate. Sure hard to enforce though.