Edwards refuses to name top campaign fund-raisers

[HFishbine]

WASHINGTON — A campaign finance watchdog group Thursday publicly called on North Carolina Sen. John Edwards to release the names of his top presidential fund-raisers before “Super Tuesday.”

The Center for Responsive Politics in Washington said it sent a letter to Edwards after he and his staff declined to respond to repeated phone calls and e-mails seeking the names of the lobbyists and business leaders who collect donations in support of his presidential campaign.

“We’re not releasing any names. That’s our policy,” said Edwards campaign spokeswoman Kim Rubey.

Campaign disclosure laws do not require candidates to reveal the names of their top fund-raisers.

more: http://www.news-record.com/election/edwards/edwardsfunds022704.htm

[Padraig18]

1. This is an 'issue' because....?

:shrug:

[HFishbine]

2. Maybe it's not

If you don't want to know where the financial power for the Edwards' campaign is coming from, I guess it's not an issue for you.

One can read who Bush's and Kerry's top fund-raisers are though.

[Padraig18]

3. I'll know as soon as the quarterly FEC report is filed.

I'm not that curious, frankly.

[HFishbine]

5. No you won't

"Campaign disclosure laws do not require candidates to reveal the names of their top fund-raisers."

[Padraig18]

7. That's splitting hairs.

I'll know WHERE the $$$ came from. Since I alrady know that a lot of Kerry's was raised by Toricelli of 'Osama ad' fame, I don't really envision anything nastier to be revealed about Edwards...

[gottaB]

4. Because Edwards is making it one

Edwards wants voters to look at the differences between him and his competitors in regards to clean elections, campaign financing, and transparency in government. This is one of those differences.

[BeyondGeography]

6. They're trial lawyers, they've won some

outrageous verdicts, and BushCo would have a field day linking Edwards to absurd jury decisions.

It's the old vodka-swilling welfare queen syndrome. Find one extreme case, and beat Edwards over the head with it.

"Your campaign has received money from a law firm that won $5 million from McDonalds because a woman claimed the coffee she spilled on her lap while driving was brewed too hot. Do you renounce such excess, Senator Edwards?"

And so on...

[Bread and Circus]

8. That's because Edwards sucks and is a fake

[Adelante]

9. What's the point of not doing this?

"Larry Noble, the center’s executive director, said he believes the names of top fund-raisers should be made public in the presidential race because of their potential influence in the White House.

"He said Edwards has refused to answer repeated telephone and e-mail requests from the center for the information.

"The Edwards campaign said it does not plan to release the names of its top fund-raisers because it doesn’t raise money the way the Bush campaign does."

I don't get it. What's the Edwards principle behind the decision not to open up?

[BootinUp]

10. Because it won't look

good :)

there I said it.