It’s still pretty simple, but it’s also pretty straightforward. From the press release:
The Republican National Committee (RNC) today launched a new Web site, “RNCDonors.com.” Through a searchable database, un-itemized RNC donors – those who contributed less than $200 to the RNC from the time Sen. John McCain became the presumptive Republican presidential nominee – will be made public.
“Sen. Obama talks a lot about openness and transparency, but Republicans walk the walk. Here we have another example of Obama’s rhetoric in no way matching his record,” RNC Chairman Robert M. “Mike” Duncan said. “When will Barack Obama stand up and follow through on his rhetoric? When will he stop talking about leadership and exhibit it?”
Short answer: never.
Jake Tapper sums up the disparity thus:
Obama, of course, opted out of public financing despite an earlier pledge to do so, an issue of real contention for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who (rightly) feels it’s a broken promise Obama hasn’t gotten much heat for from either the media or government reform proponents.
More recently, Republicans have been pointing out that Obama does not disclose the names of donors who contribute less than $200 to his campaign. He is under no legal obligation to do so, but his failure to provide those names, it can certainly be argued, doesn’t live up to his pledges of transparency and openness.
Jake goes on to note that he hasn’t heard a good reason for the refusal of disclosure. Ben Smith actually has one – assuming, of course, that you can subsume “cynical” into “good:”
The Obama camp hasn’t a terribly clear explanation of its refusal to go beyond the legal requirement, but there’s one straightforward political reason: Disclosing your small donors means that other Democrats can hit up your list. Keeping them secret enhances the power of Obama and his organization within Democratic politics. Also, it would be an enormous amount of work to vet 3 million names, though that does sort of beg the question.
The Democrats, of course, are counting on this being a stellar year anyway for them in Congress, which is why they haven’t raised a stink about this: it remains to be seen whether the Obama campaign realizes that or not. They’re not exactly team players over there, are they? – At any rate, kudos for the RNC for doing what it can to keep donations transparent – and why not show your appreciation a little more directly? Donate here.
Steve Maley
Moe Lane
Dan McLaughlin
Neil Stevens
Daniel Horowitz
That's because
Swamp_Yankee (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 11:06AM EST (link)they know what they plan on doing with the Republican donor list. The fascist left plots its course of intimidation an suppression.
Found myself!
lonebeagle Tuesday, October 21st at 11:15AM EST (link)I found myself on the list! I’ve never given before to ANY political cause or campaign. I’m glad that the McCain-Palin campaign is being so transparent about the source of their donations.
This is further proof about the integrity of John McCain and the lack of integrity of “The One’s” operation.
There's a more nefarious reason
bk (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 11:31AM EST (link)“Disclosing your small donors means that other Democrats can hit up your list.”
Disclosing Obama’s small donors exposes even more campaign contribution illegalities than we’ve already seen.
Dittos
MelZ (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 11:48AM EST (link)Boycotting is a very “friendly” way to make a point be known.
I too boycot certain actors. I don’t necessarily care what their view is, but to use their celebrity to make completely ignorant “points”…i.e. Matt Damon. If they want to donate their name to rant about things they know nothing about, then I won’t be “donating” my money to their sales.
I have no problem with Oprah supporting Obama…I do have a problem with her using her show to boycott Palin and financing his 30 minutes ads…HELLO did she not notice despite the financial “crisis” he has made millions on top of millions in just one month?
MelZ
It just shows there name, no other info
MiddleMan Tuesday, October 21st at 11:56AM EST (link)How does this prove those donations are legal?
because
Ithk4myslf (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 12:03PM EST (link)Mr. No Name would have never lied when he donated all those times.
I just made myself appear on the RNC list this morning
Dave_in_Fla (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 12:11PM EST (link)Now that is instant gratification.
“If they were merely incompetent, then at least SOME of their actions would have been to the benefit of the country.” – Joe McCarthy
thanks
jbwbubba (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 12:15PM EST (link)Wow thanks RNC for giving the dems and libs easy access to an enemy’s list
I get a database error when I try. -nt-
NightTwister (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 12:20PM EST (link)-nt-
The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter. – Winston Churchill
Confused
cmw (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 12:21PM EST (link)So, I did a search for “Good Will” and for “Doodad Pro” since I had heard they were active politically, and yet I find nothing. I think this is a bad trend for McCain … if Mr. (Mrs. ?) Will and Mr. Pro have all that money to give and they decide to give it all to Obama, McCain could find himself down like $150 million to $40 million or something for October to spend.
Too bad they don’t have a search by state, or at least by country of nationality. Now there would be something for Obama to release, though of course it’s more complicated because his lists for those from other countries would have actual names, and McCain’s would all say “No records match your criteria.”
Seriously, the RNC should bill this as a way to show your support … Donate and then go look yourself up
.
http://www.colinwitt.com/
The point is to demonstrate that we have nothing to hide, MiddleMan.
Moe Lane (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 12:22PM EST (link)Unlike, say, the Obama campaign, which us adamantly not telling anybody anything that they don’t absolutely have to. Which is their privilege: just like it’s my privilege to suggest that they don’t want to admit that the large-amount credit card fraud cases already reported are very likely being dwarfed by the small-amount (as in, less than $50) credit card fraud cases that would show up if we could check names.
They can go transparent any time they like.
The Kim Kardashian of blogging.
Check out my blog at http://moelane.com/.
http://moelane.com/filthy-lucre-filthy-lucre/
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My (combined) wish list.
Actually, no.
Moe Lane (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 12:27PM EST (link)It tells you the name and the amount donated. Not any of the contact information.
Where this will be very useful is in confirming that nobody’s making donations in your name.
The Kim Kardashian of blogging.
Check out my blog at http://moelane.com/.
http://moelane.com/filthy-lucre-filthy-lucre/
http://twitter.com/moelane
My (combined) wish list.
Good idea, bad release
repfrombirth Tuesday, October 21st at 12:30PM EST (link)I think the idea of transparency is awesome, and definitely something we need more of in modern politics. But why does this press release talk more about how evil Obama is than how great the RNC is?
Why do all of our political discussions have to devolve into pointing out the other guy’s flaws instead of pointing out our guy’s strengths?
Be proud, RNC, that you are doing a good thing. Let that be enough.
Wow, even the name says lifelong republican!
NightTwister (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 12:33PM EST (link)Does it really sting that much to know your messiah doesn’t measure up to your expectations?
The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter. – Winston Churchill
Hi, Elbeefcako. We ban fake Republicans on sight.
Moe Lane (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 12:39PM EST (link)We also mock the ones dumb enough to be traceable.
The Kim Kardashian of blogging.
Check out my blog at http://moelane.com/.
http://moelane.com/filthy-lucre-filthy-lucre/
http://twitter.com/moelane
My (combined) wish list.
Exactly.
itrytobenice (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 12:39PM EST (link)I promise you, there are lots of people that have exceeded the limits but have done so in small amounts.
In banking, we call it money laundering and we turn them over to the Feds. In Obamaworld, they will get Ambassadorships.
Proper grammar saves lives.
Let’s eat Grandma.
Let’s eat, Grandma.
Is that REPTILEfrombirth troll
PaRep (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 12:39PM EST (link).
STOOOOOPID troll to boot
PaRep (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 12:45PM EST (link)hahahaha
and there are many of them
itrytobenice (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 12:55PM EST (link)who didn’t even use their own names, but donated under the name “XYZ” or “Good Will ToYou”. Lying slugs.
Proper grammar saves lives.
Let’s eat Grandma.
Let’s eat, Grandma.
Because someone has to...
AzHat (Diary) Tuesday, October 21st at 1:06PM EST (link){I know it’s a troll, but we don’t mind WHO asks the question}
Since the MSM won’t do it, the RNC (and of course Mrs. Palin) have to.
It doubles the amount of work one side needs to do:
1. point out the other guy’s flaws, and
2. point out our guy’s strengths.
Government is too important to be left to the Government.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE RUNAWAY
upsidedown Tuesday, October 21st at 7:10PM EST (link)I read between lines and question things which seem extreme. I’m amazed the media hasn’t done the same with investigative reporters.
ALL THIS MONEY BARACK collects does the media and voters really believe it’s coming from everyday people. Barack was groomed in Chicago politics the most corrupt city in the USA. And he didn’t learn anything there? His twists and turns have been politicial corruptiveness in the making. One direction and then another. He would cut back on lobbyist yet lobbyist ran his campaign with over the top parties- air travel, etc. .
I believe HIS CONTRIBUTIONS need to be INVESTIGATED. Did Large contributors dole out large amounts of money to smaller groups and individuals? No one truly believes that in this economy people are giving so freely (double whats considered normal) in this Presidential campaign for BARACK.
I also believe more transparency needs to be applied with legislation to CHANGE the way he got so much money without a money trail to be followed