Marco Rubio fined for accepting illegal campaign donations

[Puppycow]

Rubio fined for taking improper donations

The Federal Election Commission has fined Sen. Marco Rubio $8,000 for accepting more than $210,000 in improper contributions during his 2010 run for the Senate.

Only an $8,000 fine for accepting $210,000 in improper contributions? And only years later after the election is over and he won?

Not much of a deterrent, that.

 

[Ziggurat]

The next sentence changes the significance quite a bit.

"In a negotiated settlement finalized last month but only publicly released now, Marco Rubio for Senate acknowledged taking in more than $210,000 in “prohibited, excessive and other impermissible contributions” during his Senate campaign and failing to refund or “redesignate” the funds within the allowed time frame."

That sounds like much of that money was properly handled, just not quickly enough. Given the complexity of campaign finance law, it might be hard to run a campaign without any technical violations, and a relatively small fine might well be appropriate.

 

[RandFan]

Rubio fined for taking improper donations

Only an $8,000 fine for accepting $210,000 in improper contributions? And only years later after the election is over and he won?

Not much of a deterrent, that.

$8,000, the cost of doing business. Makes you wonder if anyone really takes it seriously.

 

[BenBurch]

Make doing it a felony and it might get taken seriously.

 

[RandFan]

Make doing it a felony and it might get taken seriously.

Ask the fox to get tough on anyone sneaking into the hen house.

 

[Howie Felterbush]

Ask the fox to get tough on anyone sneaking into the hen house.

No kidding.

I think this is one thing the two parties will agree on, for once.

 

[RandFan]

No kidding.

I think this is one thing the two parties will agree on, for once.

Agreed.

 

[Puppycow]

The next sentence changes the significance quite a bit.

"In a negotiated settlement finalized last month but only publicly released now, Marco Rubio for Senate acknowledged taking in more than $210,000 in “prohibited, excessive and other impermissible contributions” during his Senate campaign and failing to refund or “redesignate” the funds within the allowed time frame."

That sounds like much of that money was properly handled, just not quickly enough. Given the complexity of campaign finance law, it might be hard to run a campaign without any technical violations, and a relatively small fine might well be appropriate.

How many other candidates for national office in 2010 had trouble complying with the law?

 

[WildCat]

How many other candidates for national office in 2010 had trouble complying with the law?

It's pretty damned common actually, this is news only because Rubio is being touted as a potential VP candidate for Romney.

Joe Biden, for example, was fined $219,000 for spending irregularities for his 2008 presidential bid.

The FEC rules are complex, and when you're raising many millions of dollars many thousands of donors some technical rules violations are inevitable.

 

[applecorped]

It's pretty damned common actually, this is news only because Rubio is being touted as a potential VP candidate for Romney.

Joe Biden, for example, was fined $219,000 for spending irregularities for his 2008 presidential bid.

The FEC rules are complex, and when you're raising many millions of dollars many thousands of donors some technical rules violations are inevitable.

True, but it is expected from Biden. He's an idiot.

 

[Denver]

It's pretty damned common actually, this is news only because Rubio is being touted as a potential VP candidate for Romney.

I just saw Rubio speak, for the first time (on The Daily Show). Wow, this guy is good. If he had more experience (maybe more name recognition) he could replace Romney on the ticket. Either he's a very intelligent, well-reasoned guy, who if the GOP is in charge, I'd want him at or near the helm, or I continue to be easily suckered by slick speakers.

 

[BenBurch]

I just saw Rubio speak, for the first time (on The Daily Show). Wow, this guy is good. If he had more experience (maybe more name recognition) he could replace Romney on the ticket. Either he's a very intelligent, well-reasoned guy, who if the GOP is in charge, I'd want him at or near the helm, or I continue to be easily suckered by slick speakers.

Some people see Rubio Prevention as being the reason for Obama's immigration order. By owning this issue, he made it unlikely that the GOP will tag Rubio for VP.

The most likely VP nominee is Gov. Walker.

 

[Howie Felterbush]

Some people see Rubio Prevention as being the reason for Obama's immigration order. By owning this issue, he made it unlikely that the GOP will tag Rubio for VP.

The most likely VP nominee is Gov. Walker.

Do you think he will accept it if it's offered?

I don't think he will.

Or should I say, if I were him, I wouldn't. He's the man here in Wisconsin at the moment; latching onto the Romney campaign right now would be like reaching for a shiny new anvil while you're leading the three hundred meter breaststroke by ten lengths.

 

[BenBurch]

Do you think he will accept it if it's offered?

I don't think he will.

Or should I say, if I were him, I wouldn't. He's the man here in Wisconsin at the moment; latching onto the Romney campaign right now would be like reaching for a shiny new anvil while you're leading the three hundred meter breaststroke by ten lengths.

He is a VERY Ambitious man. Running now as VP, even should he lose, would set him up for candidacy in 2016.

 

[daredelvis]

He is a VERY Ambitious man. Running now as VP, even should he lose, would set him up for candidacy in 2016.

Just like it did Palin.

Daredelvis

 

[Howie Felterbush]

He is a VERY Ambitious man. Running now as VP, even should he lose, would set him up for candidacy in 2016.

Lots of people thought that about Palin, too. (ninjaed by daredelvis!!) People were crapping their pants over that very idea right here on this forum.

I honestly haven't heard any (reliable sounding) scuttlebutt from Madison about Walker getting the VP nomination, but it could happen, for sure. I just think he'd be (even more of) a dingus to accept it.

 

[Tricky]

Lots of people thought that about Palin, too. People were crapping their pants over that very idea right here on this forum.

(Mostly Republicans.)

ETA: I'm trying to think of the last time a VP candidate from a failed campaign ever got nominated for President? Anyone?

ETAA: Okay, Mondale, but he had won once.

 

[Howie Felterbush]

(Mostly Republicans.)

ETA: I'm trying to think of the last time a VP candidate from a failed campaign ever got nominated for President? Anyone?

ETAA: Okay, Mondale, but he had won once.

That's what I meant.

I was going to say something else you do in your pants when you're over-excited, but, you know, smut.

 

[jj]

He's a republican, he'll get away with it.

You'd think that the overt way in which the present crop of so-called "Republicans" so thoroughly flout the law would make what we're dealing with obvious here, but I guess people have forgotten the lessons of the 1930's.

 

[WildCat]

He's a republican, he'll get away with it.

He didn't get away with it, thus the OP.