Report: Obama Films Campaign Ad In White House, Possibly Violating FEC Laws?

It is on the first floor which is for OFFICIAL business, the law governs any room used for official business. The private residence is on the second floor, it is not covered under the law.

The RNC is now calling for an official investigation

 

I don't believe your interpretation of the law is correct.

Imagine that. I read the statement by the head of the RNC. He said as head of the RNC it was his responsibility to hold the President accountable. What a joke.

 

RNC Says Obama Fundraising Video 'Apparent Crime,' Seeks DOJ Probe

"ABC News’ Devin Dwyer (@devindwyer) reports: The Republican National Committee has asked the Justice Department to investigate what it calls a matter of “grave concern:” President Obama’s appearance in a campaign video filmed inside the White House.

“If President Obama recorded the video in the Map Room, then it appears he has committed a crime under federal law,” RNC chairman Reince Priebus wrote in a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder.

The letter attempts to revive an issue Republicans first raised weeks ago but that has failed to gain much attention or traction. Many good government groups and independent legal experts have dismissed the claims.

Still, Priebus says Obama’s use of a “place of official government business” to solicit political contributions is against the law, and that all money collected in response to the video should be returned. He stopped short of calling for the appointment of a special counsel.

The Map Room has been “used for a myriad of official functions, including the administration of the oath of office” and the launch of the administration’s effort to reduce government waste, Priebus wrote in the letter. “As the facts of this case strongly suggest a crime was committed,” he said."

Yep, the Map Room is on the first floor the official residence is on the second floor. All sorts of official happenings occur on the first floor.

The report continues

"The White House counters that the Map Room is part of the “residence,” making it a perfectly legal venue, and that ample precedent exists for filming campaign materials on White House grounds.

An administration official provided a list of YouTube clips of Republican presidents using the White House in campaign ads, including THIS one from President George W. Bush and THIS one from President Ronald Reagan. "

Oh not so fast, see the above, the first floor is use for official purposes. The Map Room is a place of official business.

And the ads, both show the President walking outside the White House, that is quite a common scene used by all Presidents and perfectly acceptable. Neither is in a office where official business is conducted and neither solicit funds or the purchase of something for which the proceeds fund a campaign.

it continues

"The White House also provided a 1979 finding by the Office of Legal Council that concludes "areas within the discrete private residence area ... may therefore reasonably be seen to fall outside the reach of the statute" that restricts presidential political activities. "

The Map Room is NOT part of the discrete private residence by any stretch. It is not for the sole private use of the persons occupying the White House. It is a place of official business.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalp...ing-video-apparent-crime-seeks-doj-probe.html

If Holder fails to investigate he should be impeached.

 

As the WH stated in the article, the discrete private residence is exempt. The Map Room is a place of official business, as the law states, NOT for the private exclusive use of the President.

Since when is it a joke that the parties hold each other accountable?

 

I disagree with your interpretation of the law, and in the several articles I've read, so do the experts...including one who was an ethics attorney for George Bush.

However, some good-government groups and campaign finance experts have shrugged off the Obama video and the related raffle, which was announced last month and sought a campaign donation of at least $5. In the fine print, it said no donation was required. And one expert said Monday that Priebus’s letter was off the mark.

“This letter is an embarrassment to the Republican Party, of which I count myself a part,” said Richard Painter, an ethics lawyer in President George W. Bush’s White House.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0711/59312.html#ixzz1SYeudLoB

Mr. Priebus' "responsibility" is to lead the RNC. He has no legal or other responsibility to "hold the President accountable", and it was amusingly arrogant of him to state that he does. All he did was write a letter so he'd be in the news and Obama would be smeared with yet more innuendo. How "responsible" is that?

 

It's not my interpretation of the law it IS the law. The Map Room is used for official business, ANY federal office that is use for official business cannot be used to solicit campaign funds. PERIOD.

“I think this is a violation [of the law],” Cleta Mitchell, a member of the American Bar Association’s election law committee, told CNSNews.com.

“It is a specific prohibition on solicitation [of money] by the president, the vice president, or any member of Congress on any federal property,” she said.

According to federal law (Title 18, subsection 607 U.S.C.), “It shall be unlawful for an individual who is an officer or employee of the Federal Government, including the President, Vice President, and Members of Congress, to solicit or receive a donation of money or other thing of value in connection with a Federal, State, or local election, while in any room or building occupied in the discharge of official duties.”"

The Map Room is an office in which official duties are discharged.


I await your cites.

 

Well, despite the vehemence with which you make your claim, I'm unconvinced that you get to decide what the law is.

I can't imagine why the "Conservative News Service" would write an article claiming Obama broke the law unless he did, so you must be right.

Truthfully I don't blame you for citing an obviously biased source since they seem to be the only ones still talking about this non-story.

Ok, let's see what The Washington Times has to say...

A story about Republican Representative Daryl Issa'a plan to hold "hearings" into this affair:

When I saw the headline I wondered what he hoped to learn in these "hearings" that he didn't already know...it turns out he's not trying to find out anything, and he knows this isn't an impeachable offense (in other words it's not a crime) but he does have a reason to want "hearings"...

House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Darrell Issa said Monday his panel will hold hearings on whether the Democratic National Committee violated election law by having President Obama film a campaign video in the White House and organizing a meeting there with donors.

“Both of those now become ripe” for hearings, the California Republican told reporters and editors at The Washington Times in a “Newsmaker” interview Monday.

and...

"The White House contends that the Map Room is part of the private residence and therefore not subject to the restrictions.

Said Mr. Issa, “I look forward to their giving us that justification before the committee.”

and...

"In the interview with The Washington Times, Mr. Issa acknowledged that his committee’s role in enforcing campaign law is limited.

“At the end of the day, the president’s not going to be impeached over either of those two offenses,” Mr. Issa said. But he said he would seek to hold the president’s team accountable “by White House people testifying.”

And Mr. Issa's reason for wasting taxpayer money on this nonsense?

"“It’ll be good theater,” Mr. Issa said. “The Democrats will make the claim that somehow we were wrong. And we’ll remind them that this isn’t much different than what Waxman looked at. And then it will end. The sad truth is, the most we can do on our committee is the equivalent of a pitcher who gets tired of a batter crowding the plate. Our hearings can maybe brush him [the president] back a little.”

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jul/25/issa-panel-will-probe-dnc-obama-campaign-video/

Your tax dollars at work. I'd call the whole thing a "joke", but I think the joke is on us.

This faux outrage by the RNC is nothing but cheap politics.

 

I only wish there was this much analysis put into whether invading Iraq was illegal under international law.

 

Despite the phony emotional claim you are correct I don't and you don't, the law is clear.

Maybe because according to the experts cited he did?

Simple dismissals are all you are left with I see.

It is NOT part of the discrete private residence, it is used for official functions.

Now go read the law again.

OK if you think Presidents violating election is just a joke I can't help you.

I guess when the next Republican President uses the WH for campaign you will also be so forgiving.

 

There was much more into the legal engagement, did you miss it?

But lame attempt to divert.

So tell me because you believe there wasn't enough do you now accept no analysis into possible election law violations from now on?

Is that your position now?

 

And it's so clear that the President hasn't been charged with a crime, and no one is suggesting that it will happen. You're right, it's clear no law was broken.

Expert.

No, I've shown through links tha the Map Room is considered part of the residence, and that more than one "expert" sees no illegality in the actions of the administration, and I've shown that the GOP is just engaging in what they call "theater". I see you refer to all of this a s a "simple dismissal"...I wonder why.

So you say, but the facts seem to disagree.

You have an annoying habit of deliberately misrepresenting what I write, or perhaps your intellect is so limited you don't really understand it. At any rate, the "joke" is the fake outrage exhibited by the RNC.

It didn't particularly bother me when Reagan and Bush used the WH in campaign ads so I doubt it will cause me any grief in the future. Tell me, did you complain when they did it, or not?

 

What legal authority has completed an investigation?

Nope, you have to show where it is a DISCRETE part of the private residence.

I have already proven how it is used for official functions.

Prove that the Map Room is used ONLY for the private personal functions of Barack and Michell Obama.

Feel free to clarify.

You>> Your tax dollars at work. I'd call the whole thing a "joke", but I think the joke is on us.

Me>> OK if you think Presidents violating election is just a joke I can't help you.

How did I misrepresent what you stated?

They didn't use official offices. They like other Presidents have been filmed walking outside the WH and that is acceptable it does no violate the law as filming in the Map Room obviously does.

 

Oh, I think we should definitely investigate significant election law violations.

I also think we should investigate illegal wars.

That clown Darrell Issa isn't fooling anyone with his crocodile tears. He sat idly by while Bush engaged in the biggest fraud in US government history. And now he is shocked, shocked that a video for a raffle was filmed in the Map Room. Puh-lease! Give me a break.

Remember Issa's proclamation that this was the most corrupt administration EVER! What ever happened to his HUNDREDS of hearings? The guy continually has diarrhea of the mouth. This is just another stupid Issa political stunt because he is a worthless human being that can't do anything constructive.

 

None. On the other hand no law enforcement organization has said this is even worth investigating. The only "authority" that has said it should be investigated is the RNC. What does that tell you?

No, I don't believe I have to show any such thing. It's only important that the Map Room is considered part of the residence.

That was never a point of contention, but good job anyway.

No. That's not relevant.

You think he violated election law, I do not. Therefore, your statement that I feel that his violation of election law is a "joke" is what you believe, not what I said. The "joke" is that the US House of Representatives is going to spend tax dollars having hearings that they know are just "theater", and you apparently support this absurdity.

Well, you're entitled to your own opinion, but you aren't entitled to your own facts. The Map Room is obviously part of the residence. That's a fact. Your statement that the Map Room isn't a "discrete" part of the residence is an opinion.

 

I've read most of the posts in this thread and most people did post rather valid arguments. But I've done some research and it has become clear to me that President Obama did break federal law. Allow me to give you some evidence...

Firstly, let's review the law that is threatening Mr. Obama:

"According to federal law (Title 18, subsection 607 U.S.C.), “It shall be unlawful for an individual who is an officer or employee of the Federal Government, including the President, Vice President, and Members of Congress, to solicit or receive a donation of money or other thing of value in connection with a Federal, State, or local election, while in any room or building occupied in the discharge of official duties.”

While the law states that it is illegal to "solicit or receive a donation of money or other thing of value in connection with a Federal, State, or local election, while in any room or building" many have argued that this does not include the President's living quarters.

Well, I did some research and have found the exact corner in which President Obama sat during the duration of his campaign video. If you would like to review the video, please click on the following link:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUJe4tGPNVk&feature=related"]‪Two for Price of One: $5 Raffle Ticket Now Buys Dinner With Biden, Too‬‏ - YouTube[/ame]

Now compare that to this picture of the Map Room:



Picture Notes: First Lady Michelle Obama meets with the White House Fellows in the Map Room of the White House, July 6, 2010.(Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)...
This photograph is provided by THE WHITE HOUSE as a courtesy and may be printed by the subject(s) in the photograph for personal use only. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not otherwise be reproduced, disseminated or broadcast, without the written permission of the White House Photo Office. This photograph may not be used in any commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.

As you can see, the exact same tables and lamps are present, along with the bottom of one of the two stacked wall pictures.

This clearly indicates that President Obama conducted the filming of his campaign video in the White House Map Room in an attempt to raise campaign funds. This is against Federal Law and Mr. Obama should be held accountable.

Regardless of how many might state that this is a 'little issue' it must be realized that allowing such behavior to simply slide is representative of pure government corruption and can only get worse UNLESS the laws, no matter how small, are enforced.

Thanks for reading!

 

Yes like the DNC or RNC illegally using Federal Officies.

Diversion.............

I have no ear for your petty insults of others if you have a point to make about this issue then make it.

 

Exactly.

No it is not and it certainly is not part of the DESCRETE private residence which is the part allowed under law else prove that it is SOLEY for the private usage of Barack and Michele Obama.

Which means using it to solicit funds is illegal.

Me>> Quote:
Prove that the Map Room is used ONLY for the private personal functions of Barack and Michell Obama.

The most salient point, prove is is a descrete part of their personal residence, else using to solicit funds is illegal.

And so are you but we are not entitled to our own law.

Totally fallacious and specious too. Are you denying it is used for official functions AT ALL? That is the ONLY qualifier making it illegal. The ONLY rooms he could lawfully use are the parts of the DISCRETE RESIDENCE.

Do you know what that phrase means? DISCRETE RESIDENCE

Is it used for official state functions? Yes or no?

 

All you have to do now is convince the Justice Department.

BTW, are you sure you didn't violate Federal Law?

I hope you have written permission from the WH.

 

I'll keep an eye out for the big black SUVs.

 

This is just dirty politics at it's best??? What the hell is he thinking? Isn't there enough bi-partisan bickering without filming an ad in our own nations capitol?

Obama doesn't care about the implications. He will stop at nothing to get re-elected. What he fails to see is his ratings are down and nothing is going to save his ass for a second term. He looks at this world through rose colored glasses. He has never put together any proposal but takes credit when others do.

Tell us the truth Mr. President. You might get an ounce of respect if you admit again that you have failed as a president just like the stimulus did.

 

Do you condone such violations? Do you really think Holder will authorize any action?

 

I don't believe the law was violated.

No, because I don't believe the law was violated. I will believe the law was violated when a federal prosecutor prefers charges in this matter. Until that happens, any statements alleging a violation of the law occurred are purely speculative.

BTW, I can't help but notice you suggest Holder is biased in this case, but are you willing to admit those calling for criminal charges are also biased?

 

Is the Map Room a discrete part of the private residence?

No, the law was violated by using a room in which official business is conducted, are you denying it was filmed in the Map Room?

 

Holder needs to be fired. The entire Obama Administration needs to be terminated.
Obama needs to be Impeached.

All the crooked corrupted crap has got to be removed from their positions.​

 

It's part of the residence.

Perhaps if you had read what I posted so far you wouldn't have to repeat questions I've already answered. It was filmed in the Map Room, which is part of the residence.

I understand you believe the law was violated. I will believe that when someone is charged with a crime.