HEHE FIRSTFIRST SIGNSSIGNS OFOF
TROUBLETROUBLE WEREWERE BURIEDBURIED
DEEPDEEP WITHINWITHIN GIGANGIGAN-
TICTIC ELECTRONICELECTRONIC FILESFILES
STOREDSTORED FARFAR FROMFROM THETHE
BRIGHTBRIGHT LIGHTSLIGHTS AND
BUSTLEBUSTLE OFOF THE PRESIPRESI-
DENTIALDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.
In a freshly repainted government offiIn a freshly repainted government offi ce on E Street in downce on E Street in down--
town Washington, a sharp-eyed analyst at the Federal Electiontown Washington, a sharp-eyed analyst at the Federal Election
Commission (FEC) noticed something was wrong among the
tens of thousands of electronic pages of the latest campaigntens of thousands of electronic pages of the latest campaign
fi nance nance report submitted by Barack Obama’s campaign.report submitted by Barack Obama’s campaign.
Someone named Good Will from Austin, Texas, had donated to the ObamaSomeone named Good Will from Austin, Texas, had donated to the Obama
campaign hundreds of times. Most of the donations were for just $25. But in total,campaign hundreds of times. Most of the donations were for just $25. But in total,
they amounted to more than $17,000, far exceeding the $4,600 limit for individualthey amounted to more than $17,000, far exceeding the $4,600 limit for individual
contributors. Moreover, Mr. Good Will listed his employer as “Loving” and his pro-contributors. Moreover, Mr. Good Will listed his employer as “Loving” and his pro-
fession as “You.” Clearly, Good Will wasn’t real.fession as “You.” Clearly, Good Will wasn’t real.
There, in a nine-story stone building next door to D.C.’s perpetually thrummingThere, in a nine-story stone building next door to D.C.’s perpetually thrumming
Hard Rock Cafe, an FEC employee in the Reports Analysis Division noted the dis-Hard Rock Cafe, an FEC employee in the Reports Analysis Division noted the dis-
crepancy. The agency issued a letter to the Obama campaign requesting additionalcrepancy. The agency issued a letter to the Obama campaign requesting additional
information on Mr. Good Will.information on Mr. Good Will.
It was June 25, 2008. The capital was cool and drizzly. Hillary Clinton hadIt was June 25, 2008. The capital was cool and drizzly. Hillary Clinton had
pulled the plug on her campaign just three weeks earlier; the razzle-dazzle of thepulled the plug on her campaign just three weeks earlier; the razzle-dazzle of the
Democratic convention that would serve as Obama’s party coronation was still twoDemocratic convention that would serve as Obama’s party coronation was still two
months away.months away.
The FEC already had questioned the Obama campaign about curious donationsThe FEC already had questioned the Obama campaign about curious donations
and suspiciously large, overseas purchases of pro-Obama merchandise as far backand suspiciously large, overseas purchases of pro-Obama merchandise as far back
as April. With this latest bland request for explanation, FEC offias April. With this latest bland request for explanation, FEC offi cials cials pulled anotherpulled another
thread in the messy fabric of Obama’s massive fundraising apparatus.thread in the messy fabric of Obama’s massive fundraising apparatus.
DEDECECEMBER 2008 CCEEMMBERMBEMBBERBEERR 200 200202 08 /8 / NE NEWSMAX NENENEWSMWSWSMAWSMASMSMMAAX
4747
0046-Cover Story SUNDAY.indd 4746-Cover Story SUNDAY.indd 47 111/10/08 5:33:19 PM1/10/08 5:33:19 PM
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