the primary and the general elec- LaBolt again pledged that the a cousin of Obama’s through
tion, for a total of $4,600. If a donor questionable contributions would be a maternal uncle. Obama
has topped the limit in the primary, returned but gave no date. And the donor “Raela Odinga” list-
the campaign can re-designate addi- bogus contributions continued to roll ed his address as “2007
tional contributions to the general in. Bart Simpson, Family Guy, Daffy Stolen Election Passage”
election on its books. Duck, King Kong: All contributed to in “Nairobi, KY.” This dona-
But if the candidate accepts public Obama in September and October tion raised no alarm bells
“While
fi nancing — as McCain did — then with no attempt to screen them out. in Obama’s campaign.
he is barred from accepting dona- The fake donors could have been A few minutes earlier,
FEC practice
tions for the general election, so that caught. Even rudimentary online “Daffy Duck” gave $5 to is to do a
individual donors are limited to just merchant security procedures would the Obama matching cam-
post-election
$2,300 each. Busting this limit gave have stopped donors from using a paign, listing his address as
Obama a distinct advantage in the name or address that didn’t match “124 Wacky Way, Beverly
review
money race. the credit-card account. The Obama Hills, Calif.” of all
In response to the FEC request in campaign had turned off most of But just as with Odinga’s
presidential
July, campaign records that Newsmax those safety features on its Web site, address, the “Wacky Way”
reviewed show that 330 contribu- industry analysts and a confi dential address failed to raise any
campaigns,
tions from Mr. Good Will were cred- informant told Newsmax. alarm bells or security given their
ited back to a credit card. But by That facilitated scenarios like the traps on the Obama cam-
sluggish
Sept. 20, Good Will’s contributions one on Oct. 14, when an individual paign Web site. Daffy Duck
stood at $8,950 — still well over the using the name “O.J. Simpson” par- also used the same card as
metabolism,
$4,600 limit. The Obama campaign ticipated in an Obama small-donor “O.J. Simpson” and “Raela results can
no doubt noticed these contributions, fundraising drive, and made a $5 Odinga.” Within the hour,
take three
since its Sept. 20 report specifi ed donation through the Web site. Giving three other new donors gave
that Good Will’s total contributions a Los Angeles address, he listed his $5 to the Obama campaign:
or four
had reached $9,375, in clear violation employer as the “State of Nevada” Bart Simpson of 333 years.”
of the law. and his occupation as “convict.” The Heavens Gate, Beverly
Obama campaign spokesman Ben donor used a disposable “gift” card Hills, Calif.
LaBolt told Newsmax that the cam- to make the donation. The Obama Family Guy of 128 KilltheJews
paign would return the donations but campaign sent O.J. a thank-you note Alley, Gaza, Ga.
could not guarantee a refund would confi rming his contribution. King Kong of 549 Quinn Street,
be made before Election Day. Four minutes earlier, an individ- Capitol Heights, Md.
Much like Good Will, a donor ual using the name “Raela Odinga” Newsmax learned of these contri-
identifi ed as “Pro, Doodad,” from also made a $5 contribution, using butions, which all were made on a
“Nando, NY,” gave $19,500 in 786 the same gift card. The real Raela single $25 Visa gift card (oddly, the
separate donations, most of them Odinga became prime minister of total was $30), from a source that
for $25. For most of these donations, Kenya in April and has claimed to be requested anonymity.
Mr. Doodad Pro creative- The source said he had been fol-
ly listed his employer as RUNNING IT UP lowing the Newsmax investigation
“Loving” and his profes- Money collected by presidential campaigns has of Obama’s campaign fi nance irreg-
sion as “You,” just as Good
skyrocketed during the past three decades, and this
ularities “with great interest” and
Will had done.
year’s total haul of $1 billion trumps them all.
believed that some of the small dona-
The FEC also noticed
$0 $200 $400 $600 $800
tions were coming from gift cards
Doodad Pro and issued
Jimmy Carter
— “you know, the type of disposable
1976 vs. $171 Million
another request to the
Gerald Ford
debit card you can pick up at Rite-
Ronald Reagan
Obama camp to clear up the
1980 vs. $162 Million
Jimmy Carter
Aid or just about any supermarket.”
discrepancy. The records
Ronald Reagan
1984
“I tried it myself a few days ago,”
vs. $202 Million
indicate that Doodad Pro
Walter Mondale
he said. “I’m attaching for you proof
George H.W. Bush
engaged in a fl urry of giv-
1988 vs. $324 Million
Mike Dukakis of the contributions I made. This
ing, including 14 separate
Bill Clinton
1992 vs. $331 Million needs to be exposed.”
George H.W. Bush
donations of $25 each on Bill Clinton As Newsmax dug further into the
1996 vs. $426 Million
July 7. Obama offi cials
Bob Dole
Obama fi nance records, other spuri-
George W. Bush
claim that they refunded
2000 vs. $529 Million
Al Gore
ous donors were discovered includ-
$8,425 to the credit card
George W. Bush
2004
ing “Dertey Poiiuy,” “Mong Kong,”
vs. $880 Million
listed with the Doodad Pro
John Kerry
“Fornari USA,” and “jkbkj Hbkjb.”
donations. That still left a
2008
Barack Obama
vs. $1 BILLION
John McCain Five major companies process
net total of $11,075 from the
Total shows amount raised by both candidates
the bulk of all credit-card transac-
obviously fake donor. Source: Federal Elections Commission tions in the United States, industry
DECEMBER 2008 / NEWSMAX
51
0046-Cover Story SUNDAY.indd 5146-Cover Story SUNDAY.indd 51 111/10/08 5:37:26 PM1/10/08 5:37:26 PM
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