The most interesting story in the conservative blogosphere was host of talk about the gaping holes in the security of Barack Obama's online contribution system.
Patrick Ruffini and Mark Steyn have two of the more encapsulating posts. Jim Gerghaty also provides an effective rundown.
Short story: the Obama campaign is deliberately not using the most basic security options available in online credit card use to prevent fraud. Consequence: fraudulent contributions are a piece of cake.
Hope and change.
Posted by Eric Earling at October 23, 2008 08:23 PM | Email ThisNorthland Couple Warns of Political Credit Card Fraud
NORTH KANSAS CITY, MO. -- A North Kansas City couple has been left scratching their heads after they became the victims of a political scam.
Steve and Rachel Larman say a strange credit card charge appeared on their statement this month -- a $2300 donation to Barack Obama's presidential campaign. The Larman's say they don't want this to be about their political affiliation, but they say they're not about to give the Obama campaign any help from their pocketbook
Link:
http://www.myfoxkc.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7599837&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1
So far, Obama has delivered none of the above (and will not in the future either), but it sounds good to the ignorant and uninformed who'll be casting their ballots for him in November.
Posted by: Rick D. on October 23, 2008 08:50 PMWoman "Donates" $175k to Obama?
The Purchase of the White House
And millions and millions of dollars of those funds are illegal donations made with phony names.
But it wouldn't even be a race if they couldn't cheat.
Posted by: Jeff B. on October 23, 2008 09:44 PMThis guy thinks he is about to be elected Emperor!
While millions of Americans are financially suffering, he couldn't have found a hotel lobby to rent?
I'd love more and more to see him lose after flaunting money all over the place as he does. He is in his place in Chicago, that is for sure.
Posted by: GS on October 23, 2008 09:51 PMAll those false voter registrations on the list? Each could be a fraudulent donation conduit, and if challenged there is a "legitimate" enrolled voter name to back it up.
You don't have to use fraudulent voter registrations just for votes...
Posted by: Shanghai Dan on October 23, 2008 10:05 PMso goes our once proud country, down the tubes....I will have no pity for my fellow citizens IF that slime is elected..
we will have a draft...we will have our retirement accts raided in some way...we will have no free speech...our churches will be monitored so they won't say bad things like "gay marriages are wrong"...will we have elections?....I doubt .
its time to let go of the "American" dream if hussein pulls this debacle off..
consequences......consequences....
Posted by: lee on October 23, 2008 10:38 PMAlso, I thought conservatives opposed limits on campaign contributions anyway. Abridgement of free speech and all that jazz. In that case, why the sudden concern about people donating more than they should?
Posted by: northwind on October 24, 2008 06:55 AMAnyone tried Darcy's campaign?
It will take a long time to sort this out and in the meantime (if elections can indeed be bought), he will be annointed.
The Democrats from Chicago are indeed pulling out all the stops for their native son and showing the rest of the political world just how corrupt Chicago politics are. And in the same breath, how corrupt Democrat politics are.
Posted by: swatter on October 24, 2008 07:21 AMAnd even if his campaign is blocking problematic contributions on the backend, the question is why? Why would you disable the safeguards that every other online vendor uses? Wouldn't it be easier and more accurate to automatically block those contributions in the first place? We do know that the campaign accepted donations from "Good Will," "Doodad Pro," and "VCX" and had to be ordered by the FEC to return them. How many more illegal donations are being missed?
Posted by: Paula on October 24, 2008 07:37 AMCreate a Transparent and Connected Democracy
Open Up Government to its Citizens: The Bush Administration has been one of the most secretive, closed administrations in American history. Our nation's progress has been stifled by a system corrupted by millions of lobbying dollars contributed to political campaigns, the revolving door between government and industry, and privileged access to inside information-all of which have led to policies that favor the few against the public interest. An Obama presidency will use cutting-edge technologies to reverse this dynamic, creating a new level of transparency, accountability and participation for America's citizens.
How much longer will this fraud known as Barack Obama be foisted upon the American public before they wake up? With any luck, before November 4th.
"Later" as when someone complains about fraudulent charges on their credit card, then they investigate? In the meantime how much interest is being earned on that money while they "investigate".
The has nothing to do with a debate about how campaign funding should be set up. This has everything to do with walking a fine line of breaking the law.
Posted by: Dave on October 24, 2008 08:52 AMIf you think this is bad, just wait until he gets in office.
Posted by: Kato on October 24, 2008 08:53 AMWhat makes you think we believe you anyway.
Remember your a lawyer and they always lie.
And we all know that the internet credit card verification systems haven't changed or improved a bit in nearly a decade right?
Posted by: johnny on October 24, 2008 10:10 AMThis guy is spending money like crazy; like he hasn't seen anything like it. What if he had the purse strings of the federal government under his finger. I imagine these things in the middle of the night and break out in sweats.
Posted by: swatter on October 24, 2008 10:39 AMIt's a whole new method of ID theft.
Posted by: Ken on October 24, 2008 11:40 AMRemember, there is no controlling legal authority. . . .
Posted by: Matt from Olympia on October 24, 2008 12:08 PMObama's Online Site Accepts More Fake Donations
'Adolf Hitler' donates to Obama campaign
Obama Online Campaign Facilitating Fraud
They all called for the removal of Tom DeLay from Congress over supposed campaign finance problems (charges that were ultimately dropped).
Will they call for Obama to drop out because of the EXACT SAME PROBLEM?
Hypocrites, liars, and thieves the Slavery Party be!
Posted by: Shanghai Dan on October 24, 2008 04:10 PMTell you what. I'll be glad to write a check for $150,000 to Palin so she can make the coffers whole. Are you willing to write a check for millions to cover Barry's fraudulent donations!
Posted by: Dave on October 24, 2008 04:10 PM"Secruity" Free?
Well, Goldy makes the same kind of typos on his blog, but at least he corrects them.
But George Bush's regional federal representative for EDUCATION doing this?
Hopefully, Obama's education person for the Northwest won't be making similar mistakes come January 20 ...
Posted by: Richard Pope on October 24, 2008 04:38 PMSo I guess you're OK with Obama breaking those campaign finance laws? Meaning we can count on your very public and vocal approval for DeLay and your indignation over the way he was ran out of Congress?
Thought so... You're the reason lawyers have a bad name...
Posted by: Shanghai Dan on October 24, 2008 04:48 PMWell, Eric has a job and Goldy doesn't. Ergo, Goldy has all day to correct his typos. Now fork over that $250 to the McCain campaign and put your money where your mouth was @ 21 ya cheap b@5t@rd, Richard.
Posted by: Rick D. on October 24, 2008 06:03 PMHow many people were able to:
Donate more than the $2300 limit?
Donate from a foreign country?
Donate from a corporation but be "laundered" through the lack of security?
If Obama had closed these loopholes (followed the law), how much less money would he have received?
Posted by: SouthernRoots on October 24, 2008 07:46 PM