Michelle Malkin » How to file an FEC complaint against “Specter for the Cure”

How to file an FEC complaint against “Specter for the Cure”

By Michelle Malkin • May 5, 2009 03:23 PM

Arlen Specter’s campaign finance travesty deserves more than just mockery. It deserves action. Here are screenshots of his misleading “Specter for the Cure” website, which is a slimy front to raise campaign funds:

And the fine print buried at the bottom of the home page:

Here is how you file an FEC complaint.

Here are the FEC rules governing disclaimer notices on fundraising solicitiations, which Specter’s website do not seem to follow — unless you are reading it with a magnifying glass:

How and Where must the Disclaimer Appear?

In order to give the reader sufficient notice about the person(s) paying for or authorizing a public communication regardless of its medium, the disclaimer notice must be “clear and conspicuous” on the committee’s communications, solicitations and response materials. The notice will not be considered to be “clear and conspicuous” if:

* It is difficult to read or hear; or
* The notification is placed where it can be easily overlooked.

11 CFR 110.11(c)(1).

***

The Specter camp will point to the disclosures at the bottom of the “Donate Now” page (which you have to click through on the front page to access) as evidence of FEC compliance.

“Clear and conspicuous?”

You be the judge.

Posted in: Arlen Specter, Campaign finance

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#694845

On May 5th, 2009 at 3:35 pm, RedDog said:

Who gave him the stupid advice that this was a good way to raise campaign monies?
#694848

On May 5th, 2009 at 3:37 pm, spaceycakes said:

I must be dense. I don’t understand any of it…the font choice, the color scheme, the logo nor the photo.

Did I mention that it’s also hard to find their ‘disclaimer’?
#694854

On May 5th, 2009 at 3:39 pm, Rogue Cheddar said:

I bet he’s the kind of guy that makes change when they collect money during church service. That’s assuming he goes to church occasionally
#694860

On May 5th, 2009 at 3:41 pm, ajmontana said:

Wow! They handed over the Dem playbook fast.
#694874

On May 5th, 2009 at 3:48 pm, Lan Astaslem said:

Okay — This is OT, but I’m tired of Specter, and I think anytime I send a tip to MM it gets lost in the interwebs…

WH refuses to release “publicity photos” of the New York fly-by buzzing. Says the pictures are “classified.”

WTF??
#694882

On May 5th, 2009 at 3:52 pm, Lan Astaslem said:

Maybe my brain is just not functioning this afternoon, but what does this mean:

Embryo Adoption – Since Fiscal Year 2002, Sen. Specter has included a total of $11 million for an Embryo Adoption Awareness Campaign in LHHS Appropriations Acts. This funding has supported information and education activities that increase public awareness of embryo adoption, such as brochures given to in vitro fertilization patients, web sites, information sessions, and referral services.

Do you get to take a petri dish home?
#694886

On May 5th, 2009 at 3:53 pm, Mister P said:

This is the genius who “proved” that Kennedy was shot by a single gunman.
#694893

On May 5th, 2009 at 4:00 pm, Lan Astaslem said:

Nevermind. I looked up Embryo Adoption. Organizations (here’s one) trying to do the right thing by matching unwanted embryos with infertile couples.

Now I’m off to file the requested complaint regarding Specter’s latest idiotic move.
#694903

On May 5th, 2009 at 4:06 pm, BlameAmericaLast said:

In addition to this, I wonder if those in PA who contributed to his re-election campaign can ask for their money back. I know Orrin Hatch asked Specter to return his $10,000 PAC money. He has close to $9 million in the bank. If Pennsylvanian’s were smart, they’d start asking for their money back.
#694911

On May 5th, 2009 at 4:14 pm, MTConservative said:

Specter is supremely, colossally, awfully bad. He’s so bad, it’s embarassing. He is pathetic to the same degree that Al Sharpton is. It is as though he is racing to the bottom of the cesspool that is today’s Democrat party. Yeesh, he’s bad. The Republicans sicken me most days, too, but for a few days here, anyway, the Republicans shine without Specter in their party. Did I mention that Specter is bad?
#694915

On May 5th, 2009 at 4:15 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

OT, Dingey Harry Reid commenting on Obama’s nominee for SCOTUS:
Reid said that “I feel comfortable that his choice will be as good as his Cabinet choices.”

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
#694920

On May 5th, 2009 at 4:22 pm, John Deaux said:

On May 5th, 2009 at 3:41 pm, ajmontana said:
Wow! They handed over the Dem playbook fast.

What do you want to bet that there are no verification checks on credit card donations?
#694925

On May 5th, 2009 at 4:29 pm, JusDreamin said:

Dexter Alarius said:
OT, Dingey Harry Reid commenting on Obama’s nominee for SCOTUS:
Reid said that “I feel comfortable that his choice will be as good as his Cabinet choices.”

Lord help us…
#694929

On May 5th, 2009 at 4:31 pm, txvet2 said:

Well, that would be consistent. He’s got a ticket to the trough, now. Another Democrat for Soros to write legislation for. (All right, all right, I couldn’t resist.)
#694932

On May 5th, 2009 at 4:32 pm, txvet2 said:

On May 5th, 2009 at 4:29 pm, JusDreamin said:

Now that’s just scary. There must be a Democrat somewhere who’s paid her taxes.
#694941

On May 5th, 2009 at 4:38 pm, vsatt said:

Let’s see… the site laments the slow progress in finding cures for various illnesses and proclaims that Specter’s re-election is vital to these cures coming about. If he’s so necessary, how come he hasn’t had any more impact over the last 29 years that he’s been in Congress? Why should we believe that he can suddenly fix it all now?
#694943

On May 5th, 2009 at 4:39 pm, Teddy Kennedy said:

Errah, hopefully he and all his ill gotten cash will be dispatched by some deserving dim’o'crap in the primary.
#694952

On May 5th, 2009 at 4:43 pm, Teddy Kennedy said:

Errah, the disease is incumbents and I’ve got the cure!!!
#694964

On May 5th, 2009 at 4:54 pm, localmalcontent said:

Thanks for this, Michelle;
What a slimebag Spectre is.

Think I’ll “donate” 888 Billion to his CURE campaign.

He’s a jackass, and an embarrassment to Pennsylvania.
#694967

On May 5th, 2009 at 4:56 pm, Hangfire said:

On May 5th, 2009 at 3:48 pm, Lan Astaslem said:

WH refuses to release “publicity photos” of the New York fly-by buzzing. Says the pictures are “classified.”

I saw the plane on Fox News. Do I need to be debriefed by State Department Security?
#694976

On May 5th, 2009 at 5:09 pm, kwbrownie2003 said:

Hmm…
Is that a picture of MM with her mouth taped shut? I’m sure Specter and his Democrat cronies would love to see that.
#694982

On May 5th, 2009 at 5:21 pm, Stillwaiting said:

This is my favorite part of the donation page:

Federal election law requires political committees to use best efforts to report the name, mailing address, occupation, and name of employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $200 during an election cycle. An individual may not contribute more than a total of $2400 per election to the committee. Federal law prohibits contributions to the committee from the general treasury funds of a corporation, labor organizations or national banks (including corporate or other business entity credit cards), from any person contributing another’s funds, from a Federal government contractor, or from a foreign national who lacks permanent resident status. Contributions are not deductible for Federal income tax purposes.
#694983

On May 5th, 2009 at 5:23 pm, NJ-Aviator said:

What a misleading scam.
#694995

On May 5th, 2009 at 5:37 pm, Bruce said:

I am quite certain that the page will be scrubbed or modified pretty quickly, once it hits this douchebag that he’s in violation of the FEC regulations. To that end, I would recommend that everyone save a copy of the index page and the donation page that Michelle captured above to their own computer. In this way we have proof that the site is in violation. Reading the FEC page, it’s obvious that the site isn’t even close to following the regulations.

I am filing a violation report – which which I will happily pay the $3 fee for a notary public to sign. Having printouts of the actual pages will go a long way towards substantiating the complaint.

Let’s go, folks – let’s get this POS where he lives. It’s worth the $3 bucks!
#695000

On May 5th, 2009 at 5:40 pm, Bruce said:

I saw the plane on Fox News. Do I need to be debriefed by State Department Security?

No – but the Civilian Security Force might be knocking on your door soon enough. Answer the knock with a 12 gauge.
#695007

On May 5th, 2009 at 5:45 pm, sillygatboy said:

On May 5th, 2009 at 3:41 pm, ajmontana said:
Wow! They handed over the Dem playbook fast.

No, not nearly as fast as Ohbummer has and will hand over the military secrets that have kept us soverign, and saved Europe twice in world wars, and untolled times in others.
#695009

On May 5th, 2009 at 5:46 pm, Jeff2161 said:

I bet the security is turned off on the website so foreigners and anyone else can donate, all they want in 200 dollar increments…FEC requires complaints to be in writing AND notarized before ignoring…
#695022

On May 5th, 2009 at 6:09 pm, orlandocajun said:

Am I’m the only one who’s glad this senile old fool went over to the Dems?
#695027

On May 5th, 2009 at 6:11 pm, letget said:

I am so happy this man isn’t my dad. I would not have a hug seeing him. But again, those ‘close to him’ think he is wonderful!!!
L
#695053

On May 5th, 2009 at 6:38 pm, The Master said:

Oh please Mr. Specter, let me help you save the pretty almond-eyed girl of calculated indeterminate ethnicity (not too white, not too black, not too identifiable as any specific race or culture)!
#695063

On May 5th, 2009 at 7:00 pm, ErinF said:

Am I’m the only one who’s glad this senile old fool went over to the Dems?

No. I think many of us are happy. The GOP needs a good douching.

Now let’s hope Snowjob and Collins follow.
#695069

On May 5th, 2009 at 7:11 pm, right_on said:

Hey, he’s just living up to the Democrat Party standards, of which, distraction is considered a tool of the trade. Good riddance.
#695101

On May 5th, 2009 at 8:12 pm, WarEagle82 said:

No, No, No! You are missing the point. This would have been WRONG if Specter were a Republican. But he isn’t (maybe never was) so this is irrelevant. The FEC ruled a long time ago that rules don’t apply to Leftards. Move on. Nothing to see here.
#695110

On May 5th, 2009 at 8:38 pm, Living in the PSRK said:

Specter is Jewish. But we are trying to donate him to a church. Any takers?
#695118

On May 5th, 2009 at 8:50 pm, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

Snowjob and Collins follow

and go bald.This FEC is part and parcel of the Obamination but give it a shot. I notice they haven’t moved real hard on ACORN, Nevada has fild charges.
#695130

On May 5th, 2009 at 9:21 pm, Ron said:

Thank goodness he’s left the GOP and now can be at home with all of his Dem fund-raising buddies who are as unscrupulous as this ad.
#695133

On May 5th, 2009 at 9:28 pm, Marc said:

Specter made the despicable statement that Jack Kemp would be alive if the Republicans had not blocked cancer research. Specter has no way of knowing that. There is no way of knowing how increased spending on cancer research would have resulted in a cure for the type of cancer that Jack Kemp had. It is possible that increased spending would have helped find a cure for other types of cancer but not for the type of cancer that Jack Kemp had. It is also possible that increased spending on cancer research would have been spent on research that never worked out. One of my research scientist friends tells me that at his laboratory, which is related to making cancer fighting drugs, they can spend millions of dollars on projects that simply don’t lead anywhere. It is simply the way research works. Specter has no earthly way of knowing if increased research would have resulted in a cure for Jack Kemp. But if Specter knew anything about cancer research, he would know that the research is done on the cellular level and there are no “Eureka” moments when a monumental breakthrough is made. The work is painstaking, slow and methodical.
And then Specter has the gall to say that increased funding for cancer research saved his own life. He has no way of knowing if this is true. But this disgraceful charge that somehow Republicans actually killed Jack Kemp is beneath contempt.
#695168

On May 5th, 2009 at 10:11 pm, emjem24 said:

This scum burger really needs to retire STAT! Please anybody, anyone, defeat this loser and get him out of office.
#695211

On May 5th, 2009 at 11:36 pm, Joy said:

The sufferers of cancer, autism, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and too many other afflictions have waited long enough. It’s time we unleashed the cure.

They sure did hand him the Dem playbook. Gah! Yep, the Dems can cure anything, especially with the Obamessiah in office.
#695213

On May 5th, 2009 at 11:45 pm, txvet2 said:

This constant drumbeat from these Dems that unless the government is funding it, no research is being done has got to be at least as cynical as their global warming lies. There are literally thousands of companies out there doing biomedical research, and a large share of them are involved in research for cancer cures. A big part of the problem is the government getting in the way of getting effective products to market. I used to invest in these companies, but it’s too frustrating fighting through the layers of bureaucracy to try to get a drug to the point where it actually pays the cost of development.
#695214

On May 5th, 2009 at 11:48 pm, torabora said:

Any such thing as “citizens against arlen specter”?

Didn’t think so…

Maybe that’s why the jerk keeps getting elected in the Quaker State, along with Murtha…spit.

What is wrong with those people? Or is the voting system corrupted…
#695215

On May 5th, 2009 at 11:49 pm, Republicanvet said:

On May 5th, 2009 at 9:28 pm, Marc said:

But this disgraceful charge that somehow Republicans actually killed Jack Kemp is beneath contempt.

So this old fool was in the Republican Party for what? 29 years?

A little slow of him to figure out he was in the wrong party.

…but he sure assimilated quickly to his new friends huh?
#695277

On May 6th, 2009 at 7:47 am, Stillwaiting said:

The Dems don’t want him either-they made him their most junior senator!!!
#695341

On May 6th, 2009 at 9:26 am, corona said:

Yup.

It’s impossible to tell whether Arlen Senator Specter or the Phlegm ‘n Craps lied, or both, but good news is good news.