They Lie, Cheat, AND Steal

Apparently, aided by a coverup from the Repugs on the FEC (who have some interesting backgrounds, btw), Bush 04 was able to cheat us out of $40 million. Depending on where it was spent, it might have made a difference (since it amounts to more than half their Federal matching funds).

What happened that allowed Bush’s campaign to exceed spending limits by so much? It took a degree of Enron-like accounting — and some help from Bush’s buddies.

The campaign spent $80 million on television ads it labeled “hybrid” ads — they promoted the president’s bid for a second term, but also included references to Republican congressional candidates. By throwing in House and Senate candidates, the Bush gang made up its own rule — the ads were only half about the president’s campaign, so it meant the aides decided only half of the costs counted for financing purposes. (The RNC reported the other half.)

This was particularly egregious because Bush participated in the public-financing system — after his convention, the president and his campaign team accepted the $74.6 million in public funds for the general election. If they’d played it straight, those “hybrid” ads that touted the president in key states/districts nationwide would never have run.

h/t to dkos for the article link