DEMOCRATS MISLEAD ABOUT FINANCING CONVENTION

Friends,



Today the Democrats lied at the DNC Kick-Off about “not taking corporate or PAC $$ to finance convention.” Their problem is that they are taking corporate $$ as was reported this morning. Below is our press release on it. Please share on facebook and twitter or contact me if you have any questions.   http://t.co/tPPZxJo

Point of Clarity- The problem isn’t that they are taking corporate $ (it’s legal), it is that they are claiming that they are not doing it.

Wasserman-Schultz and Gantt Mislead Public at Democratic Kick-Off--Host Committee is taking corporate and PAC $ for Convention

For Immediate Release
Contact: Rob Lockwood: (919) 828-6423
September 6th 2011

RALEIGH, NC – Former Mayor Harvey Gantt today at the “Democratic Convention Kick-Off” stated that the convention would be fully financed by “you the people” and “not by corporations or PACs.” This is simply not true. The facts were reported in today’s Charlotte Observer, which highlighted that the “Host Committee” is in fact taking corporate money.

DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz also made it a point to thank the ‘Host Committee’ for all their efforts to make this ‘the best convention in history.’

NCGOP Chairman Robin Hayes had this to say on the issue, “The Democrats have once again misled the public on how they are going to pay for anything. Taking corporate money is a violation of President Obama’s pledge not to do so, and they should not be allowed to campaign on faulty rhetoric. It begs the question: Does President Obama believe that it is okay for the ‘Host Committee’ to use corporate dollars to help his convention?”


“The new restrictions, however, don't apply to the host committee itself.

$15 million for committee

Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers, who co-chairs the committee, is quietly raising up to $15 million for the committee, in part from corporate contributions. That's on top of the $37 million in noncorporate contributions for the convention itself. Among other things, the money will go toward organizing and hosting events for the expected 35,000 visitors.

"We don't have the same restrictions on the host committee that are on the (convention)," says Murrey.

Wells Fargo, for example, expects to donate an unspecified amount of money to both conventions, says spokeswoman Alexandra Ball. And Belk Stores is giving the Democratic convention $100,000.

"We think it's a great opportunity for Charlotte," says Chairman and CEO Tim Belk. "It sort of puts Charlotte on a stage and we'd like to be supportive of it as much as possible."

Corporations also are permitted to give in-kind contributions, such as telecommunications equipment or vehicles. Republicans say any corporate contributions fly in the face of Democratic promises.

"Barack Obama and the Democratic National Committee like to make big promises, whether it's swearing off corporate money for their convention or that they would turn our economy around," says national GOP spokesman Ryan Tronovitch.”

URL: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/09/06/2582467/a-year-left-to-sell-the-dnc.html#ixzz1XB02mHMG

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