He's also broken campaign finance laws pretty fast:
Retired Gen. Wesley K. Clark may have violated federal election laws by discussing his presidential campaign during recent paid appearances, according to campaign finance experts.Clark, a newcomer to presidential politics, touted his candidacy during paid appearances at DePauw University in Indiana and other campuses after he entered the presidential race on Sept. 17. Under the laws governing the financing of presidential campaigns, candidates cannot be paid by corporations, labor unions, individuals or even universities for campaign-related events. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) considers such paid political appearances akin to a financial contribution to a candidate.
To be fair, this was probably an honest mistake. On the other hand, he's supposed to have people on his staff who know this stuff.
That reminds me: My boss was former Congressman Wes Watkins campaign treasurer for his few campaigns. He used to joke that when the FEC discovers a serious violation in a Congressman's campaign finances they slap the Congressman on the wrist and say, "Bad Congressman." Then they send the treasurer to prison for 10 years.
I'm still waiting for former Oklahoma state rep. Gene Stipe to go to prison. Prisons have hospitals, and so a prison can handle Stipe's poor health.
Posted by: David W. Robertson | Friday, October 10, 2003 at 10:01 PM
There's no doubt that Stipes deserves to be in prison. I was happy as a clam when Walt Roberts rolled on him.
The campaign in question was against Wes Watkins. My boss was Watkins's treasurer. I well remember the Roberts campaign constantly making charges of corupt financing on Watkins part which I knew for fact were false. All the time money kept mysteriously appearing in in old Walt's coffers.
Of course, none of that kept him from losing by 20 points.
Posted by: Jeffrey Collins | Friday, October 10, 2003 at 10:09 PM