President-elect Barack Obama took big money from a man at the center of a federal probe that has forced one of Obama’s top Cabinet picks to withdraw.
Financial records show the Obama campaign got more than $30,000 from California financier David Rubin, the target of an investigation into donations and possible “pay-to-play” deals involving New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, Obama’s pick for commerce secretary. …
In late September, Rubin attended an exclusive Los Angeles fundraiser for Obama, held at the Beverly Hills’ Greystone Mansion. Attendees gave tens of thousands of dollars which the campaign split between its own coffers, the Democratic National Committee and state-level campaign groups supporting Obama and Democratic candidates. The technique helps campaigns take in from individuals far more than the $2,300 maximum they are allowed to give to a single campaign fund.
Rubin’s money went to a joint Obama-DNC fund ($28,500), the DNC itself ($26,200), and to the Obama campaign ($2,300), according to the database of campaign donations at OpenSecrets.Org. News of the federal investigation into Rubin’s New Mexico dealings had broken less than three weeks earlier.
Aside from the fact that the whole contribution setup looks a bit fishy to me, you would think that Obama wouldn’t accept money from someone under federal indictment. Then again, considering all the other seemingly stupid things he’s done, one shouldn’t be surprised. Lemme guess, this was all a boneheaded mistake? This isn’t the David Rubin he thought he knew?
1 Comment
January 9, 2009 at 10:53 am
And Mr Rubin was one of 300 people who paid $28500 to attend the event – standard fund-raising practice.
Was it a good thing, probably not but until the righties stop doing the exact same thing with similar results then what’s the whoof?
IOKIFYAR but not if you are a Dem?