Wednesday, October 13, 2010

FEC Complaint Filed Against Dan Seals Regarding Michelle Obama Campaign Stop

Looks like even after five years of campaigning, Dan Seals still can't get basic federal campaign disclosure laws correct...

Below is a press release from our own Team America cub reporter (and incidentially Moraine Township GOP Chairman) Louis Atsaves:


SEALS WELCOMES MICHELLE OBAMA WITH FEC VIOLATION ON EVENT INVITATION;

COMPLAINT TO BE FILED MISSING DISCLAIMER LANGUAGE

HIGHLAND PARK, IL – Perennial 10th District Democratic candidate Dan Seals today welcomes Michelle Obama to Illinois today as part of a desperate effort to boost his flagging campaign. Unfortunately for Mrs. Obama, Seals and his colleagues have embroiled the First Lady in a violation of federal election law by distributing an event invitation lacking the required “paid for” disclaimer, which is a cornerstone of campaign finance transparency. The invitation also lacks basic information about federal campaign contribution limits, which is required for fundraising solicitations.

A copy of the invitation can be found here:

Today, Moraine Township Republican Chairman Louis G. Atsaves said he will file a complaint with the Federal Election Commission concerning the invitation, and the lack of required disclaimer language.

“Dan Seals claims to support campaign finance reform, but he cannot even follow the simple rules that already exist,” said Atsaves. “It’s a shame that Dan Seals has now embarrassed the First Lady of the United States because of his blatant disregard for basic election law requirements.”

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Download the whole complaint here.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is more of an indictment of the campaign finance laws than the Seals campaign. Hard to imagine that the citizenry needed some sort of official stamp on the literature advertising Michelle Obama's campaign stop for Seals to figure out that it was, in fact, a campaign activity.

But turn around is fair play after the Seals campaign freaked out about Dold's FEC report a few weeks ago.

All pretty silly (the law AND the campaign behavior) if you ask me.

Anonymous said...

good luck having this picked up, this wasn't even something distributed by the campaign it was distributed by JACPAC.

Anonymous said...

I'm really loving the false equivalency here, Bob Dold "finds" tens of thousands in previously unreported campaign spending VS. JACPAC forgetting a disclaimer on a fundraising invite.

Feel free to attack JACPAC, but the idea that Dan Seals somehow conspired to remove the disclaimer from their fundraising invite is patently ridiculous, and is clearly a desperate move by a flailing campaign, which doesn't have a clue how to get the new poll out of the news.

10th District Values Voter

Anonymous said...

Yep, everything is a "desperate move" right about now in the election cycle.

Anonymous said...

Honestly, do you really think there was some sort of nefarious purpose to not disclosing a $17k bus tour charge on the part of the Dold campaign? During the period in which they raised 800k+?

It's getting time for the election season to be over, me thinks.

Anonymous said...

I'm glad Louis is more worried about attacking a PAC than campaigning for Down 12 Dold. TA--maybe it's time to start plugging Coulson v. Seals 2012?

Until Next Time,
A Concerned Colonial

P.S. RIP Kelly Klopp as Dold Comm. Director

Team America said...

CC- enjoy yourself while you can with today's polling results, as the next one may tell a different story.

Regardless of who wins, Dold or Seals, as to 2012, I'd wonder if the 10th District will even exist as such after the map is redrawn.

Start thinking of new blog names now.

Anonymous said...

TA--

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/13/il10-poll-seals-leads-dol_n_761313.html

Huffington Post picked up poll story, they were not too kind to Bingo Bob 'Down 12' Dolt. (I'm running out of space for my nicknames for Dold).

Your point about re-districting is valid. It's possible that the 10th will be split between Bean and Jan Schakowsky, but I only forsee that if Brady becomes governor and can find enough support in the legislature. I am still pulling for Quinn, but I'm not optimistic about his chances.

Until Next Time,
A Concerned Colonial

Anonymous said...

More likely the Dems will want to dump Kinzinger and Hultgren in the same basket.

If Bean loses, expect Dan to get shored up by getting Zion in exchange for Libertyville. If Bean wins, Dan will likely get the short end of the stick with Jan getting a bit of the rich North Shore for fundraising.

That is all with a Democrat redistricting plan. With a republican redistricting plan, expect the opposite with the 10th being reinforced by parts of Gurnee in order to bolster a Seals challenger.

Anonymous said...

Dan Seals wil be done politically as of 8:30pm November 2nd. No way Dems give him a fourth shot.

Anonymous said...

Is It too soon to start the next campaign?

Anonymous said...

Anon 8:23am--

You do realize that Bingo Bob Dolt is going to lose, right? He's too conservative for this district and continues to step in 1 pile of **** after another.

I like the Coulson 2012 sign already being posted, Dan will have incumbent advantage at that point and it should be an interesting campaign. But, as for 2010, I cannot wait to shake the hand of Congressman Seals on Nov. 2.

Until Next Time,
A Concerned Colonial

Anonymous said...

Don't make me vomit.

Reasoned perspective said...

I have a simple question: Why is the Seals campaign spewing such vile negativity if they believe they are up so much in the polls? Usually such a lead would result in ignoring your opponent.

Maybe he is up. If so, the Democrats are wasting precious dollars which could be used in other races. If not, it makes more sense as to why they are so negative, but voters will likely see thru the negativity in the end.

Also, what's with the pathetic fundraising appeal by Biden for Seals? Something does not add up here. It will be an interesting close.

Anonymous said...

Coulson, 2012: the choice of Democrats everywhere...

Anonymous said...

Reasoned Perspective, I think you're on point with your post. Pathetic distortion, LIES, if you want to call it straight, would not come from a campaign that's way ahead in polls. Seals and his team have knowingly lied about Bob Dold's positions. Only pathetic people from desperate campaigns resort to that kind of crap.
One has to laugh out loud at Michelle Obama referring to Alexi as such a great, moral guy. To make matters worse she referred to Seals as someone who could hit the ground running. She got the running part right.
Halvoson has tanked, as well she should. That do nothing excuse for a Congressperson deserves to be ousted. In 18 days the results will be known. Until that time it's anyone's guess who will go to DC.

Anonymous said...

Yep, I'm sure Seals is running scared. Not a single poll - not one - showing him behind since February. Two polls done in the last two months that show the almost identical result of a 12/13 point lead. On top of that, I've heard that not a single Seals internal poll has shown him less than 6 points ahead of Dold.

Very desperate indeed.

Anonymous said...

"Only pathetic people from desperate campaigns resort to that kind of crap"

Example Number 1


Example Number 2


Bob Dold - Your "Moderate/Conservative/ whatever you need me to be/ choice for the /Roscoe Village/ 10th District.

Anonymous said...

Suzi Schmidt has also been playing fast and loose with Illinois campaign and ethics laws, allowing Linda Pederson to be the RSVP for her first fundraiser at her official, state paid-for office phone number at JoAnn Osmond's legislative office, as well as using her County paid-for photograph for all her mailers and campaign lit. With that sort of mentality, not much hope of ethics reforms in Springfield from Suzi.

Anonymous said...

Looks like Dans troubled tax and spend policies are getting a little more visibility than he expected.

You can run but you can't hide Dan.

Enjoy!