The DE GOP has filed a formal complaint with the FEC against Tea Party Express and Palin favorite Christine O’Donnell
Sep 10th, 2010 by Angel
The Delaware GOP has filed a formal complaint with the FEC (Federal Election Commission) against Tea Party and Palin favorite Christine O’Donnell.
As O’Donnell’s campaign continues to pick up traction and national recognition, the Delaware GOP (headed by Tom Ross) seems to be scared the establishment candidate Mike Castle may actually lose. Yesterday the GOP released their filing complaint on their website (including a link to the “official” FEC complaint). The link the Delaware GOP provided is no longer valid, so information regarding the complaint may no longer be verified. The GOP press release states the following reasons for filing thecomplaint (once again the link is no longer available to the general public so this information may not be verified):
O’Donnell has knowingly accepted excessive contributions from the Tea Party Express that were directly solicited on behalf of the O’Donnell campaign.
O’Donnell has accepted illegal excessive contributions from the Tea Party Express by engaging in a statewide coordinated communications effort in support of her campaign. This means that every advertisement that is being run by the Tea Party Express in support of Ms. O’Donnell is a violation of Federal law.
Tom Ross, as an afterthought, states the following:
“Christine O’Donnell needs to immediately call upon her third party supporters to cease and desist this illegal behavior. This type of behavior has no place in our political process, and O’Donnell should denounce these illegal ads. Donors deserve to know whether they made an illegal donation so they can demand a refund and get their money back.”
More memorable quotes from Tom Ross (the GOP state chair) include:
“She’s not a viable candidate for any office in the state of Delaware.”
“She could not be elected dog catcher,”
One would think “viable” was a poor choice of words there. The video below shows Ross speaking at a Tea Party rally last year, it seems his opinions have changed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY8dEJavFVg
Despite the interest gained in the complaint filing, an FEC spokesperson doubts the issue will be resolved before the primary.
One of the people the state GOP has accused had the following to say:
“It is a shame that Tom Ross, once a respected citizen of Delaware has taken such a sharp turn. In 2009 Tom Ross praised the thousands of Delawareans who came out in force on April 15th in favor of the TEA Party movement. Now, just over a year later, Tom Ross has resorted to attacking the TEA Party movement to further the career of a politician whose votes run exactly counter to the ideals of the TEA Party that he only a year ago supported. Mr. Ross has stooped to new lows in trying to portray Christine O’Donnell negatively and now has named me, a private citizen with no official affiliation with the campaign in a complaint alleging wrong doing on my part. I am considering legal options to defend myself and to counter their ridiculous and baseless claims. I believe that these events, coupled with sagging registrations and plummeting fundraising totals show that Mr. Ross is not a capable Chairman. I would ask that Mr. Ross sincerely apologize to all parties named in this complaint, withdrawal it and resign as Chairman. His series of inappropriate actions and comments are not in keeping with the principles and values of the GOP. I hope the RNC will join me in calling for his resignation. I also hope that Mr. Ross will renew his commitment to faith and return to the discourse as a principled individual.”
While Tom Ross may not be resigning anytime soon, it seems agreed by many that he has (in true Biden form) put his proverbial foot in his mouth.
These accusations are most likely bogus, designed for headlines. O’Donnell might prove the GOP wrong down the road, but that’s not going to help her with three days left before the primary, and the GOP knows it.
Is Mr. Tom Ross familiar with the definition of libel?
Uh, guys, just because the Tea Party Express and O’Donnell are apparently violating the campaign finance laws and being called on it, doesn’t mean that the Delaware GOP is dumping on the tea party movement itself or anyone other than the Tea Party Express and O’Donnell.
Remember, the Tea Party Express got kicked out of the national association for racist remarks. It does not truly represent the tea party movement and others. For the TPE (tea party express) to try and claim that any criticism of it (the TPE) constitutes a criticism of the entire movement is, well, bogus (at best).
It strikes me as interesting that, to date, the TPE has resorted to attacking and insulting Mr. Ross, rather than demonstrating that its actions are, in fact, legal. As the saying goes, if you don’t have the law, argue the facts, and if you don’t have the facts, just argue. Looks like the TPE and O’Donnell campaign just want to argue and hope you don’t notice. Kinda like how O’Donnell talked over Gaffney in that radio interview when she didn’t want to answer the questions.
SF
You and Tom Ross are living in fantasy land. One that you have created and not The Wizard of OZ.
Just because Ross has filed a complaint doesn’t mean that there is a shred of truth to it. This complaint was filed by the GOP in outright fear that the old RINO might not win the primary. She is working on a fraction of the money that Castle has in his war chest and she is not only a viable opponent but a formidable one.
Tom Ross and the GOP do not represent the sentiment of the rank and file republicans, especially the conservatives.
Remember, Tuesday is dump the RINO day!!!!
They are dreaming WJ.
They know that this FEC thing is nothing. It’s nought but a sound byte to throw out there.
Anybody who thinks that the FEC will pull Christine O’Donnell from this race because of this complaint, raise your hand.
Anybody who thinks that the FEC will disqualify Christine O’Donnell as a Senator should she win and be seated, raise your hand.
I got a real nice bridge for sale folks, recently renovated.
The FEC will certainly not take any action before the election, there is no time.
There is not a shred of doubt that that the Tea Party Express campaign is carefully coordinated and is a gross violation of Title 11 regulations.
What O’Donnell would most be afraid of now is winning, and then having to answer to the Senate Ethics Committee.
The FEC will at most fine her. The Ethics Committee would expel her…then Jack Markell would fill the Biden seat with Beau Biden.
And we’ll have Christine O’Donnell to thank for it.
Mike – what makes you think that any Ethics Committee would expel Christine O’Donnell when Charlie Rangel and Maxine Waters are still sitting in Congress? LOL
This complaint is an embarassment for the Delaware GOP, how juvenile!
And, I couldn’t agree with Windjammer’s assessment that “Tom Ross and the GOP do not represent the sentiment of the rank and file republicans, especially the conservatives”. The greatest insult here is having someone so incompetent as a Party Chair. This man is suppose to be an inclusive leader and that’s not the case.
I was on the fence about who I was going to vote for until this week, however, the inappropriate mailers and countless phone calls to my residence have convinced me that Mr. Castle is not worthy of my vote.
Michael B….I just can’t resist.
You really think in a congress filled with Charlie Wrangel, Maxine Waters….and such, that the Senate ethics committee would get involved with this?
I know you don’t believe this but there might be folks out there who would. Which is probably your hope I must suppose.
Cause no way would the Senate ethics committee get involved with throwing out an elected senator in this manner. to do so would be tantamount to starting a nationwide riot.
I can’t be spending my time dealing with this fiction any more but seriously, you must write fiction or something.
Continue with your silly stories.
I write fiction too by the way.
Mr Fuego….we must have been typing Maxine Waters and Charlie Wrangel at the same time….heh.
Took the ethics committee years to get on this….by the time they get around to throwing out O’Donnell (wink, wink), she’ll probably be President.
That oughta get them riled.
In all honesty, I was on the fence between Castle and O’Donnell for reasons long since hashed out by posters and commenters on this site. However, the last few weeks of snide, beyond-the-pale remarks by Tom Ross have pushed me to vote for O’Donnell out of protest against him.
Tom Ross is not only cutting down and insulting a fellow member of his party (not be worthy of dog-catcher), but by extension, her supporters as well. As Chairman of a party, shouldn’t he take a more neutral stance? Or at the very least, step down as Chairman and THEN go hog wild after O’Donnell?
This bigfoot, heavy-handedness is just too much. Is this how things will always be at the Cannery? ‘Better get in line with the chosen one(s), or else!’ That and the fact that I have an innate adversion to being told what to do, makes me question my decision to be involved as a party officer or delegate in the first place. Please stop calling me to ‘help get the vote out’ on Primary Day (yeah, I wonder which two (Rollins and Castle) you want me to get the vote out for).
I expected better from our leadership.
One thing I can say without reservation- I will not, under any circumstances, cast a vote for Mouse Castle. Period.
(…and I am not alone…)
“Creation Out of Destruction”
You GOP fools make me laugh. Mike Borgia is an expert on senate ethics. yea right.
I know Ross and if Mike Castle told him to drop his drawers and sit on a block of ice for an hour he would.
Boss Ross is a goner and so is Rakestraw, a twofer.
good boy Rick – do what your mentors tell you – you have no ability to think for yourself…….
no – practice saying…Senator Coons!!
Borgia: “There is not a shred of doubt that that the Tea Party Express campaign is carefully coordinated and is a gross violation of Title 11 regulations.”
That’s a fairly outrageous exaggeration. It’s one thing to question, but to say that there is not a “shred of doubt” without being able to provide any documentation whatsoever? Is “guilty until proven innocent” the new rule when it comes to campaigns?
good boy Rick – do what your mentors tell you – you have no ability to think for yourself..
I did the same thing with McCain, knucklehead. I was right.
Michael.
If your theory were to come true, we wouldn’t have Christine O’Donnell to thank for it, we would have Tom Ross to thank for it.