Public Campaign Action Fund - John McCain

Pumped Full of Cash

Katie Schlieper — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:48:06 -0500

The oil industry is reporting record profits as consumers empty their wallets at the pump, so why is Senator John McCain (R-AZ) suddenly backing policies like offshore oil drilling that do nothing to help gas prices today (or the environment tomorrow), but stand to make Big Oil a handsome profit down the road? Public Campaign Action Fund's Campaign Money Watch project released a new report today that sheds some light on McCain's energy policy decisions, and what they have to do with the money from the oil industry that has filled his campaign coffers.

FEC Gives McCain Pass

Katie Schlieper — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:58:26 -0500

Well we have a decision from the FEC on whether Sen. John McCain broke the rules when abruptly backed out of the presidential public financing system for the primary race. In a widely anticipated move the six commissioners at the Federal Election Commission voted unanimously to sign off on McCain's opt-out.

Waiting on FEC

Katie Schlieper — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:30:49 -0500

NPR's Marketplace reported on the pending decision by the Federal Election Commission on whether John McCain broke the rules when he opted in, then opted out of the presidential public financing program for the primary election. David Donnelly, of Public Campaign Action Fund's Campaign Money Watch project comments on the controversy here.

Ralphie Run Out

Katie Schlieper — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:42:26 -0500

We asked last week why Sen. John McCain, a guy who prides himself on a reputation as a "reformer" would attend a fundraiser that Ralph Reed -- buddy of Abramoff who profitted handsomely off the corrupt lobbyist's tribal casino scam -- helped pull together. Perhaps it had to due more with the $1.75 million he raised than with any ethical itching McCain may have experienced taking money that a man he investigated helped to raise.

McCain's Georgia problem (no, not that Georgia)

Adam Smith — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 08:55:00 -0500

Raising hundreds of millions of dollars takes a lot of time and effort. And apparently for John McCain, it means relying on someone you once called a crook.

Breaking Up Bundles

Katie Schlieper — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:31:49 -0500

The New York Times addresses Mssrs. McCain and Obama on the subject of bundling advising both should pledge to make it a priority to rein in the practice should be elected President. The Times goes a step further and says that while addressing bundling is important, full public financing of campaigns should be the ultimate goal.

Reed It and Weep

Katie Schlieper — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:13:03 -0500

Um, if your campaign is taking heat for being run and financed by a large circle of lobbyists, it's perhaps not the best idea to get Ralph Reed, FOA (Friend of Abramoff) Extraordinaire, to host a fundraiser for you. And yet, that's what Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is doing.

Sounding More Like a Spy Novel Every Day

Katie Schlieper — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:26:33 -0500

The story of Sen. John McCain's (R-AZ) conveniently timed contributions from the oil industry gets another rather odd chapter today, courtesy of this story in the Washington Post which details why the McCain campaign was forced to return $50,000 in contributions bundled by oil executive Harry Sergeant III.

McCain's Lobbyists

Katie Schlieper — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 11:43:54 -0500

Public Campaign Action Fund's Campaign Money Watch project debuted a new website today. McCain's Lobbyists analyzes data from the Center for Responsive Politics to show the vast amount of money lobbyists and their clients have poured into McCain's campaign, and how donations from the clients of lobbyists tied to the McCain campaign have influenced policy. Click on a lobbyist to see how money goes both ways.

Report is Reported

Katie Schlieper — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:46:13 -0500

There's more coverage on Public Campaign Action Fund's Campaign Money Watch report on the money Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has taken for his presidential campaign from the oil industry, and how it coincided with key policy statements on offshore oil drilling.