Hillary Clinton’s Campaign Suggests that Barack Obama Made Illegal Campaign Donations in New Hampshire

 Hillary’s campaign is suggesting that Barack Obama has tried to illegally buy votes from elected officials here in New Hampshire.

The question is: Did Obama, or his campaign, essentially try to buy support from local elected officials and political activists in New Hampshire and elsewhere by having Hopefund make contributions to these officials and local party committees in key early-voting states?

The Clinton campaign is raising that question after numerous reports that Hopefund — which is supposed to be separate from, and unaffiliated with, the Obama campaign — remained very active even after he announced his candidacy for president.

 Here is where the problem lies for Obama, at least has far as Hillary is conserned:

It has given more than $180,000 to local Democratic groups and candidates in the early-primary and caucus states, and $73,000 of that went to New Hampshire officials and committees this year.

Federal Election Commission regulations forbid a PAC, in its “independent expenditures,” from coordinating its giving with the candidates the PAC is promoting or the candidate’s campaign committee. If they do coordinate, it is considered an in-kind contribution to the candidate and must be limited to $5,000.

 Let’s look at some of the New Hampshire Demorats who received money from Obama.

The Hillsborough County Democratic Committee received $1,000 from Hopefund in August. Chair Chris Pappas, a Clinton supporter, said the check was presented to him at a meeting by committee member Roberto Fuentes, a volunteer for the Obama campaign.

“The way it was given to us was that it was money from Sen. Obama, and everyone recognized that,” Pappas said.

 So Clinton appears to be upset that Obama’s campaign gave money to a Clinton supporter. She sees this as an attempt to buy a vote away from her.

Hopefund contributed $2,500 to Rep. Paul Hodes in October 2006 and then $5,000 in June, shortly before Hodes endorsed Obama. He has said his support was unrelated to the gifts. The PAC gave Hodes $4,000 more on Sept. 27.

 Paul Hodes even felt compelled to state that he isn’t endorsing Obama because of the gifts he received. Perhaps Mrs. Clinton is on to something here. 

Rep. Carol Shea-Porter received $2,500 from Hopefund in early November 2006, $5,000 in June 2007 and $4,000 in September. She has so far remained neutral in the primary race

 My moonbat representative has not yet committed to a candidate, she is taking a page out of New Hampshire’s moonbat governor John Lynch’s playbook. Don’t give a position until it is absolutely necessary.

For local politicians and committees, there is a long list of 2007 Hopefund donations. Committee to Elect House Democrats received $15,000; Friends of a Democratic (state) Senate, $15,000.

Hopefund gave $1,000 each to campaign committees for Executive Councilor Bev Hollingworth and Sens. Lou D’Allesandro, Iris Estabrook, Maggie Hassan and Kathy Sgambati, now all Clinton supporters, and Harold Janeway, Jacqualyn Cilley and Martha Fuller Clark, who are Obama supporters.

D’Allesandro said yesterday he didn’t get the impression that there was an ulterior motive.

“I was surprised when the check came in the mail,” he said. “But it’s not unusual to get a donation. There were no strings attached.”

 There were no strings attached? Ask Hillary about that, she seems to believe there was a vote attached. And last but not least is the governor.

Gov. John Lynch’s committee received $6,000. His wife this week endorsed Clinton. U.S. Senate candidate and former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen’s “friends” committee received $5,000 on Oct. 2, long after Shaheen’s husband, Bill, was named a national co-chair for Clinton

 That seems to have backfired, hasn’t it? While the governor says he will remain neutral, his wife joining the Clinton campaign tell us all we need to know.

 To be honest with you, I have no idea if something shady was going on here. But there is one thing I do know, and that is that the Clinton’s are experts when it comes to campaign finance corruption. If there is one thing the Clinton’s know about it is corruption and cover ups. So if Hillary says there were violations here, I believe her. That may be the only time I ever write the words if Hillary said it, it must be true. I can almost guarantee you that I will never type those words again here.

 Now that I think about this a little more, there is one other thing that Hillary knows quite a bit about on this issue. And that is the whole idea of buying votes. Perhaps her campaign didn’t go about it the same way she claims that Obama’s campaign has, but she has been attempting to buy votes this whole campaign.

 She has attempted to buy votes everywhere she campaigns through all of her entitlement programs. She has pandered to every group she speaks to and promised them money if she is elected. Is this not buying votes? She has admitted that she has so many ideas (entitlement programs), that the country cannot afford her. And she laughed about it.

 So yes, on these two issues, she knows of what she speaks, I am going to, “GULP”, take her for her word on this.

 Somebody please slap me!

 Read the Union Leader article here.