Thursday, June 26, 2008

The Mother's Milk of Politics

$$$$$$$$

All BUNDLED up for 'em!

And you thought they cared about you, 'murkn!

"Groups press for more data on 'bundle' fund-raisers

WASHINGTON - Eight political watchdog groups asked John McCain and Barack Obama yesterday to disclose more about the fund-raising for their presidential campaigns, including new details about those fund-raisers who "bundle" tens of thousands of dollars.

"For those to whom much private money has been contributed, much is required," the groups wrote, noting that spending on this year's election already has topped $1 billion - a record for this point in the campaign.

The groups asked that both candidates, beginning with their Federal Election Commission reports due July 20, disclose the exact dollar amount that each bundler has raised for the campaign so far, as well as for any other political committee that benefits the campaign - including their national political parties.

Individuals can contribute no more than $2,300 per election to a candidate for federal office, including the White House. But many lobbyists and other political activists court the gratitude of politicians by volunteering to collect "bundles" of individual contributions from their friends and business associates, and the campaigns encourage the practice (AP)."