Obama Convention Offer Could Violate Minnesota Gambling Law

Minnesota's top gambling official is wondering if a drawing announced on Barack Obama's website constitutes an illegal raffle -- but neither he, nor the Associated Press, notes that John McCain has done the same thing.

In Tuesday's Star Tribune, the AP reports that Tom Barrett, executive director of the state Gambling Control Board, has asked the Department of Public Safety to look into the legality of an Obama promotion whereby donors of $5 or more between now and July 31 will qualify to be one of 10 people flown to Denver for the Democratic National Convention, put up in a hotel (with a guest) for two nights and have a meet-and-greet with Obama. State law says only nonprofit charities can hold raffles.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[tanyainsacramento]

THE CONVENTION ISNT IN MINNESOTA!! THE REPUBS CONVENTION IS IN MINNESOTA


OBAMAS CONVENTION IS IN COLORADO

[poco767b]

WAAAA WAAAA someone took my bottle.

[JiminNC]

Offer void where prohibited by law, no batteries included.

Wonder if this unamed "public official" is a republican?

[RobBob]

When I got my donation request, I too felt a bit funny about the way it was expressed. It just seems, well, unseemly. I sure hope it's not illegal, too!

[4wehttam]

Can he do anything without them consistently pouncing on everything he says and does. Geez, McBush gets off scratch free, while Barack is attacked from left and right. Keep tough Obama, your almost there. Don't let these bastards deter you like they did Kerry and Gore.

[SEQUOIABISON]

We ran into a snag already call the election off, we can extend W's term until we get our act together.

[nanoscare]

I think we need to investigate Tom Barrett, the director of Minnesota's Gambling Control Board. It looks to me like he is politicking on the public's dime. I wonder who appointed him.

[nomadicexpat]

how is this politicking? obama's actions seem illegal to me

[haleywins]

A guess, the current governor.

[philinmedford]

They need to just put a disclaimer on it, same as everywhere else.... "no donation necessary, fill out this form to be entered into the drawing"

Just put it in those teeny tiny letters that nobody can read, if it's on the tv, teeny tiny letters that go by at lightning speed lol

[pleeezzze]

Not only the phony raffle ,but the move to Invesco to cost over $3 million .
I can only say O bama camp better be putting up the money cause none of My tax $$ better go to pay for such BS.

[RobBob]

It's not. All money for the conventions come from the parties. Relax.

[gr8fullib]

No your tax dollars went to pay Rove while he politized the justice department and crapped all over the constitution.

Is there a bridge missing a troll?

[kentay305]

find out if Tom Barrett can lose his job in any way and put some pressure on him for butting his beak where it doesnt belong... no better way to send a warning than to make a man suffer in public... hey its the REPUBLICAN WAY

[bandillero]

Same logic that got W. attacking Iraq for 9/11 committed by others

[tanyainsacramento]

Its in COLORADO

[Peddler]

Is a Presidental campaign considered a "profit organization?" The only profit is the candidate who is elected.....they are making a mountain out of a molehill and then selling climbing equipment to the American public......get real.

[obamajusrocks]

Hahaha.. this is utterly ridiculous.
this Barret dude should get a life. Spend more time with family or something.

Pathetic...

[going2ireland]

Maybe he just needs to get laid!

[rh654]

I listened to the MN State Gambling Control guy on Potus '08 today and he said it simply is a problem since there are other organizations within MN that are asking - why can't we run the same type of event if Obama can run it?

When I first heard about the story - I thought - oh man who cares but it actually sounded like a pretty fair issue - MN is simply asking for Obama to follow the same law that applies to everyone else has to abide by in MN.

If Obama does not want to include MN - he can do that with the same type of disclaimer that companies use "Offer not valid where prohibited" - or any number of other resolutions can be used by the Obama campaign to be legal.

Certainly we don't expect for Obama to be above the law do we?

[ChiGuy]

Oh please.
A word of advice for Mr. Barrett: Unclench.