RNC Hits Obama For Visit To Sick Grandmother

Leaving no potential avenue of attack unexplored, the Republican National Committee has decided to bash Barack Obama over his October visit to see his ailing grandmother in Hawaii.

Of course the visit itself is not being criticized, but rather the way the campaign paid for the nominee's unscheduled detour. On Monday afternoon, the RNC blasted out a complaint from the California Republican Party charging that "Obama for America violated federal law by converting its campaign funds to Senator Obama's personal use" for the trip. That proposed issue for the FEC to investigate is one of five violations alleged by California Republicans in their complaint (which you can read in its entirety here).

"Senator Obama recently traveled to Hawaii to visit his sick grandmother. This was the right thing for any grandson to do -- at his own expense -- but it was not travel that his campaign may fund," said California Republican Chairman Ron Nehring in a statement Monday.

"In Senator Obama's own words, his travels took him 'off the [campaign] trail for a day.' The trip featured no campaign events of any kind its 22-hour duration and his decision to travel was 'not driven by political concerns,' according to an Obama spokesperson. Since the trip's purpose was entirely and admittedly personal, the fact that he made campaign telephone calls and talked with staff aides while traveling does not convert this purely personal trip into a proper campaign expense. Therefore, the Obama Campaign violated the FEC's ban on 'personal use' of campaign funds when it paid over $100,000 for the Campaign's charter to fly to Hawaii without obtaining reimbursement from Senator Obama."

"To be clear, the California Republican Party respects Senator Obama's decision to leave the campaign trail for a worthwhile personal purpose. But the Party will not quietly let 'hard facts make bad law.' If the FEC fails to act here, it will-contrary to explicit provisions of federal law-allow personal travel to Hawaii at campaign expense: a loophole sure to be exploited by others for less commendable personal purposes. Sympathy must not cloud the simple truth. This trip was personally important to Senator Obama, but served no campaign purpose. Its costs should have been paid with Senator Obama's own funds," Nehring said.

Asked for comment, an Obama spokesman gave no response.

Beside the Hawaii complaint, the state GOP also raises another allegation against the Democratic nominee based on testimony from a Pennsylvania case involving ACORN. In that testimony, a former employee of an ACORN affiliate alleged that the Obama campaign transfered its donor list to the community organizing group -- a claim disputed by ACORN itself. The California GOP, however, treats the matter as settled fact.

Comments

[dbskdvr]

Public money? You maroon, there's no public money in Obama's campaign coffers (in fact, that was a big complaint of the Right), its not like Air Force One flew him over there (yet). No, this is campaign money, given by donors. If there's any foul here, it is like the 150k in clothes that Palin received in that it affronts the donors (who I don't think will mind) and runs afoul of the law governing personal use of campaign funds (which is debatable).

[pgv101]

You're pretty upset, I'm sorry to see that.

[pgv101]

What's disturbing about this is that he's using public money for private use. If he's willing to do it with your money, he'll be willing to do it with my money.

Additionally, if you can get your opponent disqualified for BREAKING THE LAW, it would be stupid not to do so.

[moAb]

Not public money but money provided by a gazillion private donors/donations.

This little RNC flap is all too typical of the small mindedness of the elephants and symptomatic of the decay and disintegration within their party.

[pgv101]

No, you're right, it's not public money. But when someone says they want money for one thing and use it for another, it's called fraud, no matter how you slice it.

[ladydriver]

What I find disturbing is your willingness to buy into this bull$h*t.

[pgv101]

No one on the Obama campaign is denying it. And if anyone were, I'm pretty sure H.P. would tell us about it.

[BannedFromCommenting]

Are you remotely educated?? He did not accept public funds, all his campaign money is PRIVATE donations!!!! So, he used money people voluntarily gave him!!! DOY!!!!

[rockyersocksoff]

And in their final suicidal act, the GOP decided it wouldn't even PRETEND to be for Family Values anymore.

Talk about burning the furniture.­..

[Damaven]

Inhuman little nothings.

[ladydriver]

Why are they acting like the money came out of THEIR pockets?

As one of the millions of people who donated to Obama's campaign, I can tell you that I have no problem with the way he managed the money, including (especially!) going to see Toot. The way I figure it, she helped raise him, providing us with one of the greatest leaders of our time (or any other, for that matter), and we all owe her a great debt for that.

I don't suppose McCain used any of his campaign money to fly home (or to one of his homes) during the campaign. Right? Al of his activities during this election season have been totally honest and honorable, of course. (Yes, I almost choked while writing that.)

The RNC and it's antics makes me sick. I'm a great believer in "what goes around comes around." Today, it starts coming back around.

OBAMA/BIDEN LANDSLIDE '08!

[grf67]

The RNC is made up of mindless, fundamentalist pr***s. After this election, the republicans will have to replace all of them for their wonderful campaign.

[Pacojam]

Vote the bums out.

[Slackjaw1]

I guess the death Of his Grandmother was just not enough retribution for the neo-cons, I sincerely believe that ice runs through these peoples veins and their hearts are cold and dark. My only solice is knowing that there is no place for them in the afterlife!

[juhar]

How can we, Obama supporters, send in a personal gift to the Obama family to cover the costs of his visit to his grandmother? This is what Obama supporters should do, find a way to give a personal gift for this particular family crisis of our candidate instead of fighting the attacks of the despicable GOP.

[SheriChardonnay]

I say use the money for flower to a cancer organization in her name...the RNC has nothing O campaign there...

[cornagainstsorcery]

I donated to the Obama campaign, and I'm more than happy if my money went to jet fuel so he could see Toot before she passed. I think the Grand Old Party needs to do some serious soul searching if they are going to stop being the Grand Old Petty.

[TR12]

its the douchebaggery that keeps on giving

[Yatata]

you stay classy, GOP!

[RachelY]

This is an amazing board. At this very sad time, Grandma Dunham has managed to mobilize everyone.

[RachelY]

I think a lot of us are disgusted over the despicable manner in which McCain/Palin ran their campaign. But, this lawsuit is way way over the top. McCain/Palin along with Arnold, and the Republicans filing the lawsuit, are morally bankrupt and not capable of leading a country.

Let family and friends know what these Republicans have done and please ask them to remember this when they vote tomorrow (today).

VOTE OBAMA and vote the morally bankrupt Republicans out of office

I will hold off contacting the Federal Elections Committee to voice my objections until after the election as I think the communication lines to the FEC should be free to deal with elections problems that will be arising.

[DarkWitch]

Every day a new low in disgusting behavior, right to the bitter end. The man's grandmother is not even cold yet and they already defile her memory.

I think the Harvard lawyer knows if he is doing something illegal or not. That dog will never hunt. I think at this point the RNC knows that and is just throwing any nastiness they can think up out there to see if their stink will stick.

They should pay for taking up the court's time with false accusations.