McCain FEC Filings: Donates Campaign Funds To Giuliani, Charities, GOP

A note to readers: Help us sift through the April filings at the Federal Election Commission. Just go to FEC.gov, click on "Campaign finance reports and data," go to "view/download electronic filings," and begin searching. Let us know what you find by emailing [e-mail]: Who is receiving noteworthy contributions or making interesting disbursements? Let us know and we'll write up your finds.

Over the past three months, Sen. John McCain has shifted thousands of dollars from his 2008 campaign funds to charity organizations, donated hundreds of thousands to Republican Party outlets, and made one large contribution to Rudy Giuliani's presidential committee.

With money left over from his White House run, the Arizona Republican has become one of the biggest sources of cash inside the GOP. But the vast majority of his largess during the past quarter, according to FEC filings, was bestowed not on fellow politicians but on the party itself and charitable groups.

From January 1 through the end of March, the John McCain 2008 committee made charitable contributions totaling more than $3,600 to Operation Smile -- an organization that treats facial deformities among children -- and $16,776 for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, a rehabilitation organization for returning soldiers.

Over the same time period, meanwhile, the McCain Victory 08 fund -- a joint venture between the campaign, the RNC and four state parties -- made another $10,000 contribution to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. The group also distributed $1,243,167.94 to the RNC; $142,156.79 to the Republican Party of Minnesota, and $137,703.90 to the Republican Party of Wisconsin.

There was one individual politician who found himself on the good side of McCain's generosity. The McCain 2008 committee made a $2,000 contribution to the Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee on February 9, 2009. The only other person who gave money to that group was Giuliani himself, who transferred $200,000 to his own committee on March 10, 2009.

Comments

[sdsteve]

$10k for injured soldiers, over $100k to the GOP. More McSame. The GOP doesn't care about our troops except to use their "support" of them to divide us. Pathetic.

[SelenicMagick]

One needs must ask... when was the last time some of you took an election class? According to my certification hanging on the wall I last took a class on July 10, 2008. Interesting things are election classes. I recommend that EVERY voter take one. Why would someone who lives in Canada take a election class in the US? Probably because I am a US citizen and my LEGAL address in Michigan is that of the former Township Clerk. I have been coming home to take election training and be the lone Independent election inspector for that Township since 1982. (CLUE: Federal law says that each precinct MUST have a minimum of 1 Republican & 1 Democrat named as election inspectors... in precincts where more than 3 election inspectors are needed the number of Republicans and Democrats must be split equally. )

When one has "left over" campaign contributions there are 3 choices for what to do with them. First you can leave them sitting in the bank gathering interest until the next election. Second they can be donated. Lastly they can be returned to the donors. That last option is the most difficult (and most expensive) for several reasons not the least of which is having to figure out the individual percentages of what is left to cut a check for EACH donor based on the percentage of the whole that they donated and the percentage of the whole that is left.

[aercolini]

I can't imagine Guiliani would think of running again. He must realize now that a New York Catholic lawyer with multiple marriages doesn't qualify as a "real american" under the Palin standard.

[judesuper]

OH GOODIE, does this mean he is not running for re-election? That would be a great day in Arizona. No more McCain. Priceless!

[SelenicMagick]

He can't LEGALLY use Presidential Election Campaign contributions to run for the Senate.

[kmorri107]

Interesting headline since he only gave Rudy $2000. Got to love the Press.......

[Deparis]

You mean Ruby Giuliana still has a Presidential Committee? Is she... errr... he gonna run again? She... I mean he must be living in Fantasyland or Lalaland, no? Who said "Hope" was just a word?

[tokenconservative]

Only a group of Puffington Hosters would lambast a political candidate for donating his excess money to charity...

[moongal6]

What would Sarah do?

[sdsteve]

Yeah, right. Over $100k to the GOP is a contribution to the mentally disabled and morally bankrupt.

[huffingt]

p-ru-ne & pa-l-i-n

[seenitall]

What?? Nothing for the new tabloid queen Palin?? Try and run away, but you will be defined by that dumb move from now on.

[Freesia2]

Preach it. He almost inflicted her on us. We're still dealing with her. I want their names tied together in a love knot for time all eternal.

Kudos to him though for those charitable donations. Though that's kind of smeared by his contributions to the Minnesota RNC (I assume that helped Coleman) and to Rudy. Hmmmm.

[chaostheory]

Did you think Rudy would tell you what he knows about those black boxes for a mere 2K, Senator?

http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2008/08/16/black-box/

[dax49]

like vultures fighting over a carcass

[Georgia1992]

The group also distributed $1,243,167.94 to the RNC; $142,156.79 to the Republican Party of Minnesota, and $137,703.90 to the Republican Party of Wisconsin.
The money to Minnesota is to help Norm Coleman with his legal bills?

[Marie62866]

No Palin? BOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOO!

[EagleFliesInSky]

Well, you'd think he would at least donate another hundred thou to her for her wardrobe, no?