| Note: I am currently doing work as a canvasser for the League of Conservation Voters, which is supporting Donna Edwards. Oh this is rich: The campaign manager for Rep. Albert R. Wynn has filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission alleging fundraising improprieties by Donna Edwards, his chief rival in next month's Democratic primary.
The Wynn campaign gave reporters copies of a 34-count complaint today alleging illegal collaboration between Edwards and several of the organizations supporting her in the Fourth District contest.
"There seems to be a vast, dare I say, left-wing conspiracy designed to circumvent campaign finance laws," Wynn told reporters during a conference call. "Within this scheme, her supporters are coordinating efforts to exceed fundraising limits and engaging in illegal campaign activities."
This coming from the campaign for a man who engaged in systematic flouting of campaign finance laws himself in the last election cycle. Fortunately, the Sun did a lttle legwork on this allegation: An attorney with the independent Campaign Legal Center in Washington who was asked by The Sun to review the complaint said it didn't appear to contain any facts that would constitute illegal collaboration.
"Interestingly, and unlike most complaints filed with the Federal Election Commission, there's not a single provision of federal campaign finance law directly cited in the complaint," attorney Paul Ryan said. "Several of the allegations, in my view, make clear the complainant doesn't really have a clear understanding of what constitutes coordination under federal law."
Let me also take note of the sheer tone-deafness of this move. Wynn is facing a strong primary challenge from his left. The proper response for the incumbent would be to outflank the challenger; and indeed, that's what he had been doing, kinda sorta, with his backing of the impeachment of Dick Cheney. Now? He's denouncing the SEIU, the League of Conservation Voters, EMILY's List, ACORN, et al as some "Vast Left-Wing Conspiracy." (I wish progressives were that organized.) He might succeed in drawing attention temporarily from his own bad behavior, but the main effect will likely be to piss off a lot more liberal Democrats in the Fourth District. How this will get Wynn a majority in a Democratic primary is anyone's guess. |
