Loopholes behind Dem pledge not to take corporate or lobbyist money for their 2012 convention

In the “not what it seems to be” category, you may remember that last week the Democratic Party announced it would no longer accept contributions from lobbyists or from corporations to finance their 2012 Democratic National Convention, scheduled for Charlotte, North Carolina.

Brad Woodhouse, a spokesman for the Democratic National Committee, called the new restrictions on money “unprecedented,” saying it “is another sign that things are continuing to change under President Obama’s leadership and that this will, in fact, be the ‘People’s Convention.'”

There are loopholes, however.  The Tatler has learned that the DNC will accept money from corporate charities and foundations.  The maximum contribution is $100,000 per foundation and $100,000 per individual, as long as the individual is not a federally registered lobbyist.  Unions don’t seem to have any limitations.  Corporations also will not be barred from holding unofficial events and parties.

So conceivably the Walmart Foundation or the Goldman Sachs Foundation could make a donation to finance the people’s convention.  But the dirty money from Walmart or Goldman Sachs would be prohibited.

Kirsten Kukowski, a spokesperson for the Republican National Committee ,said she didn’t like it: “Every self righteous rule seems to be followed by a number of loopholes – state lobbyists and unions are still welcome and even corporate money is OK if funneled through a different arm.  After brief inspection, it’s clear this rule isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.”

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