General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCan someone please explain to me the ethics of *returning* tainted funds?
Say Im running for office. Somehow we have a system where we pretend its ethical for people to write checks to my campaign, but well leave the quandary for another day.
Later it emerges that one of my donors did something horrible. Hes a sexual harasser or a racist or whatever.
So now people clamor for me to write a check to this horrible person???
Sorry. I understand writing a check to an appropriate charity, say a battered womens shelter or the uncf or whatever, depending on the nature of the donors horribleness.
But giving the money back???
I dont get it.
safeinOhio
(32,756 posts)Wouldn't it better to donate it to an organization that counters what ever that donor stands for?
wishstar
(5,273 posts)I would say the recipient just prefers to wash their hands and be able to say they did not accept but returned the tainted contribution rather than have a murkier process of donating the money, which may not even be possible under campaign finance rules?
unblock
(52,503 posts)And there has to be a way consistent with campaign finance laws. I could pay $1,000 to charity for a few t-shirts to hand out at my next campaign rally, for example.
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)Folks by making it difficult to profit from any association with them. A shunning, and rejection of their influence in the public sphere.
unblock
(52,503 posts)But that somehow writing a check to a horrible person is a lesser offense....
RainCaster
(10,962 posts)Republicans never have to apologize or give back the money.
unblock
(52,503 posts)Nitram
(22,971 posts)delisen
(6,050 posts)Possibly, depending upon the law, a preferred ethical alternative can be presented to campaigns which find themselves in this position.
I believe federal law allows campaigns to give to charities but state laws vary.
kentuck
(111,111 posts)I would agree.