Obama can't "retire the Clinton debt" in a way that involves our contributions

It's not happening. Seems to be some confusion ("I won't contribute another penny to Obama if it will be used this way", etc.) about how this kind of thing is done.

Daily Kos poster DHinMI explains the ins and outs according to campaign finance law:

"A month ago I raised the issue of Hillary Clinton's campaign debt as a complicating factor is ending her futile quest for the Democratic nomination. Time had published speculation from a Clinton aide that mounting campaign debt could create problems for Clinton, because she would have to get additional donations before she could start raising for her next Senate campaign.

The issue of Clinton's campaign debt and what Obama might be able to do about it is causing confusion. The inherent difficulty for most people in making sense of the nuances of campaign finance issues has been exacerbated by some reportage and commentary on the matter. For instance, a few days ago Josh Marshall ruminated on how Obama donors would feel if their contributions went from Obama's campaign fund in to Clinton's campaign fund.

It's not a subject worth ruminating on, because it would be illegal for Obama's campaign fund to donate more than $2,300 to Clinton's campaign.

Unfortunately Steve Benen has quoted Marshall's piece without noting that it's not legally permissible for Obama to donate money to clear Clinton's debt. Others, including the NYT, are confusing the matter by not making it clear that Obama can not give more than $2,300 from his campaign fund to Clinton's campaign.

Let's make this absolutely clear:

Money given to Obama's campaign, either in the past or in the future, WILL NOT end up in Clinton's campaign fund."

more at the link:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/5/10/154245/021/244/513343

I will not be participating in a 'bail out the multimillionaire who mismanaged her war chest' event.

Best wishes to those who choose to participate, though!

just to piss people off and get them to stop donating to Obama? Too tin foil? Or just in keeping with how fucking dirty things have gotten? Clinton's big whine of late is that he spends more money. Her PROBLEM is that he RAISES more money. How better to turn the tap down than get the idea that SHE gets the money we give him?

YES, I am THAT cynical these days.

West Virginia and squeaked by in Indiana..Tim Russert brought it up as something that Obama might do. He's the culprit.

That should be NC, since this coming Tuesday is the primary for WV.

Everything else is correct. Tim Taterhead Russert did make that claim.

I must be getting old.

Let him do it.

Guess the controversy's over, except for the uninformed shouting...

Anyways, K&R so as to leave people more informed.

were it would just be a fine

it would be unseemly to take money from the 1.5 million individual donors
and have it end up back in Clinton's personal fortune.

At least Mitt Romney didn't ask anyone to pay off the money he loaned his campaign.

Some pride there.

spread by the MSM etc.

That's why Hillary was allowed to contribute money for her Senate campaign to her Presidential Campaign.