UPDATE: Brian Moran’s use of inauguration ticket may be in violation of federal law
Via Democratic Central:
But if Brian gets the ticket from his brother the Congressman, then by definition his brother the Congressman has made a campaign contribution to Brian’s campaign. Now, Jim Moran can write a campaign check to his brother for an unlimited sum of money out of personal funds, or out of his Moran for Congress account (see 2 U.S.C. section 439a — http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode02/usc_sec_02_00000439—a000-.html) but he can’t even give Brian a legal pad from his Congressional office for Brian to take notes for a campaign speech. When Jim Moran receives his allotment of 200 or so tickets, he receives them as Congressman Jim Moran, not as private citizen Jim Moran, or as candidate Jim Moran. Therefore the tickets belong to Congressman Jim Moran just as much as a legal pad in his office belongs to Congressman Jim Moran, and he may not use them to assist a state candidate.
Even if Brian Moran is not in violation of federal law, trying to “sell” the ticket to anyone willing to work for his campaign is, at the very least, highly unethical.
7 Comments »
Aimee Says :
January 8, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Again, Brian did not get the ticket from Jim. Members of Congress are not the only ones getting tickets; they are just the ones that have enough to give them out. If one of Brian’s supporters gave him their ticket, it is them giving up their chance to go to further his campaign, which I think is fine. Supporters of campaigns often donate tickets to things for the campaign to raffle off as a thank you to canvassers and volunteers.
Terry Carter Says :
January 8, 2009 at 6:23 pm
I see nothing out there that proves some “supporter” gave Brian the ticket or that the supporter came across the ticket legitimately. Until that is proven I’m going to assume the obvious. Also I still do not believe any tickets should be distributed in this manner. If the person did not want the damn ticket they should not have requested it.
Aimee Says :
January 8, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Perhaps they were a DNC member who automatically got the ticket but was unable to use it. I don’t have firsthand knowledge of this but have heard from good sources that it was not Jim’s ticket.
Terry Carter Says :
January 8, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Even *IF* that were the case then the ticket should have been returned to the pool of tickets that was to be distributed to the public, not put up as some prize to someone willing to work for a campaign.
Turn PW Blue Says :
January 12, 2009 at 8:58 am
How is this any different than the promotional mailing I got directly from the Obama campaign last week that encouraged me to make a gift of $25 or more so I could be entered into a raffle for one of ten prizes that included not just an Inauguration ticket, but accommodations and a ticket to an Inaugural Ball?
Sorry, Terry, this is a tempest in a teapot. So long as the ticket did not orginate from *Congressman* Jim Moran’s allotment, there is nothing to see here.
Terry Carter Says :
January 12, 2009 at 10:42 am
Oh no? Aside from the fact that it is potentially illegal? Also, I didn’t KNOW the Obama campaign was doing that. So if you’re trying to imply that I somehow conveniently forgot to mention that, you’re not very clever.
Turn PW Blue Says :
January 12, 2009 at 2:09 pm
I’m not saying you conveniently forgot to mention anything. I’m just saying that as long as the tickets didn’t come from Congressman Moran’s allotment for his constituents and did, indeed, come from someone else, there is nothing illegal about what Brian Moran is doing. It also is very similar to something the Obama campaign itself is doing, so if you’re questioning Moran’s ethics in doing a fundraiser like this, you’ll have to acknowledge that he is not alone.
Personally, I do think it’s kind of, well, icky (and thought the same thing when I got the e-mail from the Obama campaign). But politics is about money these days and the ability to raise campaign funds.
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