Media stunt with matching funds

[Slist]

What if ron paul would take the money just to give it officially back in front of the media?
Or giving it back to the taxpayers somehow?

Wouldn't that be along his principles AND generating some free media buzz about his integrity?

(My most radical idea would be to burn the money just to officially combat money printing, but I guess that's a little too crazy )

 

[aksmith]

He should pick about 20 charities and give each a million, or whatever he gets divided by 20. But I don't know if it's legal.

 

[Slist]

He should pick about 20 charities and give each a million, or whatever he gets divided by 20. But I don't know if it's legal.

I guess charities are not something too much in line with his ideas. But yeah, basically do something good with it.

 

[Time for Change]

how about USE it for the campaign....
It IS our money anyway, let's get it and use it!

 

[piotr1]

+1 for burning the money. 8)

 

[krott5333]

I guess charities are not something too much in line with his ideas. But yeah, basically do something good with it.

sure it is.. he would much rather people give to privately-funded charitable organizations instead of being forced to be "compassionate" through government-run taxpayer-funded welfare programs

 

[MJfromCT]

+1776 for Krott5333

 

[Jake!]

if he takes the matching funds and gives them away:
1. the media won't cover it
2. the small outlets that cover it will spin it as wasting the tax payers money (like the newsletters story)

he should just use the money for the campagin

 

[Eisenh0wer]

First off, I seriously doubt taking the federal matching funds and then donating it to charity or giving it back to the taxpayers is legal. It's money that's set aside for election purposes only, so I imagine it can only legally be used for campaigning, such as buying ads, supplies, etc.

Second off, taking the matching funds limits the amount of money you can spend all together. It sets a cap for how much you can spend. I forget the exact amount.

Thirdly, it goes against Paul's principles. He's against this rampant government spending, and twenty million of tax payer dollars is a lot of money. He would never do such a thing.

 

[Apparition]

Yeah... it would not look very good for him if he took the money that people gave towards his campaign and he ended up giving it to charity. If people wanted to donate to charity, they can choose to do that themselves.

I would fully expect him to use it towards his bid for presidency and would be upset with his decision.. no matter how good hearted. It's a good thing that this is highly unlikely to happen.

 

[stevedasbach]

What if ron paul would take the money just to give it officially back in front of the media?
Or giving it back to the taxpayers somehow?

Wouldn't that be along his principles AND generating some free media buzz about his integrity?

(My most radical idea would be to burn the money just to officially combat money printing, but I guess that's a little too crazy )

Doesn't work. The money is wire-transferred into the campaign account. There is no check to burn.

Once accepted, all the restrictions and redtape apply, even if you return the funds.

 

[CodeMonkey]

sure it is.. he would much rather people give to privately-funded charitable organizations instead of being forced to be "compassionate" through government-run taxpayer-funded welfare programs

It would be giving public funds to private charity though...

 

[dshields]

Why not buy gold with it now and then when it comes time to fund his bid for presidency the gold will be worth $200,000,000 fiat dollars and counting!!

Dave

 

[jj111]

How about accept the money, and then donate it back to the US Treasury with press publicity. A physically HUGE sized check, saying he accepted it because the law allows it, but he is giving it back because of the principle. Get some publicity and video that can go on TV. Make it a big story.

 

[dshields]

How about accept the money, and then donate it back to the US Treasury with press publicity. A physically HUGE sized check, saying he accepted it because the law allows it, but he is giving it back because of the principle. Get some publicity and video that can go on TV. Make it a big story.

Back to the treasury for "deficit reduction" lol.

Dave

 

[jj111]

Or give the money back to the US treasury in the form of gold bars and coins. That would make publicity.

 

[jj111]

Or put it in an account, with the promise that it will be saved and given back to the US Treasury at the end of the election. That way, his "warchest" will be on the books during the election. Everytime a reporter mentions Ron Paul's campaign total receipts, they will have to mention that Paul has promised to return X million in matching funds to the Treasury after the election and he will not spend it during the campaign....

I think this is great potential for publicity, guest appearances to discuss this...

 

[dshields]

Whatever we do, it needs to make a mockery out of the current system!

Dave

 

[New York For Paul]

We need to do something dramatic. We can make our own symbolic check for the media.

 

[jj111]

How about a huge truckload of pennies. Donate it back to the US Treasury in pennies. Alternately, in one-dollar FRN's.