Foreign Money? Really?
Democrats peddle an unproven claim.
October 11, 2010
Updated: October 12, 2010
Summary
Democrats, from President Barack Obama on down, are trying to turn an evidence-free allegation into a major campaign theme, claiming that foreign corporations are "stealing our democracy" with secret, illegal contributions funneled through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. ItÂ’s a claim with little basis in fact.
* The Democratic National Committee released a TV ad over the weekend claiming: "It appears theyÂ’ve even taken secret foreign money to influence our elections."
* President Obama said last week that "one of the largest groups paying for these ads regularly takes in money from foreign sources."
* The liberal group MoveOn.org is claiming, without any qualification, that "[f]oreign corporations are funding some of the $75 million the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is spending to defeat Democrats."
Foreign Money? Really? | FactCheck.org
Guilty Until Proven Innocent
Nevertheless, some Democrats are taking the position that the Chamber of Commerce is guilty of using foreign contributions until proven innocent. MoveOn.org is using this claim in a fundraising appeal, both in e-mail messages and on its website:
MoveOn.org website: Foreign corporations are funding some of the $75 million the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is spending to defeat Democrats this election cycle. Ask the Justice Department to investigate.