[EL] More on OFA: "Organizing for Access"

[bzall at aol.com]

More examples of the incredibly-complex web of regulations that ensnare all efforts at advocacy in today's society: 


In addition to the questions discussed last week on OFA's tax status (or perhaps just the same questions from a different perspective): "Former Bush Administration ethics attorneys are raising concerns over the close relationship between a pro-Obama dark money group and the White House." http://freebeacon.com/organizing-for-access/.  Sample:
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Obama is scheduled to speak to supporters on a post-State of the Union conference call arranged by the group after tonight’s speech. The call will take place during grassroots fundraising “parties” that OFA has organized across the country.

“I did not see President Bush throwing his weight behind these organizations,” said Richard Painter, associate counsel and chief ethics lawyer for President Bush from 2005 to 2007. “I’m not going to say [Bush] didn’t touch [outside groups], but I did not see the same kind of push from the president, from the White House, for these kinds of things. If I had, I would have made a lot of noise about it.”

Scott Coffina, associate counsel under Bush from 2007 to 2009, said he was not aware of comparable relationships with outside groups during his time in the White House.

“The big concern [with OFA] is what a fine line they’re drawing because this is the entire political apparatus that’s running this,” Coffina said. “I don’t know if I would have shot it down out of hand, but I would have probably advised that the leadership of it be a little less heavy on the political operatives and a little more heavy on the policy people.”
*****

And is OFA registered to solicit contributions everywhere these parties are being held? OFA does not enjoy the exemption from such state laws that federal campaigns do, and it's probably not something that the former political leadership will immediately think of. Let's hope their lawyers do. 



Barnaby Zall 
Of Counsel 
Weinberg, Jacobs & Tolani, LLP 
10411 Motor City Drive, Suite 500
Bethesda, MD 20817
301-231-6943 (direct dial) 
bzall at aol.com 
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