Daily Caller alleges Obama paid Fusion to dig dirt on Romney

[Rion]

DC's not exactly the most trust-worthy website, but it comes from a book, so it should be fairly easy to confirm or debunk:

Obama Used Fusion GPS Investigate Romney | The Daily Caller
REVEALED: Obama Campaign Hired Fusion GPS To Investigate Romney

“As had become standard practice in the shadowy world of ‘oppo’ research, the Obama campaign’s payments to Fusion GPS were never publicly disclosed; the money paid to the investigative firm was reported on campaign disclosure reports as legal bills to the campaign’s law firm, Perkins Coie,” the book reads.

The Obama for America committee paid Perkins Coie around $3 million during the 2012 election cycle, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission, A vast majority of the payments were earmarked for “Legal Services.”

This seems like an incredibly sketchy practice, if true, IMO.

 

[Kentonio]

It's certainly a sketchy practise. One that every major campaign indulges in. The real shock would have been if Obama HADN'T used opposition research.

 

[Mountainmanbob]

This seems like an incredibly sketchy practice, if true, IMO.

For Obama this will just go down in history as one of the many, many sketchy practices.

More being revealed daily.

If Hillary was elected we would have never known.

M-Bob

 

[Kentonio]

For Obama this will just go down in history as one of the many, many sketchy practices.

More being revealed daily.

If Hillary was elected we would have never known.

M-Bob

We'd have never known that he did exactly what we know all national campaigns do? Are you sure you've thought this through?

 

[essentialsaltes]

“As had become standard practice"

Non story.

 

[Arcangl86]

Am I the only person hoping it will come out that the Trump Campaign also used oppo so people will stop acting like there is a grand conspiracy?

 

[Kentonio]

Am I the only person hoping it will come out that the Trump Campaign also used oppo so people will stop acting like there is a grand conspiracy?

They did, don't you remember Trump asking Russia to research Hillary's emails?

 

[iluvatar5150]

Am I the only person hoping it will come out that the Trump Campaign also used oppo so people will stop acting like there is a grand conspiracy?

Do you really think that would matter to his fanbase?

 

[FreeinChrist]

Am I the only person hoping it will come out that the Trump Campaign also used oppo so people will stop acting like there is a grand conspiracy?

Think Cambridge Analytica. And Don Jr.s meeting in Trump Tower with a Russian lawyer hoping to get 'dirt' on Hillary. And Wikileaks assistance to the Trump campaign.

 

[FreeinChrist]

DC's not exactly the most trust-worthy website, but it comes from a book, so it should be fairly easy to confirm or debunk:

Obama Used Fusion GPS Investigate Romney | The Daily Caller
REVEALED: Obama Campaign Hired Fusion GPS To Investigate Romney

“As had become standard practice in the shadowy world of ‘oppo’ research, the Obama campaign’s payments to Fusion GPS were never publicly disclosed; the money paid to the investigative firm was reported on campaign disclosure reports as legal bills to the campaign’s law firm, Perkins Coie,” the book reads.

The Obama for America committee paid Perkins Coie around $3 million during the 2012 election cycle, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission, A vast majority of the payments were earmarked for “Legal Services.”

This seems like an incredibly sketchy practice, if true, IMO.

Romney’s 2012 Oppo Research | National Review

Democratic opposition researchers scurrying to unearth the sins of potential Republican presidential candidates can rest easy: GOP operatives, especially on Mitt Romney’s team, have already done a lot of the work.

“There’s an awful lot of oppo sitting in Mitt Romney’s inbox,” says Rick Wilson, a Florida Republican with ties to Senator Marco Rubio and former governor Jeb Bush.
​

Getcher Romney Oppo Here!

Andrew Kaczynski of Buzzfeed got his hands on what appears to be Sen. John McCain's 200-page opposition research book on Mitt Romney from the 2008 GOP primaries. It's been up for about 16 hours without McCain denying its authenticity, so I'm going to stick my neck out and say it's probably authentic.

Did you know that in October 2002 Romney said, "I'm basically in the investor's hall of fame"? It checks out. He said it in a gubernatorial debate, as reported in the Lowell Sun on Oct. 25, 2002.

Did you know that in 1994 Romney "opposed the Contract With America without even reading it"? Again: true. The Boston Globe reported on Oct. 1, 1994 that "Romney aides, hoping to keep their candidate out of the controversy the contract has generated and as far from Washington politics as possible, said the GOP hopeful, who is seeking to unseat US Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, has not read the document and had no plans to support it."

​

Both parties seem to do it.

 

[Rion]

Romney’s 2012 Oppo Research | National Review

Democratic opposition researchers scurrying to unearth the sins of potential Republican presidential candidates can rest easy: GOP operatives, especially on Mitt Romney’s team, have already done a lot of the work.

“There’s an awful lot of oppo sitting in Mitt Romney’s inbox,” says Rick Wilson, a Florida Republican with ties to Senator Marco Rubio and former governor Jeb Bush.
​

Getcher Romney Oppo Here!

Andrew Kaczynski of Buzzfeed got his hands on what appears to be Sen. John McCain's 200-page opposition research book on Mitt Romney from the 2008 GOP primaries. It's been up for about 16 hours without McCain denying its authenticity, so I'm going to stick my neck out and say it's probably authentic.

Did you know that in October 2002 Romney said, "I'm basically in the investor's hall of fame"? It checks out. He said it in a gubernatorial debate, as reported in the Lowell Sun on Oct. 25, 2002.

Did you know that in 1994 Romney "opposed the Contract With America without even reading it"? Again: true. The Boston Globe reported on Oct. 1, 1994 that "Romney aides, hoping to keep their candidate out of the controversy the contract has generated and as far from Washington politics as possible, said the GOP hopeful, who is seeking to unseat US Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, has not read the document and had no plans to support it."

​

Both parties seem to do it.

I never said otherwise.

 

[FreeinChrist]

I don't think the "alleged" story is too exciting.

 

[FreeinChrist]

I agree with post #5.

It is not really important whether Obama used Fusion or not. Republican types used Fusion as well.
However, these days, tying a candidate or elected official to using Fusion raises the hackles of some because of the Steel dossier. Some might immediately assume nefarious things.
So it is good to remember that both parties use various sources to get opposition research though it should be done legally.

 

[FreeinChrist]

Last post as I have things to do.
It looks like the Daily Caller got it from “Russian Roulette: The Inside Story of Putin’s War on America and Donald Trump’s Election.” as mentioned in their article. I plan on buying that book because I like the authors (Michal Isikoff of WP And David Corn of Mother Jones). So it is likely true to that the Obama team hired Fusion. Both parties do it.

 

[Mountainmanbob]

And Don Jr.s meeting in Trump Tower with a Russian lawyer hoping to get 'dirt' on Hillary. And Wikileaks assistance to the Trump campaign.

Oh big deal there was nothing wrong with Don Jr meeting to try to get some dirt on Hillary that's not illegal!

And Wikileaks are free to help whoever they want jeepers!

M-Bob

 

[Kentonio]

Oh big deal there was nothing wrong with Don Jr meeting to try to get some dirt on Hillary that's not illegal!

And Wikileaks are free to help whoever they want jeepers!

M-Bob

Actually I think you’ll find it is illegal. Foreign states or citizens aren’t allowed to contribute things of value to US political campaigns.

 

[Veritas]

DC's not exactly the most trust-worthy website, but it comes from a book, so it should be fairly easy to confirm or debunk:

Obama Used Fusion GPS Investigate Romney | The Daily Caller
REVEALED: Obama Campaign Hired Fusion GPS To Investigate Romney

“As had become standard practice in the shadowy world of ‘oppo’ research, the Obama campaign’s payments to Fusion GPS were never publicly disclosed; the money paid to the investigative firm was reported on campaign disclosure reports as legal bills to the campaign’s law firm, Perkins Coie,” the book reads.

The Obama for America committee paid Perkins Coie around $3 million during the 2012 election cycle, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission, A vast majority of the payments were earmarked for “Legal Services.”

This seems like an incredibly sketchy practice, if true, IMO.

At this point I don't think DC is any worse than WAPO, NYT or CNN. That said, I don't have any trouble believing that Obama would do this. Afterall, he's still running a shadow government in Washington with all his agency installations...the FBI a major one.

 

[Mountainmanbob]

Actually I think you’ll find it is illegal. Foreign states or citizens aren’t allowed to contribute things of value to US political campaigns.

Fake News = no arrest??
M-Bob

 

[Kentonio]

Fake News = no arrest??
M-Bob

They’re in the middle of an investigation. We’ll see what happens.

 

[FreeinChrist]

Oh big deal there was nothing wrong with Don Jr meeting to try to get some dirt on Hillary that's not illegal!

And Wikileaks are free to help whoever they want jeepers!

M-Bob

You are ignoring campaign law.

Foreign nationals - FEC.gov

The Act and Commission regulations include a broad prohibition on foreign national activity in connection with elections in the United States. 52 U.S.C. § 30121 and generally, 11 CFR 110.20. In general, foreign nationals are prohibited from the following activities:

• Making any contribution or donation of money or other thing of value, or making any expenditure, independent expenditure, or disbursement in connection with any federal, state or local election in the United States;
  
• Making any contribution or donation to any committee or organization of any national, state, district, or local political party (including donations to a party nonfederal account or office building account);
  
• Making any disbursement for an electioneering communication;
  
• Making any donation to a presidential inaugural committee.

"Dirt" on Hillary would have been a thing of value.
And since the intelligence community says that Russia hacked the DNC, then Wikileaks got it from them - and that is another violation.

Hiring a US firm is not illegal.