I'll preface this post with the following, all 100% accurate: I, slothman8888, am not affiliated, associated, paid by or contracted to the Towns campaign or any firm attached to the campaign. I say that because I know I'm going to be accused of being a hired shill for writing what I'm about to write. But now, before God, my conscience is clean. So, onto the spectacle...

As everyone in the R8NY community knows, I'm not big fan of Kevin Powell. Hell, I'm not even a small fan. I'm simply a registered voter with the BK 10th's interests at heart, and I personally believe Powell is bad for the district.

So, today I heard from an old friend of mine down in DC, a friend with friends at the Federal Election Commission (FEC). She knows my feelings towards Powell and out of curiosity, wanted to find a bit more about his candidacy. She told me that she casually asked her buddies at the FEC and they told her that, actually, the Powell campaign was in the FEC's crosshairs.

And why? She found out that Kevin Powell for Congress is an unofficial campaign and that they are seeking and collecting donations in violation of FEC regulations. AND - they have been ordered to cease and desist.

SAY WHAT?!?!?!?

So, I went over to the FEC website at http://www.fec.gov to look around, and I found something very odd. A letter from the FEC to Kevin Powell, dated August 12, 2008.

Check it yourself:
http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/fecimg/?_28039812601+0

I encourage everyone to read the document. Because according to the FEC, Kevin Powell is NOT EVEN AN OFFICIAL CANDIDATE FOR OFFICE!!! Yet, he's collecting campaign contributions for an illegal, unregistered race!!

The letter reads:

"This letter constitutes formal written notification that Kevin Powell for Congress has filed reports of receipts and disbursements with the Commission and appears to have received contributions and/or made expenditures in support of your 2008 candidacy in excess of $5,000. Commission Regulations define a 'candidate' as '...an individual who seeks nomination for election, or election, to Federal office, whenever any of the following occur..."

The letter then lists the rules around collecting contributions, or having other parties ask for contributions on your behalf.

But, it ends as follows: "You have thirty days from receipt of this notification to disavow these activities. To disavow send a letter directly to the Commission, marked Attention: Reports Analysis Division, stating that you are not a candidate for Federal Office and that you have not authorized the solicitation of contributions nor the making of expenditures on your behalf."

I asked my friend what this could mean. According to her, it seems that Kevin Powell never filed the correct paperwork to ACTUALLY declare himself a candidate.

So, he's been holding fundraisers, collecting contributions, branding himself a nominee ALL IN VIOLATION OF THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION!!!!

There it is, in black and white!!!

How shitty is that! A week before the primaries, and it turns out Powell has been running an official campaign all along, all while pocketing money from contributors under the guise of an officially sanctions and recognized US Congressional Campaign?!?

This is why the Powell campaign seems like such a desperate campaign. It's because he is NOT REALLY RUNNING FOR OFFICE. Kevin Powell has until September 12, 2008 to send his disavowal notice along. But given how sloppy his campaign has been , I wonder if anyone over there has even opened this letter!

This really, really is pathetic. I mean, it is one thing to have a violent past, to offend people with culturally insensitive comments (bacon, anyone), to break promises to voters, to treat the media and electorate with disdain, to admit to bribing your opponent's campaign workers, and to score cheap political points by demeaning teenage campaign workers working for the competition ...

Powell is and has done all of that, and it is enough for me to detest him. But, I thought that if he was gonna run for Congress, run on a message of change and integrity, that he would AT LEAST actually register with the FEC.

But, not Kevin Powell. Clearly the law doesn't matter to him. And now, for months, he has duped everyone in the 10th, and alot of high profile folks too.

Gloria Steinem? Yeah, he lied to you.

Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle? Nope, Powell ain't a candidate.

And of course, "The Brooklyn Paper." Hey, "Brooklyn Paper," you guys are fools!!! Today, you endorsed a guy who is not even officially running for office. Way to blow it! God, don't you have an editorial board? Shouldn't you at least VET your endorsements to at least, I don't know, make sure they are not law-breakers (or in the least, that they actually ARE running for Congress).

I guess that's why in this world, you have the "Washington Post" and "NY Times" on one end of the quality spectrum, then there is"Star" and "The National Inquirer" on the opposite side of that quality spectrum ... and then just beyond the "Star" and "Inquirer" is "The Brooklyn Paper." What a disgrace of journalism. Ugh.

Anyway, I'll put that out there. And, I cordially invite the Powell campaign to respond why the FEC says he is not a candidate, and why the FEC has issued (essentially) a cease and desist letter to prevent Powell from soliciting donations for a campaign that does not exist.

I also think Powell owes an explanation to all of his fundraisers, endorsers, and anyone who has contributed to him campaign. And of course, a plan on how he plans to refund their money.

And if either campaign wants to contact me directly, feel free to mail me at slothman8888 (at) hotmail (dot) com.  However, I give you fair warning, I reserve the right to post anything you say here on this blog.  Toodles.