Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Uproar After NC State Agent 'Fixes' Girl's Lunch Preschooler has to eat chicken nuggets instead of mom's meal »

Fake Obama Group Keeps Donations

Impostor organization says it never misled supporters

By Heather McPherson,  Newser User

Posted Jul 25, 2007 4:35 PM CDT

(Newser) –  "Californians for Obama"  has raised thousands of dollars, but the candidate hasn't seen any of it. In fact, the group isn't affiliated with Obama, the San Francisco Chronicle reports, and most of the dough has gone to founder Emmett Cash. Because the group's website doesn't claim an official tie to Obama, it's all legal.

Phony fundraising is a growing trend, and the Internet helps it along. Obama is an obvious target because he's such a hot candidate on the Web. Though his campaign
has asked Cash to shut down, it hasn't happened yet. "There's a nasty underbelly" to politics and the Internet, says one campaign strategist. "This is an example."

Democratic presidential hopeful, U.S. Sen Barack Obama, of Illinois, stands on a picnic table to talk with voters during a campaign stop at Sunapee Harbor on Lake Sunapee in Sunapee, N.H., Thursday, July 19, 2007. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)
Democratic presidential hopeful, U.S. Sen Barack Obama, of Illinois, stands on a picnic table to talk with voters during a campaign stop at Sunapee Harbor on Lake Sunapee in Sunapee, N.H., Thursday, July...   (Associated Press)
Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen Barack Obama, D-Ill., shakes hands during a campaign stop in a parking lot in the mill section of  Manchester, N.H., Friday, July 20, 2007. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)
Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen Barack Obama, D-Ill., shakes hands during a campaign stop in a parking lot in the mill section of Manchester, N.H., Friday, July 20, 2007. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)   (Associated Press)
Democratic presidential hopeful,. Sen Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks during a campaign stop in a parking lot in the mill section of  Manchester, N.H., Friday, July 20, 2007. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)
Democratic presidential hopeful,. Sen Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks during a campaign stop in a parking lot in the mill section of Manchester, N.H., Friday, July 20, 2007. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)   (Associated Press)
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., addresses the National Education Association convention in Philadelphia, in this Thursday, July 5, 2007 file photo.    For Obama, the millions of dollars he's raised can't quite paper over the nagging doubts and growing pains. He continues to draw large crowds and his message...
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., addresses the National Education Association convention in Philadelphia, in this Thursday, July 5, 2007 file photo. For Obama, the millions...   (Associated Press)
Presidential hopeful U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks with members of the congregation at the Vernon Park Church of God in this July 15, 2007, file photo in Chicago. An aggressive fundraising campaign netted Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama more than 250,000 donors and more than $31 million...
Presidential hopeful U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks with members of the congregation at the Vernon Park Church of God in this July 15, 2007, file photo in Chicago. An aggressive fundraising campaign...   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

More Newser Stories

Small Donors Gave 48% of Obama's 2011 Donations

Obama Returns $200K Linked to Fugitive

Obama Losing Super PAC War

Rick Brought Home $1B in Pork—and Big Donations

Romney Hauls In $24M in Best Quarter Yet


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne