Press Releases › Barr to Stop McCain, Obama From Receiving Illegal Contributions Files for injunction against church event that violates campaign finance laws
August 15, 2008 3:34 pm EST
Atlanta, GA – Bob Barr's presidential campaign will file for a preliminary injunction against Saddleback Church in Federal District Court in California on Friday, Aug. 15. The church, pastored by Rick Warren, intends to host a candidate forum with only presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain on Saturday, Aug. 16—an event the Barr campaign alleges runs afoul of campaign contribution laws.
"It is our opinion that the Saddleback Church forum failed to publish any pre-established, objective criteria for inviting candidates to the event," says Russell Verney, Barr's campaign manager. "Because of Saddleback's apparent failure to comply with campaign finance laws, the exclusion of Bob Barr appears to be an illegal, corporate, in-kind contribution to Senators Obama and McCain."
Federal election laws stipulate that an event such as the one Saddleback Church is hosting must provide pre-established and objective criteria for inviting candidates. A failure to do so can be considered an illegal campaign contribution.
"It is to our understanding that Pastor Warren simply contacted Senators McCain and Obama to invite them to participate in this forum," says Verney. "We feel that the addition of Congressman Bob Barr to this event will expand the debate on issues and benefit those who watch and learn from the forum. The dialogue between the three main candidates in this election will educate and inform voters more so than a forum that restricts the discussion to the frequently heard talking points of Senators Obama and McCain."
The injunction will be filed by attorney Robert Karwin, of the law offices of Robert P. Karwin in Sun City, California.
A hearing may be held this afternoon in the United States District Court, Central District of California.
Barr will be holding a news conference on Saturday, Aug. 16, in California, with time and location to be announced.
Bob Barr represented the 7th District of Georgia in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003, where he served as a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, as Vice-Chairman of the Government Reform Committee, and as a member of the Committee on Financial Services. Prior to his congressional career, Barr was appointed by President Reagan to serve as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, and also served as an official with the CIA. Since leaving Congress, Barr has been practicing law and has teamed up with groups ranging from the American Civil Liberties Union to the American Conservative Union to actively advocate every American citizens’ right to privacy and other civil liberties guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. Along with this, Bob is committed to helping elect leaders who will strive for smaller government, lower taxes and abundant individual freedom.
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http://www.bobbarr2008.com/press/press-rel...n-finance-laws/