WASHINGTON -- A political watchdog group called for investigations to determine whether fundraisers for John McCain's presidential campaign arranged illegal ''straw'' donations -- contributions from people who did not spend their own money.

Campaign Money Watch urged U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey Monday to probe the activities of Florida defense contractor Harry Sargeant III, who is credited with raising more than $500,000 for the campaign. It also questioned $57,000 in donations from an office manager for oil giant the Hess Corp. and her husband, a railroad foreman.

The McCain campaign last week returned $50,000 of the donations tied to Sargeant, citing published reports that some California donors did not intend to vote for McCain. The campaign also sent a letter to others who contributed via Sargeant, stressing that only U.S. citizens or permanent residents may donate, and only if they use their own funds.

In a letter to Mukasey, David Donnelly, the executive director of Campaign Money Watch, said that merely returning questionable donations would ``sweep them under the rug and would further damage the public's faith in our democratic process.''

His letter was accompanied by a petition carrying 12,000 signatures gathered by the liberal-leaning group Moveon.org Political Action.

A Justice Department official said the agency had yet to receive the letter and would have no comment.

Sargeant, who could not be reached for comment, is a college friend of Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and serves as finance chairman of the Florida Republican Party. He had help in raising the money from Mustafa Abu Naba, his partner in the International Oil Trading Co., which holds a Pentagon contract worth up to $1 billion to deliver jet fuel to U.S. military bases in Iraq.

Referring to Abu Naba, Donnelly called it ``of questionable legality for foreign nationals to participate in fundraising and finance decisions for federal candidates.''

He also urged an investigation of two donations of $28,500 each by Alice Rocchio, the Hess Corp. office manager, and her husband, Pasquale, to a joint fundraising committee set up by McCain and the Republican National Committee.

The couple made their contributions within days of McCain's reversal of his long-standing opposition to offshore oil drilling and on the same day that seven Hess executives and two of their relatives each donated the same amount. Among them were Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Hess, who has raised more than $500,000 for McCain.

While it's ''understandable'' that Hess executives might give generously to McCain, Donnelly wrote, ``that does not explain how Mr. and Ms. Rocchio came to give these significant amounts given what appears to be their modest lifestyle.''

The couple lives in an apartment in the New York borough of Queens. McClatchy Newspapers reported last week that Alice Rocchio drives a 1993 Chevy Cavalier. The couple, who said they contributed because they supported McCain, had earlier given $4,600.

http://www.miamiherald.com/979/story/638558.html

Reminds me of his campaign funding dinner in Canada.

McConfused cant remember who he's supposed to represent as President.
He's taking donations from special interests in foreign countries.
Is the US for sell?

GO MCCAIN!!!!

Maybe they should look at John Edwards money to his Mistress and that $115k worth of internet work she suppose to have done.

This would be news if Obama (along with every other mainstream candidate through the primaries) wasn't taking foreign/corporate money. Oops.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

It has been. All your toll booths are owned by foriegn comany. Hawaii is owned by the Japans. The banks are owned by foriegn company. The list goes on and on.

Does this have anything to do with the topic?
Last I looked Edwards wasnt on anyones ballot!

I you you cant, but the question begs to be asked.
Can you show proof where Obama is taking illegal foreign donations?


You do realize this is illegal activity, aye?
Probably not!

Geeze, another intelligent post from Zap!

And people wonder how GWB was ever able to be elected to serve a second term!!

Zaps post was sponsered by the letters A and H!!

I know full well the rules and regulations of the FEC concerning donations,as I have worked on several campaigns in my home state. The problem with "foreign" donations is that this is unclear--the way donations are handled is that they are made via an individual and sorted by zip code. When an American living in say, Germany, makes a donation, they can't list a zip code. The problem is that there is no system to discern who is making the actual donation--only who is theoretically making the money transfer with the name provided.

As for Obama accepting illegal, foreign donations;
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=71431

And just for fun regarding the corporate question;
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/08/09/pacs_and_lobbyists_aided_obamas_rise/

At least McCain was not over in Germany Trying to convince the world he was good for the US, McCain is convincing the US that he is good for the US.

I want a Citizen of the US to be the president, not one who proclaims to be a citizen of the world.

Your Obama has been more worried about his image to the world than the US, that is not a man I want for president.

Oh Yeah, Make sure that your tires tires are inflated, you don't want to waste oil and lets all say a prayer for some rain. Come ON mingle JSH, Bow your heads......

NOBAMA NOBAMA NOBAMA!!!

BTW, at the time, he was on the ballot for the Presidency, so it is relevent

OOPS. MUST NOT SAY ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT BARAK HUSSEIN OBAMA

LINDYY

Can you say anything positive about McCain (besides the neverending POW stuff from 50 years ago)?

Of course, Fanta!

The United States has always been for sale!

Especially by the Elephants!!!

Elephants (ĕl'ə-fənts):

Large, clumsy animals having thick skin.

Travel in herds.

Yes, and why does being a war hero give you some qualification to lead this country?

It's the old way of thinking that has gotten this country in the mess it's in today!

Whatever happened to the maverick John McCain, who would work across party lines?

That guy is gone for good.

He's hitched his star to the failing neocon dynasty.

Too bad.

He should be denouncing those jerks at every turn!

Nobama is a one term Senator, does that give him the qualification to lead the country, McCain has had more Experiance

McCain is too old. He falls asleep in the Senate and he gets confused and can't think quickly or answer questions without his advisors right there with him. He also shakes and has malignant melinoma. It is rumored that his campaign is covering up his full medical records regarding the onset of his alzheimers.At least Obama can think and act for himself, he is a good speaker and has shown that he can rally the international community to our cause.Obama is intelligent and highly educated and has lived a life of success as opposes to the life of privilige that McCain has always lived. John McCain will not be able to complete his first term.

I find it hilarious that the older people in this thread happen to be the most politically primitive. I'll be happy when you baby boomers are gone and I can get rid of this socialist excuse for a free state.