WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- President Barack Obama's top political adviser pressed the issue of foreign funding of U.S. political campaigns, despite reports finding no violations of law.
David Axelrod, speaking Sunday on CBS's "Face the Nation," defended Democratic campaign ads charging that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is "stealing our democracy" with "secret foreign money."
Host Bob Schieffer said, "The New York Times looked into the chamber specifically, and said the chamber really isn't putting foreign money into the campaign. That it does charge its foreign affiliates dues that bring in less than $100,000 a year. ... But the chamber has an annual budget of $200 million, and it's -- along with that, it keeps these foreign dues separate."
Axelrod responded, "The chamber has asserted that, but they won't release any information about where their campaign money is coming from. … All we have is their assertion."
Ed Gillespie, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee who has become a major strategist in this midterm election, branded the Democrats' charges "the kind of abuse of power in a lot of ways and the kind of attacks that most Americans are rejecting. And it's one of the reasons they're in such trouble in this election."
He accused the White House and its allies of trying "to silence political opponents."
Asked about increased disclosure of campaign donations, Gillespie said, "If people want to change the rules and have that debate, that's fine. But don't accuse those who are playing by the rules of somehow doing something unethical or illegal."
