How sweet it is...

I'm sure you've heard about Howard Dean's standing up and calling for John McCain to be investigated by the Federal Election Commission concerning his campaign's withdrawal from the public finance campaign scheme. Once again it would appear that our friends, the Democrats, are overreaching.

I'm not sure you've heard this:

Seriously complicating McCain's situation is the fact that four of the FEC's six slots are vacant, thanks to the Democratic Congress blocking President Bush's nominees to the commission. Since a forum cannot be convened in such circumstances, McCain may not be able to withdraw from the system.

This also means a hearing on Howard Dean's charges is unable to be convened. No quorum.

Can I have a little bwa-ha-ha-ha?

From Investor's Business Daily.

It's also important to note this:

Lawyers for the bank that provided a crucial $4 million line of credit to John McCain's campaign late last year said Monday that the loan agreement was carefully drafted to give McCain the opportunity to withdraw from public financing during the primary elections.

In a letter obtained by The Associated Press, the outside counsel for Fidelity & Trust Bank said the loan terms specifically excluded from the collateral any potential share of public matching funds the Arizona senator was entitled to receive.

The letter, from lawyers Matthew S. Bergman and Scott E. Thomas to McCain lawyer Trevor Potter, supports McCain's stance against claims that his withdrawal from public financing is in jeopardy.

Oh, and there is also this...

McCain and his lawyer, Potter, a former FEC chairman, have argued that McCain is entitled to turn down the primary matching funds in the same manner that Democratic presidential candidates Richard Gephardt, John Kerry and Howard Dean did in the 2004 primaries. Dean is now chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

-end-