GAI report: U.S. vulnerable to foreign influence through campaign donations

The Romney Campaign requires the donor to enter the CVV number from the back of the credit card as most sites accepting credit card payments do.[Snip from Romney Campaign]The Internet broadened candidates’ ability to raise money, but convenience didn’t come without a price.

A new report by the Government Accountability Institute suggests the U.S. is extremely vulnerable to foreign influence through campaign donations.

GAI president Peter Schweizer told Breitbart News, “Foreign donations mean that we no longer make our election decisions anymore.”

The report found 47.3 percent of Congress vulnerable to fraudulent and foreign donations.

One vulnerability opens when the website doesn’t require the Card Verification Value (CVV)—the three or four digit number on the back of the credit card.

GAI found that GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s campaign requires the CVV.

At the time the study was issued, the Obama campaign did not. It was easy to check Romney’s site as this column was being written, but in order to check whether the Obama campaign may have added  the CVV, you must input personal information and a dollar amount before proceeding to the payment page.

GAI also found the website Obama.com isn’t owned by the campaign. Instead that URL redirects you to the official Obama campaign site.

Obama.com, said GAI, was “[p]urchased By An Obama Bundler In Shanghai, China With Questionable Business Ties to State-Run Chinese Enterprises: In 2008, Obama.com was purchased by an Obama fundraiser living in Shanghai, China, whose business is heavily dependent on relationships with Chinese state-run television and other state-owned entities.”

At least 68% of traffic to the anonymously registered website Obama.com is foreign.

Obama built a vast fan base around the world when he first ran for president. He still enjoys support; the Russian newspaper Pravda recently endorsed Obama. Questions about campaign donations to Obama still linger from 2008.

Powerline pointed out:

As we and others noted, the 2008 Obama campaign’s records revealed big contributors with names like “Doodad Pro” (employer: “Loving,” profession: “You”) and “Good Will” (same employer and profession). Both donated via credit card.

GAI also said a vulnerability in the Obama campaign comprises “active foreign solicitation using indiscriminate email solicitations and exposure to social media.”

GAI said the problem is bipartisan. Based on the findings, however, it appears the Obama camp is more vulnerable.

Breitbart News said:

“Since 1980, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, the Chinese government, powerful Indonesian families, foreign criminal gangs, and the Turkish government have tried to influence American officials through campaign donations. “

These vulnerabilities present a high national security risk for our country. If foreign entities pour cash into a campaign, they’re not doing it without an expectation of receiving something in return.

(Commentary by Kay B. Day/Oct. 8, 2012)

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