Convention Cable Coverage Sponsor May Violate Rules

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, July 26) -- The Democratic National Committee will file a complaint with the Federal Election Committee, saying it is unlawful for Amway to donate $1.3 million to televise the GOP national convention.

Democratic party spokeswoman Amy Weiss Tobe said the planned commercial-free, 2-hour TV broadcast amounts to "infomercials," and said it is against the law for companies to pay for political party commercials.

Attorneys for the Republican National Committee have gone over the agreement and say there's nothing illegal about it. Amway gave the money to the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau, which argues it's using TV coverage to showcase the city.

"It's entirely appropriate for the convention and visitors bureau to accept corporate funding for expenses incurred for promoting San Diego as a great place to hold a convention," said bureau spokesman Sal Giametta. "The content of GOP-TV is only relevant to us as a promotion."

Amway, a distributor of household products, has been a long-time contributor to the GOP. The company gave Republicans $2.5 million in 1994 for a GOP-TV studio.

Convention Cable Coverage Sponsor May Violate Rules

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