Who's paying the bills?

There is an interesting item on the "Obama for America" expenses disclosure which can be viewed online at the Federal Elections Commission website, under the heading "Disbursements by Payee". If you scroll down about half way, you will see a payment of $688,316.42 to Perkins Coie.

At first sight this payment would appear to be above board, "Obama for America" if, of course, President Barack Obama's election campaign Political Action committee, for whom Perkins Coie are the official legal advisers, as they have been for previous Democratic presidential campaigns, and indeed the Democratic party itself.

However as the letter below, which was sent to Gregory Hollister, a retired Air Force colonel and one of those who issued legal proceedings, demanding that Obama produce evidence proving his eligibility to be the US president, Perkins Coie are also providing other, more personal, services for the chosen one.

The letter is from Robert Bauer of Perkins Coie – top lawyer for Obama, Obama's presidential campaign, the Democratic National Committee and now Obama's Organizing for America organisation – who it now appears is the same Washington, D.C., lawyer defending President Obama in lawsuits challenging his eligibility to be president. Colonel Hollister's lawsuit had just been thrown out by a district judge, on the basis that it had been previously "twittered" (yes the reasons are now getting that bizarre) and Bauer write urging him to drop his "frivolous" suit, and making various threats if he didn't.

Hence it would appear the same Law firm and the same lawyers are acting for Obama in both an official and private capacity.

Now I am sure this is legal, and no doubt Obama thought "Gee these guys know what they are doing. I think I will hire them privately to fight those pesky eligibility suits", and I am sure that Perkins Coie are scrupulous in keeping the funds originating from campaign contributions separate from those set aside for fighting Obama's personal law suits.

However, have I got over sensitive nostrils or does this set up smell rather unpleasant, and don't you hear the words "Conflict of Interest" echoing down the corridors?

It is an old cliche to say that Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and it seems they might need more than one summer's worth when scrutinising the current administration.