Really, will Rand Paul’s U.S. Senate campaign ever get it when it comes to the appearance of impropriety?

Some Rand Paul supporters as well as Paul’s campaign need to familiarize themselves with the Federal Election Commission’s guidebook on Coordinated Communications and Independent Expenditures.

Take a look at the details of this contest. I’ve archived the original page for safe keeping:

CLICK TO ENLARGE ORIGINAL

Aside from the website itself including a disclaimer indicating that the site isn’t paid for by the candidate, there’s plenty that doesn’t pass the smell test.

The contest clearly advocates the election of Rand Paul. And the official campaign is most certainly involving itself– going so far as to contact the press to promote the contest. Click here for our earlier story.

There’s also significant money being spent/awarded to individuals:

• Grand Prize: $250 and an opportunity to potentially work with the official Rand Paul for Senate campaign on official campaign advertisements. *Grand Prize will be selected the official Rand Paul for Senate campaign. All other Prizes will be awarded based on the highest average rating by users amongst videos with at least 500 ratings.
• 1st Place: $100 and 1 copy of each: “End The Fed”, “The Revolution: A Manifesto” and “A Foreign Policy of Freedom”
• 2nd Place: $50 and 1 copy of each: “End The Fed” and “The Revolution: A Manifesto”
• 3rd Place: $25 and 1 copy of “End The Fed”

The camp is also picking the contest winner and potentially using the material as a campaign commercial, which you can see above.

Again, it’d just be a good idea for all involved to familiarize themselves with Coordinated Communications and Independent Expenditures guidelines.

And, no, the “free speech” argument doesn’t cut it when it comes to campaign finance. You can’t have your transparency cake and eat it too.

To the Paultards/Paul Supporters/Blind Followers/Whatever: You’ve got a candidate who has a real shot for the first time ever. Do you really wanna blow all this early?