John Kerry Wants to Use Campaign Money to Fund Insanely Expensive Iraq Vet Documentary

Politico's John Bresnahan reports that Senator John Kerry has asked the FEC to allow him to invest $300,000 of unused campaign funds in a new documentary on injured Iraq War veterans.  The film is to be directed by George Butler, who helmed GOING UPRIVER: THE LONG WAR OF JOHN KERRY, which came out in the midst of the 2004 presidential campaign.

The Politico story notes that the production company, White Mountain Films, estimates that the film will cost between $3 million and $5 million to produce.

Say what?

Does anyone want to show them the total grosses of the last Iraq Vet movie - Phil Donahue's BODY OF WAR?

From Politico's report:

"Among Kerry's duties for the film would be "making introductions with respect to potential investors" for the documentary, which is tentatively entitled KEEPING FAITH.  

Kerry's request is unprecedented for a sitting senator, although Marc Elias, Kerry's campaign lawyer, noted in his "advisory opinion request" to the FEC that the commission has given campaign committees "wide discretion in deciding how to spend their funds".

Kerry's campaign would be guaranteed a 20 percent return on its investment if the documentary is made, according to the campaign committee's request with the FEC.  Neither Kerry nor his campaign will have any rights to the film itself."

Among Kerry’s duties for the film would be “making introductions with respect to potential investors” for the documentary, which is tentatively entitled “Keeping Faith.”