(Image Source: Chamber of Commerce)

BY ADNAN S. KHAN

OBAMA: “Attacking folks like Patrick Murphy, attacking folks, like Joe says, just attacking people. Without ever disclosing who’s behind all these attack adds. You don’t know. It could be oil industry, it could be insurance industry, could even be foreign... corporation. You don’t know ‘cause they don’t have to disclose.”

Democrats come out with a bold accusation against the U.S. Chamber of Commerce -- saying it’s using foreign money to pay for attack ads against Democratic candidates.

We’re following coverage from CNBC, The New York Times, MSNBC, Fox News, ABC and The Washington Post.

The New York Times reports, by law, the Chamber does not have to reveal its donors and has spoken to the Chamber’s senior vice president about the accusations. His answer is ‘zero’ dollars came from foreign sources.

“But the White House appeared to be unsatisfied with the answer and not interested in standing down. Jay Carney, a spokesman for Mr. Biden, suggested in an e-mail this morning that the administration was not willing to simply take the chamber officials at their word.”

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce does receive funding from foreign investors, but it says the account is separate from the one it uses to fund campaigns. MSNBC’s Ed Schultz calls out Republicans, saying they used to stand for disclosure, and this lack of transparency is not just wrong -- but flat out dangerous.

“Hold the phone, man! What is going on here? If you do not find this absolutely appalling as an American. If you’re not even ready to question it. You better get your thinking cap on. The chamber is under no rules to disclose where the money comes from so they can say anything they want. I don’t buy it.”

Democrats have pointed fingers at both the Chamber and Karl Rove for using foreign donations in support of GOP candidates. Rove did not stay quiet about the accusation.  He tells Fox and Friends, he wants to meet the -- quote -- ‘idiot’ who came with up with the idea.

“The Associated Press said of their ad is that they’re providing no evidence for their charge. The Fact Check, respected organization of Brook Jackson of formerly the Wall Street Journal this is a serious charge that requires serious evidence. Democrats have produced none. You know, I mean, it’s just bizarre to me, why is the President and his people doing this and why are you being suckered to talk about a television ad they have not even put up on television yet?”

ABC reports, the main point behind the accusation is to challenge the amount of donations corporations can now contribute.

REPORTER: “The White House says the larger point is that individual contributors have disclosure rules and limits on how much they can contribute. But corporations do not.”
DAVID AXELROD: “Any interest group can write a $10 million check to try and defeat a candidate and no one will ever know exactly what their involvement was.”

Vice President Biden has challenged the chamber to produce evidence they have not used foreign funds. A blog for The Washington Post says such attacks might not be the best use of the Democratic Party’s resources.

“Blaming Republicans for all that ails the country is not a strategy; it is an excuse. Democrats have taken big money too, and have their own cozy relationships.”

What do you think? Should Democrats push for more transparency? Or are they just playing dirty without any facts?