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Can anybody contribute?

Certain individuals, businesses, and associations are prohibited from making contributions to Federal candidates or political committees.

Foreign nationals -- may not contribute to any candidate or party in any Federal, state, or local election in the United States.
Foreign citizens who have permanent US residency status (posses a "green card") are allowed to contribute according to the same laws as American citizens.

Federal contractors -- individuals or businesses under contract to provide goods or services to the Federal government are prohibited from contributing to candidates or parties in Federal elections.

Corporations and Labor Unions -- are also prohibited form contributing. This law applies to all incorporated organizations, profit or non-profit. Business owners are not allowed to make contributions from their business accounts. Although corporations and labor organizations may not make contributions or expenditures in connection with federal elections, they may establish PACs. Cash -- in any amount over $100 is prohibited.

Contributions in the name of another person -- are not permitted. Note: Parents may not make contributions in the names of their children. Persons under 18 may contribute, but must do so willingly, under their own names, and with their own money.

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However, they DO offer a legitimate reason for why they turned the CVV functionality on for the merchandise purchases - bc the vendor providing (products?) required it.

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Why do you think the vendors require it? Because they won't pay unnecessary CC fees for accepting CCs without the CVV codes? Why would a campaign raising money not do the same?

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Is it just message board fodder or is there actionable items that can be addressed legally?

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GAI Report Finds OBAMA.COM owned by Bundler in Shanghai (pg 2 for link)Here you go. LINK / It's basically stuff we already knew. Obama's website doesn't require the CCV code or entering in a correct zip code quote:The Obama campaign’s failure to use the CVV is quite possibly costing the campaign millions of dollars in additional fees. Recall that card processors charge higher transaction fees for campaigns that fail to use the CVV (see page 36). In 2008, the Obama campaign raised more than $500 million online. Assuming the campaign paid industry standard rates, the campaign would have paid at least an additional $7.25 million in fees to the banks that it could have avoided if it were to have used the CVV.132..... Even more curious is the fact that the Obama campaign sees the benefit of using the CVV in its merchandise shop. To buy official merchandise from the Obama campaign website—a T-shirt, hat, hoodie, etc., one is required to input the CVV. The Obama campaign has claimed that it doesn’t need the CVV because they are able to vet contributions on the back end using sophisticated techniques that it doesn’t disclose.137 This begs the question: why is it using different techniques when it comes to selling campaign merchandise? It also talks about how way too many congressmen don't use CCV verification and it is a bipartisan problem.

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