Mitt Romney's unethical fundraising program

Unbelievable.

From StudentsForMitt.com - a one-page website sponsored by the Mitt Romney for President campaign (and created by his "son and daughter-in-law, Craig and Mary Romney"):

Students who raise more than $1,000 through the Students for Mitt program will receive a 10% commission on the funds they raise....

Now, I don't think this is illegal based on campaign finance laws or FEC regulations - but it's definitely against the ethical guidelines of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

16. Members shall not accept compensation that is based on a percentage of contributions; nor shall they accept finder's fees.

17. Members may accept performance-based compensation, such as bonuses, provided such bonuses are in accord with prevailing practices within the members' own organizations, and are not based on a percentage of contributions.

18. Members shall not pay finder's fees, or commissions or percentage compensation based on contributions, and shall take care to discourage their organizations from making such payments.

It's really pretty simple. Professional fundraisers aren't supposed to be compensated on percentage basis. Why? Because it leads to shady behavior. And through this program, Mitt Romney is "training" the next generation of GOP activists to be sleazy and shady fundraisers.

He should be ashamed of himself. And he should shut down this program.

(And yes, I know that there are campaigns all over the place that do this for high-end fundraising consultants. But that doesn't make it right. Especially for grassroots low-dollar fundraising.)