A reader writes:

I should start out noting that I’m an Obama supporter. So you may take what I say with the needed grain of salt.
First, has anyone claimed that their cards have actually been charged? That’s important to note. I head the IT department of an online retailer, we deal with fraud everyday.
Our site accepts more than it should…fraud is dealt with at the back end. Accepting the transaction from the web interface does NOT mean that it has been processed (and is certainly the case where I work). Has anyone tried processing a foreign credit card? It doesn’t help lend creditability to your cause if you make conclusions before having the evidence. Certainly, if there is a large illegal donor base, this needs to be known.

Two points:

First, if you try to donate as “John Galt” or “Osama bin Laden” at the McCain site, you’ll be rejected. If you do it at the Obama site, you’re accepted. So, as noted before, the Obama campaign’s “web interface” security settings have been disabled.

Second, as to whether real money leaves real people’s accounts, only the fellow posing as Osama bin Laden of 23 Cave Lane, Waziristan Junction, ND knows for sure. Presumably, “Della Ware” (see below) will find out on her monthly statement. But we do know Obama donations are turning up on statements of credit-card holders who never authorized any such contribution.

We now return you to Sarah Palin Fashion Week.

[PS A reader beseeches:

Can you append to your Corner post a suggestion that people NOT repeat the experimental donation to the Obama campaign? He’s got enough money already.]