Private bucks come with strings

Bloomberg News reports that because Democrats have joined Republicans in declining public campaign funding, 2008 could be the “first election since Richard Nixon won his second term in 1972 in which both parties’ nominees will have been completely financed by private sources.” The good news is the 2008 campaigns will end up costing taxpayers less — up front, at least. But what about all the expectations bundled up in all those private dollars?
Posted by Rhonda Holman

10 Comments

  1. J R
    Posted November 12, 2007 at 7:16 am | Permalink

    Not good in any way for anybody but the financially represented…on both sides.

  2. Posted November 12, 2007 at 8:47 am | Permalink

    so…big oil owns Geo. Bush. What, you suprised? The people that ‘give’ money to politicans are just like you and I. When we spend (give) money we expect something in return. You really so dumb that you would think that thoses giving money to elect their president are doing it for the good of mankind? Really?

  3. Posted November 12, 2007 at 9:33 am | Permalink

    It’s a great gut-level argument against tax-payers’ money financing political campaigns.

    But the old philosophy, “Ya get whatcha pay for” certainly should work into the equation.

    I’m not nuts about my tax dollars underwriting, say, Sam Brownback’s presidential bid. But if Hillary can get Wall Street and Barak can get Hollywood, I’m warm to letting Edwards get campaign money from a source that doesn’t have a specific agenda.

    We know and have known since the Eisenhowr presidency that the Republic Party will kowtow to any and every whim of the military-industrial complex. And if you don’t use the weapons you have, how can there possibly be more weapons made? So let’s go to war!

  4. Econ101
    Posted November 12, 2007 at 11:20 am | Permalink

    All campaign finance laws should be scrapped, except for the laws limiting 501(C)3 involvement.

    In business, “Time is money”.

    In politics, “Money is speech”.

    Restrictions on campaign contributions are, at a fundamental level, restrictions on the 1st Amendment.

    However, I would support a law that required all campaign contributions to be posted, online, for public viewing, with 48 hours of receipt.

  5. warmachine
    Posted November 12, 2007 at 1:13 pm | Permalink

    Go look at who is by far getting the most donations from the Military Industrial complex, Health Insurance lobbyists and big pharma.I’ll give you a hint, it ain’t a man.Meanwhile, who is getting the most donations from actual members of the military? I’ll give you another hint, He’s a Doctor.Most of our politicians are pretty much for sale.

  6. Max
    Posted November 12, 2007 at 1:36 pm | Permalink

    And which candidate has raised more then twice as much as the next closest Presidential candidate?

    Hmmm…….

  7. MPS
    Posted November 12, 2007 at 1:43 pm | Permalink

    mm, MMM! What’s that meaty smell? Lobbyists gravy train.

  8. Max
    Posted November 12, 2007 at 1:44 pm | Permalink

    Hillary has Raised $90 MILLION, has Spent $40 MILLION, and still Has $50 MILLION!!!!

    Democratic Candidates

    Candidate Total Raised Total Spent Cash on Hand
    Clinton $90,935,788 $40,472,775 $50,463,013

    Obama $80,256,427 $44,169,236 $36,087,191

    Edwards $30,329,152 $17,932,103 $12,397,048

  9. Max
    Posted November 12, 2007 at 1:45 pm | Permalink

    Contrasted with the poor Republican party:

    Republican Candidates

    Candidate Raised Spent Cash on Hand
    Romney $62,829,069 $53,612,552 $9,216,517

    Giuliani$47,253,521 $30,603,695 $16,649,826

    McCain $32,124,785 $28,636,157 $3,488,628

    Thompson$12,828,111 $5,706,367 $7,121,744

  10. Max
    Posted November 12, 2007 at 2:18 pm | Permalink

    I’m sure all that money given to Hillary comes with no strings attached.

    Hillary can’t be bought.

    She and her husband have demonstrated they are fine upstanding citizens in the past.

    They wouldn’t lie.(Whitewater, 1000 FBI files missing)

    Couldn’t be bought.(Same signature on a thousand money orders)

    High Integrity.(Cattle Futures market, Tyson foods)

    -cough – cough