Reply #3: The real thing. [View All]

[JDPriestly]

The money from people who work on Wall Street -- I assume that is within the campaign limits for individuals. The problem with lobbyists' money is that it tends to exceed what would normally be given by individuals based on their liking a candidate. In 2004, I was working for a large law firm. Several of us liked Wesley Clark and donated modest amounts of money to his campaign. We had to disclose the name of the firm we worked for. That did not mean that our firm backed him. It did not. That is why you have to differentiate between donations from lobbyists and donations from private individuals who work for corporations. If people who happen to work on Wall Street give to Edwards, you have to know whether they are just giving on their own behalf. People have the right to give on their own behalf and it should not reflect negatively on the candidate. Lobbyists do not give on their own behalf.