I make NO apologies for ANY of our candidates raising funds

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

We ALL acknowledge there is a serious issue with our campaign financing system. I applaud Howard Dean's efforts to make it in small increments from individuals. It proved people CAN and will get involved if asked to and motivated to do so.

STILL, if one compares the money dumped into Republican coffers from EVERY industry versus money thrown into Democratic coffers, one can easily determine that industry is hedging their bets.

As interested parties to the political process, I don't TOTALLY fault them for this.

The REAL issue is when their organizations such as the American Enterprise Institute actually VET the laws and simply HAND THEM off to congress and the senate.

Having worked on policy in my own state, money gets you a seat at the table whether you represent labor or industry.

Obscene as it IS, it is the reality right now.

George Bush unapologetically plans to raise 200 million to re-select himself. He will raise it from oil, other energy, agriculture, banks and big pharma in MUCH larger increments than the Democrats can even HOPE to raise it. We have already seen the quid pro quo in the medicare bill and the energy bill.

So the REAL issue is NOT the money but the degree of influence it buys.

Until we get a better system for financing campaigns which will rely on a Supreme Court even OPEN to revisiting the issue of MONEY equaling speech, we are stuck with it.

BTW, three guesses HOW we get a Supreme Court even OPEN to the idea...you should be able to get it in one.

[whathappened]

1. 3 guesses

need only one , it is getting rid of this bunch of crooks we have running our country and put somepeople in that no what the bottem looks like first hand

[bobbieinok]

2. the uproar about the democratic party fundraising in 96

I always thought there was such an uproar from the republicans because the republicans KNOW that

...the democratic party is ALWAYS supposed to be poor

...and the republican party is ALWAYS supposed to be swimming in $$$$$$$$ like Scrooge McDuck.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

4. Exactly

[D G]

3. Thanks for the much needed perspective on this. n/t

[DemBones DemBones]

5. Sad but true.

The nominee will need all the money he can get for the race against Bush.

[MurikanDemocrat]

6. Guess #1

Must. Have. A Democrat. In. The White House. To Make. Next. USSC. Appointments.

Stop.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

7. kick