GOP surges in campaign money race

The Boston Globe ^ | 8/31/03 | Michael Kranish and Anne E. Kornblut

[Gothmog]

WASHINGTON -- When Congress passed a campaign finance bill 18 months ago, it was hailed as a historic measure that would change the face of American politics. It was supposed to take special interest money out of campaigns. It was supposed to prevent a handful of wealthy people from dominating the election.

[Gothmog]

According to African American Rep. Albert Wynn, "The shortfall...means that there will be less money for programs to register minorities. 'Bitterness is probably too mild a word . . . . I have had a lot of people in the Democratic Party tell me I was right.'"

In other words, less money for him to spread around to his community on election day, ha ha ha. How will they be able to compete without payoffs to voters? No wonder he's bitter, ha ha ha.

[Batrachian]

It's amazing in retrospect how so many people on both sides assumed that CFR would benefit Democrats in terms of fund raising. You have to hand it to GWB, though. He knew different. This is why he signed it. Not, as was thought, to take an issue off the table from the Democrats. The article does misrepresent the facts when they claim that GWB is something new and different in fund raising. Every president has a huge advantage over his competitors, especially when they're such a bunch of yawners as this bunch. Bill Clinton did likewise, although liberal newspapers didn't see much of a problem there.

It's also amazing that anyone actually thought this idiotic piece of legislation would "take the money out of politics". It's now obvious that that was never intended.

The only plus to this is that the Democrats got the short end of the stick, bigtime. I wonder how Little Tommy feels about it? He was very hot for this bill.

[RLK]

Money is a good substitute for ideas and substance.

[jmstein7]

Yup. They really have themselves in a pickle, as they were the ones who really pushed for this bill :)

[Henchster]

"George Bush is breaking all kinds of records and he is playing by the rules," Meehan said.

As opposed to Bill Clinton, who broke all kinds of laws, and every rule of honor, dignity and responsibility by trading nuke secrets to the Chinese for campaign cash.

[Gothmog]

Or it can be an indication that your ideas have substance and are popular.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

As opposed to Bill Clinton, who broke all kinds of laws, and every rule of honor, dignity......

Everyone is entitled to one mistake, but please, please......NEVER put Bill Clinton and the words, honor and dignity, in the same sentence!!!!

[IGOTMINE]

The socialist weasels forgot to repeal the law of unintended consequences.

The only campaign finance reform this nation needs is that anyone can donate any amount they want, but the candidates must make full disclosure within 24 hours of receiving the funds.

[q_an_a]

“Bush, relying heavily on oil and financial interests” This is crap. A little old lady who worked at a local Republican party office told me, “When Gov. Bush entered the race the number of checks for 20, 50 and 100 dollars was off the charts. We had never seen anything like it.”

Rat journalists never stop telling the oil and insurance lie.

[staytrue]

It was assumed that with CFR, the republicans would follow the law as they always do, while the democrats would simply break the law as they always do, therefore advantage would be to the democrats. This may still come to pass.

[Jorge]

Rat journalists never stop telling the oil and insurance lie.

It's all they have. Remember how "Enron" was going to bring Bush down?
That's until they found out the Clinton administration was more involved with Enron than Bush was. Then it became a non-story. Hypocrites.

[JohnnyZ]

"George Bush is breaking all kinds of records and he is playing by the rules," Meehan said. "It is just that this system is clearly broken."

Meehan went on to propose revenue-sharing all donations over $500 between the candidates. "That way, everyone will be on an equal footing. It's a lot like socialism, in a way."