Look, absolutely NOTHING about any of this is "new". If you think that the N.Y.Slimes et al's attacks on the president are beyond the pale, read INFAMOUS SCRIBBLERS, by Eric Burns, for starters. If you think that political scandals, name calling and dirty tricks are also newish, I have quite a few more book titles to give you. LOL
Hamilton and Burr's duel, was MORE political than personal...go look it up. :-)
Jefferson paid a hack to smear his political foes, in print, when said hack wasn't given what he thought his due, he turned on Tom and started the whole Sally Hemmings lie.
Yes, there's money to be in in politics and that's part of the reason some people go into it; whether as candidates or handlers, or whatever. For others, it power and fame. For the very few, it is a call of duty.
Well your right this is nothing new in the big scheme of political history. And there is a definate politcal philosophical fight going on so it is not all about money. I guess though it just seems that my mail box get fuller every day with all this organizations asking me for money for cause x,y,and z and I am starting to find it troubling they are so interconnected. But I see your point