Publicly Funded Campaigns

Commentary By: Ronald L. Cain

March 25, 2008

“The elections are manipulated by religion, by money,

by corporations. And then once the people are

elected and they go to Washington, they fall

under the influence of really serious money.”- John Grisham

The news media alleged that Senator John McCain had some romantic encounter with a female lobbyist.

Stories about some romantic rendezvous by elected officials, alleged or otherwise, are getting out of hand by the news media. The news media should focus on the major issues facing our nation, the world and humanity. Likewise, the candidates should focus on the major issues rather than pretty non-consequential issues.

Major issues like the proliferation of nuclear weapons, environmental issues like global warming, ever-increasing world population, militarism and wasteful military spending. Closer to home, our crumbling infrastructure. The president's State of the Union speech included not one word about the crumbling infrastructure in this country, even after tragedies like the August bridge collapse in Minnesota.

It does not really concern me that an elected official has some romantic rendezvous. In contrast, if the romantic rendezvous leads to the elected official favoring legislation that is not in the best interest of the people and the nation, then the fourth estate has done their job appropriately by disclosing such encounters.

It does concern me when candidates are encircled by lobbyist in their campaign. And Senator McCain has encircled himself with lobbyist. And McCain has received millions from his lobbyist friends.

McCain defended the lobbyist working for him saying they are "honorable." I do not have a quarrel with that statement. I do have a quarrel with their philosophy. The lobbyist working for McCain represent a kaleidoscope of corporate interest. Translated, that means McCain will support corporate interest over the interest of the people.

For example, Bush and the Republicans have given corporations "Billions" in corporate welfare. The big oil companies receive $18 billion in welfare. That is the big oil companies, which the five largest had a combined profit of $123 billion last year, with Exxon Mobil alone earning $40 billion. Even Wal Mart has received millions in corporate welfare. These multi-Billion corporate welfare programs are not in the best interest of the people, particularly when it was reported today that the payouts for Medicare are projected to exceed collections this year.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/25/national/main3966752.shtml

McCain has supported campaign finance reform. Looking at the millions pouring into these political campaigns, campaign finance reform has been a joke. Little more than a public pacifier leading the public to believe that the issue of real campaign finance reform has been addressed.

McCain is not alone in being wooed by money. Campaigns from the state house to the White House have been flooded with special interest money.

It is monumentally clear that America is ready for major change. And nothing needs to change more than how political campaigns are financed. The time has come for publicly funded political campaigns. It is time for the people to take back their government.