Campaign Finance Reform

Blago and Me

Neil McCarthy | Posted 12.23.2008 | Politics

Read More: Corruption, Chuck Schumer, Blagojevich, Chicago Governor, Illinois Governor, Gov. Blagojevich, Friends of Blagojevich, Campaign Finance Reform, Rod Blagojevich, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, Blagojevich Obama, Blagojevich Complaint, Governor Arrested, Blagojevich Indictment, Blagojevich Arrested, Patrick Fitzgerald, Blagojevich Corruption, Politics News

In electoral politics we want to avoid the rich and famous in favor of the modest but qualified. But we make it impossible for anyone but the rich and famous to get the jobs and then keep them.

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The Future of Progressive Reform

Jay Mandle | Posted 12.15.2008 | Politics

Read More: Barack Obama 2008, 2008 Presidential Campaign, Campaign Finance Reform, Presidential Politics, Public Financing, Politics News
Jay Mandle

Over and beyond the need to stimulate the economy, this country urgently requires reform and renewal. Unhappily, the way Obama's campaign was funded means that we are unlikely to get it.

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Ideas for Obama

Curtis Black | Posted 11.07.2008 | Chicago

Read More: No Child Left Behind, Valerie Jarrett, Arne Duncan, Housing, Green Jobs, President Obama, Jobs, Transportation, Immigration Reform, Broadband, Foreclosure Crisis, Bailout, Rahm Emanuel, School Reform, Media Reform, Social Services, Sprawl, Health Care, Campaign Finance Reform, Community Organizers, Chicago News
Curtis Black

President-elect Barack Obama now faces tremendous challenges, and local advocates -- many of whom have worked with Obama over the years -- offer a range of ideas on how to move forward.

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Ky Dems Look to "Ditch Mitch" in Clean Sweep of Incumbent GOP

Gail McGowan Mellor | Posted 10.21.2008 | Home

Read More: Ditch Mitch, Mcconnell, House, Blue State, Addison S. “Mitch” McConnell, Democrat, Kentucky, Conservative, Pitch Mitch, Obama, Mccain, Political Machine, Election, Republican, Progressive, Louisville, Bailout, 2008, Red State, President. Congress, Campaign Finance Reform, Senate, Lunsford, Yarmuth, Northup, Mitch, Home News
Gail McGowan Mellor

Voters on November 4, 2008, will be genuine Deciders, using the election not only to select a president but to clean house--to clear a path by gettin...

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What's Special About Wall Street

Jonathan Neil Schneider | Posted 10.11.2008 | Politics

Read More: Corruption, Documentaries, Congress, Pork, Bailout, Mr. Schneider Goes to Washington, Video, Campaign Finance Reform, Campaign Finance, Politics News
Jonathan Neil Schneider

With the election fast approaching and this issue still not getting the attention it warrants, I decided to screen Mr. Schneider Goes to Washington in its entirety for free.

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U.S. is Great, But Its Government System Stinks

Diane Francis | Posted 09.29.2008 | Politics

Read More: Taxes, Wall Street Crisis, Debt Crisis, Wall Street, Washington, Parliamentary Systems, Financial Crisis, Main Street, Canada, Campaign Finance Reform, Economy, Politics News
Diane Francis

The economic crisis will pass but America's biggest crisis is the fact that Washington is an 18th Century American political system operating in the 21st.

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Where will change come from?

Nick Nyhart | Posted 09.26.2008 | Politics

Read More: Fair Elections, Fair Elections Now Act, Congress, Clean Elections, Campaign Finance Reform, Politics News
Nick Nyhart

Yesterday, Congress and the administration were busy hammering out details on the federal bailout of the financial industry. Industry lobbyists were a...

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Got Change?

Jonathan Neil Schneider | Posted 09.26.2008 | Politics

Read More: John McCain, Campaign Finance Reform, Wall Street, Lobbyists, Change, Mccain, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Politics News
Jonathan Neil Schneider

While we may have figured out that Washington is inept, we would be foolish to think they are incompetent, at least when it comes to running for office.

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Wall Street greed and contributions should be illegal

Diane Francis | Posted 09.18.2008 | Business

Read More: Europe, u.s. Economy Problems, Campaign Finance Reform, Bailout, Lehman Brothers, Economy, U.S. Economic Crisis, Banks, Federal Reserve, Henry Paulson, Canada, Business News
Diane Francis

In 2006, the big five Wall Street firms handed out bonuses to their worldwide employees equivalent to the GDP of Vietnam or about $70 billion. Now to ...

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Two Pennies for Your Thoughts

Nick Nyhart | Posted 09.12.2008 | Politics

Read More: Congress, Campaign Contributions, Clean Elections, Campaign Finance, Campaign Finance Reform, Politics News
Nick Nyhart

Every time I write a donation check to a candidate this year I'm going to put in my 2 cents in support of Clean Elections modeled programs -- literally. I will be adding $.02 to every donation I make.

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Breaking the Logjam on Global Warming

Jay Mandle | Posted 09.11.2008 | Politics

Read More: Global Warming, Campaign Finance Reform, Green Technology, Campaign Finance, Politics News
Jay Mandle

Start-up innovators can't match the campaign contributions made by the big petroleum interests. We need a more democratic political system in order to move on to a fossil fuel-free future.

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Prebuttal: McCain's Reform Credentials Have Turned to Sand

David Donnelly | Posted 09.04.2008 | Politics

Read More: Campaign Money Watch, John McCain, Clean Elections, Ralph Reed, Reform, Maverick, McCain Lobbyist, Republican Convention, Lobbyist, Abramoff, Rnc, Earmarks, Presidential Campaign, Public Financing, Sarah Palin, Campaign Finance Reform, Politics News
David Donnelly

The John McCain who fought for campaign finance reform in the past is not the same John McCain speaking tonight. Here's what he'll claim, and what the truth really is.

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Why Does the Media and the American Public Allow McCain to Ignore the Facts with No Consequences?

Mitchell Bard | Posted 08.19.2008 | Politics

Read More: GI Bill, Paris Hilton, Jerry Falwell, Gas Prices, John McCain, Andrea Mitchell, Britney Spears, Obama Ambtious, Countdown With Keith Olbermann, McCain Offshore Drilling, Mccain Georgia Lobbyist, Jim Webb, Russia Georgia War, Iraq GAO Report Conclusions, Barack Obama, Mccain Letter Nbc Media Bias, Randy Scheunemann, Bush Tax Cuts, Veterans, Campaign Finance Reform, Media Coverage of 2008 Election, Mccain Flip-Flop, Pat Robertson, Disabled Veterans Mccain, Politics News
Mitchell Bard

If Britney or Paris were to claim they were virgins, the media and public would go into apoplexy, but McCain can be equally dishonest about important policy issues, and virtually nobody says a word.

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Well Regulated BS

Amitai Etzioni | Posted 07.18.2008 | Politics

Read More: Fannie Mae Bailout, Campaign Finance Reform, Freddie Mac, Freddie Mac Bailout, Economy, Government Regulations, Banking, Banking Crisis, Fannie Mae, Fannie Mae Freddie Mac Bailout, Campaign Finance, Politics News
Amitai Etzioni

As long as politicians can take money from the industries that are supposed to be regulated, taxpayers will keep paying for the profiteering of these industries.

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Core of McCain-Feingold Untouched

Sen. Russ Feingold | Posted 06.26.2008 | Politics

Read More: Corruption, Russ Feingold, John McCain, Campaign Finance Reform, Soft Money, Mccain-Feingold, Campaign Finance, Politics News
Sen. Russ Feingold

Today's decision on the millionaire's amendment left the core of the McCain-Feingold law intact, and that's good news for everyone who cares about stamping out corruption in government.

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Today's Supreme Court Campaign Finance Decision is Bad News for Corporate Spending Limits and Public Financing Plans

Rick Hasen | Posted 06.26.2008 | Politics

Read More: Supreme Court, Campaign Financing, Public Financing, Campaign Finance Reform, Supreme Court Campaign Finance, Politics News
Rick Hasen

Today's opinion in FEC v. Davis nominally deals with a relatively tangential portion of McCain-Feingold, but it could lay the groundwork for striking down limits on spending by corporations and unions.

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McCain's Campaign Funding Hypocrisy: Why Are the Media Looking the Other Way?

Arianna Huffington | Posted 06.23.2008 | Politics

Read More: Election Reform, John McCain, Campaign Finance Reform, Obama McCain, Media Coverage of 2008 Election, 2008 Campaign, Obama Public Financing, Public Financing, Barack Obama, Campaign Finance, Politics News
Arianna Huffington

Amidst all the attacks on Obama's public funding "flip-flop," how much have you read in the old media about the fact that McCain has completely reversed himself on public financing -- and is currently breaking campaign finance law on a daily basis?

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7 Days: A "Democracy Czar" Can Make Up for Obama's Rejection of Public Funding -- w/ Waldman, Huffington, Shrum & Green

Mark Green | Posted 06.22.2008 | Politics

Read More: 7 Days in America, Campaign Finance Reform, Public Financing, Politics News
Mark Green

It will be forgivable that Obama opted out of the public finance system if he appoints a White House "Democracy Czar" to repair the broken presidential system he rejected.

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Gone With The Wind: Has Obama Blown It?

Linda Hansen | Posted 06.22.2008 | Home

Read More: Gop, Public Funding for Elections, 2008 Election, Meet the Press, Iraq, Barack Obama Internet, Lindsey Graham, Small Donors, Barack Obama, Offthebus, 527s, John Kerry, U.S.Security, Baghdad, Shorja Market 2007, Honesty, Campaign Finance Reform, Home News
Linda Hansen

To save his soul, Lindsey Graham jes' could not lay on the self-righteous molasses thick enough: The shame of it! Obama has broken his promise. Somebody stop that man before Lindsey faints dead away!

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Obama, Money, and a Campaign Finance Proposal

Bob Ostertag | Posted 06.20.2008 | Politics

Read More: 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Campaign Finance, 2008 Presidential Race, Campaign Finance Reform, Obama Telecom Immunity, Obama FISA, Obama Fundraising, Public Financing, Telecom Immunity, Politics News
Bob Ostertag

Obama is raising more money via the Internet in small donations than any candidate in history. Hooray! But it is just as true that he is raising more money from fat cat donations than any candidate in history.

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McCain Friendly Charity Keeps Donor List Secret

The Swamp | Posted 06.18.2008 | Politics

Read More: Non-Profit Foundations, John McCain, Rick Davis Reform Institute, Reform Institute, 2008 Campaign, Mccain, Soft Money, McCain Supporters, Campaign Finance Reform, Campaign Finance, Politics News

In 2001, John McCain helped found a northern Virginia think tank that has frequently taken policy positions that dovetail with his and provided payche...

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John McCain: The Second Coming of Bob Dole

Arianna Huffington | Posted 06.16.2008 | Politics

Read More: John McCain, McCain Economy, Lobbyists, Straight Talk Express, John McCain Guantanamo, Guantanamo Detainees, Guantanamo, John McCain Lobbyist, McCain's Cronies, 2008 Election, McCain Iraq, Habeas Corpus, McCain Maverick, Election Reform, John McCain 2008, Campaign Finance Reform, McCain Old, McCain Lobbyists, Media Coverage of 2008 Election, Dole McCain, Bob Dole, Old, Iraq, McCain Media, Politics News
Arianna Huffington

We once again have a Republican nominee who is a war hero, personable and engaging, with a long Senate career, who is so out of sync with the times that his campaign feels stillborn. It's Doleja vu all over again.

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What Happened to McCain the Reformer?

John McQuaid | Posted 06.13.2008 | Politics

Read More: Iraq War, Social Security, Hurricane Katrina, John McCain, Campaign Finance Reform, 2008 Presidential Race, Politics News
John McQuaid

If you're John McCain it shouldn't be hard to come up with a simple, compelling message that is a credible alternative to Obama's. Yet it's not happening.

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How Obama Might Frame His Shift On Public Financing

Thomas de Zengotita | Posted 06.09.2008 | Politics

Read More: Campaign Financing, Barack Obama, Campaign Finance Reform, Campaign Finance, Politics News
Thomas de Zengotita

He should say that the whole point of the public financing legislation was to limit the influence of just such donors, so he is being true to the spirit of that legislation.

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McCain Will Not Change or Reform Washington

David Donnelly | Posted 06.03.2008 | Politics

Read More: Election Reform, Campaign Finance Reform, McCain Reform, Politics News
David Donnelly

John McCain may have a history of supporting campaign finance laws, but he absolutely won't be a reformer in the White House.

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