Go With The Flow
In The Washington Post's "Media Notes" we see that Senator Mitch McConnell from Kentucky gets the most donations from the tobacco industry. Where does this information come from?--"the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that analyzes the influence of money on politics and policy."
Now I have no objection to an organization that keeps track of who gives what to whom. But the idea that this shows the "influence of money on politics and policy" is questionable. Most politicians already have certain stances--based on their party and district or state--and then get donations from people and groups that agree with them and would like to see their positions represented.
I would be intrigued by a study that showed a politician not only showered gifts on the people who support him, but also that he supported certain people only after they showered gifts on him.
posted by LAGuy @ 12:14 AM
3 Comments:
Ah but gifts are often promised or implied in advance of action so the chronological investigation of receipt and vote would not necessarily tell you much.
Of course congressmen arrive at their opinions for plenty of reasons and causes/industries give money for reasons more subtle than simple vote buying and leverage (ie they want to support whoever is helping them and keep them in office). That being said, it is very helpful to know who gets money from what sources.
Another interesting study would be looking at "non-core" issues- things presumably an elected official did not run on or express strong beliefs about (however that could be measured) and look at money contributions from the interests that benefit directly (flagpole manufacturers, bat guano farmers etc...) I tend to think the venal aspects of contributions that CRP worries about would be more apparentthere.
I understand the point anon is making, but I would counter that there are so many potential sources of funds in the world today, almost always on at least bith sides of any issue, that I doubt politicians are frequently influenced to support positions they wouldn't already support given their natural inclinations. Lobbyists may bring to a politicians attention an issue that he or she was not aware of, say the plight of bat guano farmers. But if the politician was already generally in support of farmers from his or her district, the support given is not something that was "bought" even if the bat guano farmers subsequently, or even in advance provide a campaign donation.
I think concern over "money in politics" is vastly over stated. I do think it is a waste of money - but it keep a lot of advertising agencies and media outlets flush, so I guess that is a positive. And it goes without saying that we are only talking about campaign contributions made above board and fully disclosed (in contrast to cash stashed in a freezer which likely was not ever going to be spent on a campaign).
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