Spring Break
Cash-driven campaigns
Some donations come with strings attached
Jon Dougherty
Issue date: 10/21/08 Section: Opinion
This weekend, Sen. Barack Obama's campaign announced its fundraising totals for the month of September. With contributions from over three million donors, the Obama campaign scraped together $150 million, devastating all previous records.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of an eventful campaign is the amount of money raised and spent in pursuit of the Oval Office. Earlier this year, hopefuls Hillary Clinton and John Edwards both broke the previous quarterly fundraising records, posting figures of $26 million and $14 million, respectively. Those numbers now seem miniscule in comparison to the dollars Obama is putting away (John McCain has opted for federal funding during the general election). Projections of the final campaign tally for national and state office this year total somewhere in the billions.
When contemplating the effect of all this money, you have to wonder: What are the people who are giving getting in return for their hard-earned dollars? Do we really believe that over one billion dollars are given without any expectation of return?
Common sense says no. Despite the inclusion of millions of small donors, many are acting at the directive of larger organizations, all of which expect to see some return on their political investment.
Distribution of one's message, the key to electoral success, is now dominated by communications technology. Market forces demand cash to gain access. When a candidate gains the upper hand with the ability to drive home the message, races become less competitive. For these reasons the stakes of national or state campaigns are the highest.
It concerns me that political success has become so tied to cash access. It seems that once in power, those who have benefited from generous donations will have to show their patrons undue favor as they carry out the duties of their positions. Legislative action, statute enforcement, and favorable policies often seem to follow for those who help the winners win.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of an eventful campaign is the amount of money raised and spent in pursuit of the Oval Office. Earlier this year, hopefuls Hillary Clinton and John Edwards both broke the previous quarterly fundraising records, posting figures of $26 million and $14 million, respectively. Those numbers now seem miniscule in comparison to the dollars Obama is putting away (John McCain has opted for federal funding during the general election). Projections of the final campaign tally for national and state office this year total somewhere in the billions.
When contemplating the effect of all this money, you have to wonder: What are the people who are giving getting in return for their hard-earned dollars? Do we really believe that over one billion dollars are given without any expectation of return?
Common sense says no. Despite the inclusion of millions of small donors, many are acting at the directive of larger organizations, all of which expect to see some return on their political investment.
Distribution of one's message, the key to electoral success, is now dominated by communications technology. Market forces demand cash to gain access. When a candidate gains the upper hand with the ability to drive home the message, races become less competitive. For these reasons the stakes of national or state campaigns are the highest.
It concerns me that political success has become so tied to cash access. It seems that once in power, those who have benefited from generous donations will have to show their patrons undue favor as they carry out the duties of their positions. Legislative action, statute enforcement, and favorable policies often seem to follow for those who help the winners win.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Curmilus Dancy II
posted 10/21/08 @ 11:37 PM EST
I love it Senator Barack Obama has taken the campaign process to another level. One thing I can say is that the integrity exist within his campaign. I also can say that he has taken technology to the next level. (Continued…)
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