To the editor:
Dave Cooper provides an unusually frank and honest account of the difficulties of promoting taxpayer-funded political campaigns. This refreshing honesty doesn’t change the fact, however, that these schemes don’t work and aren’t needed even if they did.
First, he dramatically mischaracterizes modern-day fund raising. Candidates don’t get on the phone and ask, “What do you want?” to big oil or pharmaceutical CEOs.
It apparently escapes his attention that many people in America think that oil and pharmaceuticals are important industries, and we shouldn’t be choking them with unneeded regulations and taxes.
Mr. Cooper may disagree with those folks, but nevertheless such people do exist and are often found in sufficient numbers to elect members of Congress who share their perspective.
Second, candidates don’t spend 80 percent of their time fund raising, or anything near it. Dramatic exaggeration may be useful in some areas, but public policy discussions are not among them.
Third, such programs do not work. The so-called “special interests” that are presumably distorting politics in Mr. Cooper’s view simply assist their favored candidates to qualify for taxpayer funds, leaving them just as grateful to them as if they had simply given them a contribution.
Money is important in politics, and limiting the amount of money means limiting political speech. Mr. Cooper mentions the Vietnam War as something that grassroots efforts helped stop, but neglects to mention that President Johnson was forced to abandon his re-election campaign because of the candidacy of Gene McCarthy — a candidacy that was funded by a handful of enormously wealthy liberals writing half-million dollar checks.
There is a reason these “clean election” schemes are difficult to sell, because many people instinctively understand that they don’t want their tax dollars being diverted to fund campaign ads and political consultants, particularly for candidates they oppose. Mr. Cooper should learn more on this topic before pressing ahead with a “realistic strategy for change.”
Sean Parnell
President Center for Competitive Politics www.campaignfreedom.org [email protected]
