The Moderate Voice - Latest Comments in Buying Votes

Re: Buying Votes

kritt11 — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 09:57:48 -0000

Greendreams- That is one of Obama's most appealing qualities. My biggest gripe with the GOP (besides rubberstamping Bush policies and appointees) has been their willingness to back industrial interests over consumers at every opportunity. They are forced to do this because their voting patterns do not benefit the average citizen---which is why their donations from individual donors are way down.

Re: Buying Votes

GreenDreams — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:28:40 -0000

MSNBC reports half of Obama's take is from one million plus individuals giving average $50 donations, half from donations of $1k-2.3k

Re: Buying Votes

pacatrue — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:16:31 -0000

Veiling the donation is interesting. Is it completely antithetical to the idea of sunshine reform in which we at least know which donors the politician is in the pocket of? I can't make them work together. I also can't see how veiling donations could possibly work with fund raising, in which the fund raisers primary goal is to build a personal relationship between the donor and the cause to be supported.

This is sort of an aside, but Bush became almost legendary in his first 4 years by being able to hold dinners at $1000 a plate and packing the house. This had always been done by both parties, but the RNC became kings of it for some time. I assume Obama must do the same, but does he? Or is it almost all through the internet for him? Anyone know?

Re: Buying Votes

PaulSilver — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:27:53 -0000

Veiling the source of the funds would require the cooperation of the donators to work? Right?

The idea is that a donor can give money to a candidate who they support, but the candidate would not know who gave them the money. I imagine that a donor could simply write a note saying "Hey Bob I just donated $10,000 to you". Perhaps the escrow agent could release the funds in such a way that the link to the donor is harder to make.

This is not my favorite remedy but I find it valuable to consider all the angles. My favorite so far is Public Financing in proportion to the number of small donors a candidate can attract, along with funds to match third party campaigns. With the Source of the funds mostly from the Media industry who are ultimately the main recipients of the campaign expenditures.

Re: Buying Votes

DLS — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:02:40 -0000

We already know McCain-Renzi wasn't going to happen this year. [grin]

Re: Buying Votes

ChrisWWW — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:35:17 -0000

Veiling the source of the funds would require the cooperation of the donators to work? Right?