| Money-Go-Round |
7 July 2003
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Money Race Drowns out Issues
Last week, the nine Democratic presidential hopefuls had to report the results of their fund raising efforts for the second quarter. Howard Dean of Vermont raked in the most with $7.5 million, Senator John Kerrey of Massachusetts finished second with about $6 million, and Congressman Richard Gephardt of Missouri $4+ million was good enough to take the bronze. Meanwhile, President Bush streaked into New York after a couple of Florida events and raised more in the week than Mr. Dean has all year. Pity the campaign is about money not issues.
Much of the blame for this lies with the media. Reporters who understand politics and the issues of the times are relatively few. Handcuff them with an ethos that believes objectivity is possible, and the result is a rush to report that which can be quantified: money, votes, polling results.
Some of the blame lies with the candidates. Watching Mr. Dean squirm around the edges of the death penalty debate on Sunday morning TV is to see a man who fears to speak his mind because it may cost him votes. Being right is better than being president.
And a portion of the blame lies with the voting public. People actually believe that voting for a candidate in whom they believe is a waste if he or she "has no chance to win." Iraq recently held an election where Saddam Hussein carried 100% of the votes -- everyone voted for a winner. What a positive experience for their self-esteem. If the voters want a campaign about issues, they simply have to vote for candidates based on principles, not perceived popularity.
Meanwhile, the money-go-round continues spinning -- and absent any real discussion of the issues, the Republican war chest, undepleted by primary fights, will be bursting with donations in the months before the convention. The bad news is that the presidency may be for sale -- the good news is it will command a $200 million price at auction. At least, it isn't going cheap.