Published: July 01, 2008 01:00 am            

OUR VIEW: Cases underscore campaign financing needs

There have been some interesting things doing in the federal election season already and it would behoove local voters to take note.

First was a Supreme Court ruling on a lawsuit brought by local congressional candidate Jack Davis, that struck down a provision of the McCain Feingold campaign finance reform law that allows candidates facing wealthy opponents to raise more money from individuals.

It’s a complicated decision with pros and cons on both sides. On one hand, the law was intended to stop millionaires from “buying” elections by tapping into vast sums of personal wealth the fund a campaign. On the other hand, it raises serious questions about the First Amendment. Aren’t all Americans allowed to spend their money how they see fit?

We offer a cautious nod to the latter. We’re inclined to side with the court’s logic on this — that ultimately, voters will know when they’re being sold a bill of goods. The only people qualified to decide whose money is dirtier, that of the career politician or the self-made millionaire, are the American people.

Davis has tried unsuccessfully twice to beat incumbent Rep. Tom Reynolds, a master fundraiser in his own right, by spending upwards of $4 million of his own money. In spending so much of his own money, Davis allowed Reynolds to take heftier checks from his biggest donors.

Reynolds actually outspent Davis in their second campaign, in part because he was capable of raising more money. Had this law been struck down prior to their tight 2004 race, Davis might be spending time in a different branch of government than the judicial.

Equally newsworthy was the decision by Democratic nominee Barack Obama to forego $80 million in public money in order to raise and spend what most experts predict will be far more on his presidential campaign. The decision smacks of hypocrisy — or at least political realism — because Obama has been on record as supporting public campaign financing.

It was a calculated decision by Obama to take the private money, rather than stand on principle — and a level playing field with John McCain.

In both instances, one thing is clear: The only way to navigate the tricky waters of campaign financing is to mandate public money be spent for all federal general elections. It’s long overdue. Rather than parse the unending and frequently unclear individual issues, the nation needs to take a new path.

It is in everyone’s best interest to keep the special interests out of the money equation in politics.

        

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