Quote of the Day
<big>"In my view, the suggestion [by Judge Sotomayor] that [campaign]
contributions are tantamount to
bribery should offend anyone who’s ever contributed to a political
campaign — including the millions of Americans who donated money in
small and large amounts to the Presidential campaign of the man who
nominated Judge Sotomayor to the Supreme Court."</big><br>
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Sen. Mitch McConnell (Rep, KY) in a <a href="http://mcconnell.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=315497&start=1" target="”_blank”">press
release</a> yesterday. Sotomayor, like others who support campaign
finance reform, do not equate small campaign contributions with
bribery. In fact, a principal goal of campaign finance reform,
especially public financing, is to make small campaign contributions
more valuable to candidates. Small contributors give because they
believe in a candidate. Many large contributors give because they want
something from a candidate. To confuse the two, as Sen. McConnell did
yesterday, is a devious, desperate attack on campaign finance reform
and Judge Sotomayor, and an irresponsible use of the free speech that
Sen. McConnell says he cherishes. [Disclosure: Besides my work with
City Ethics, I administer a public campaign financing program in New
Haven, CT.]<br>
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