What did all that money buy? An argument for campaign finance reform

            This election cycle was the most expensive in history.  Candidates, Super Pacs, and political parties spent around $6 billion on federal, state, and local elections.  The Obama and Romney campaigns spent a little under $2 billion dollars combined.  In the post-Citizen’s United era the media-political industrial complex flourishes like never before.  A majority of the spending bought TV ad space, especially in the swing states.  I spent one weekend down in Miami and I saw political ads every commercial break.  300,000+ ads aired in Ohio alone.  And yet what did all this money by?

            Sheldon Adelson, the godfather of Newt Gingrich’s campaign and single largest donor in the 2012 election, spent over $50 million.  And what does he have to show for it?  Every candidate he backed at the state level lost, except one (I believe he lost 9/10) and Sheldon contributed $20 million to the failed primary campaign of Newt.  Too many $50 million is more than we will make over many lifetimes, but it is pocket change to Sheldon.  He stated he would spend over $100 million to defeat President Obama, so by his standards he went cheap this election cycle. 

            Karl Rove was another grand spender of this election cycle.  He planned to defeat President Obama and win back the Senate for Republicans via Crossroads GPS and American Crossroads.  These groups spent over $300 million combined!  And once again I ask, what do they have to show for it?  Democrats actually gained seats in the Senate and by any metric Karl Rove, Crossroads GPS, and American Crossroads were failures. 

            So what did we learn from this election?  Money cannot buy victories?  The consequences of Citizen’s United and unlimited political contributions by corporations and unions were overstated?  Some people are making that exact argument; that this election cycle shows we don’t have to worry about campaign finance reform and political spending. 

            However, if this election has shown anything, it is that individuals and corporations will spend exponentially large amounts of money to help the candidates they support.  And it just so happens that the most fervent contributors also possess the most extreme views.  As Democrats and Republicans have moved to the radical left and right, the last thing we need are more extreme candidates. 

            Today it is way too easy for a Karl Rove or a Sheldon Adelson to fund a campaign against a candidate he does not agree with; or for Grover Norquist and American’s for Tax Reform to fund a challenger to a Republican Congressman who did not sign the Taxpayer Protection Pledge to not raise taxes - under any circumstances!  

            These are not the candidates America needs.  We need more moderate, bipartisan candidates, and not for far left / far right candidates who refuse to compromise.  And we need 3^rd party candidates who have real chances at winning elections.  So until I start to see billions of dollars spent on independent campaigns, I will argue against Citizen’s United and for campaign finance reform. 

            The real loser’s in the post Citizen’s United era are the American people because more political spending leads to more extreme candidates, which leads to less compromise and governance, which leads to more cynicism and punditry in the media, which leads to more political spending by radical individuals.  

The election is over!! Now what happens...

            The election is over!! Thank God!! If I saw one more ridiculous political ad on TV I might have puked.  This long, bitter campaign feels like it took forever.  Obama and Romney were campaigning since the 2010 midterm elections, if not earlier.  And people wonder why our Congress and government get nothing done?  In England candidates for Prime Minister campaign for 6 weeks and in France Presidential hopefuls campaign for 3 weeks.  Unfortunately that is not how things work in the United States.  Our media thrives with prolonged campaigns.  Just imagine what they would talk about on Fox News or MSNBC if our campaigns were only a few weeks! (Heaven forbid they focus on real news and informing the electorate rather than fear-mongering and partisan politics.)  Imagine what our leaders in Congress could get done if they didn’t have to focus so much time on fundraising and getting reelected. 

            Luckily for the American people the campaigns are over and the elections finalized.  Now we can finally focus on solving America’s problems.  Now is the time to put aside partisan politics.  Now is the time for the sacrifices and reforms that America needs.  And now is the time for Congress to give us a plan for the future, to lift the uncertainty of the fiscal cliff, and to allow our economy to flourish! 

            The election night rhetoric sounded promising.  Mitt Romney urged his supporters and party to work with the Democrats.  Barack Obama spoke not of red states or blue states, but of the United States.  Harry Reid offered his support to work together with Republicans in the Senate.  John Boehner said we must raise the bar and offered the President his help in garnering Republican support for increasing revenues as long as Democrats are willing to decrease spending and reform entitlements.  It seems like a grand bargain is coming after all!

            But all this sounds familiar to the 2011 debt ceiling debacle that created the fiscal cliff.  We hope this time ends with real reform rather than childish finger pointing.  So what did this election change you may ask?  Well not much to be honest.  President Obama was reelected, Democrats still control the Senate, and Republicans maintained their majority in the House.  This was a status quo election; even though, almost every American isn’t happy with the status quo. 

            My hope is that the message has been sent to our government.  They must do something to solve all the issues our great nation faces.  As I have stated before, the only thing holding back the United States is Washington.  I believe the economy is ready to take off.  Corporations have the cash and the desire to spend and hire, and they just need a plan.  Look at any consumer or housing index and you see that the American people are regaining their confident in the economy.

            So the ball is in your court Mr. President, Senator Reid, Speaker Boehner, and all of our elected representatives in Washington.  I urge you to listen to the people of our nation and put aside ideology and politics.  Put aside egos and agendas.  Put America first and work together to help us prosper once again!

The Importance of Voting

            The American people will vote tomorrow, but the election is far from over.  From what I have read the Obama and Romney teams are gearing up for a post-election legal battle.  I think this election will be eerily similar to the 2000 election debacle.  A lawsuit has already been brought against the state of Florida for halving the early voting time (from 14 days to 8 days) and the extremely long lines in heavily democratic counties.  In Ohio there is controversy over Secretary of State Jon Husted’s decision on provisional ballots.  Husted shifted the burden of recording the form of ID on provisional ballots from the poll worker to the voter.  This could potentially put in jeopardy thousands of votes.  As a result voting-rights advocates filed an emergency motion with a federal judge in Ohio.  So what does this all mean?  It means the results of the Ohio electorate can spend weeks or months in court.  Similar to Florida in 2000, each side will fight for recounts, for their votes to count, and for their opponents votes to be disqualified. 

            Besides making the 2012 election a debacle, and once again making American democracy a global spectacle, there is another issue at hand.  From voter ID laws to shortening early voting time to controversy over ballots, there is an attempt to limit the size and scope of the American electorate.  A smaller, less diverse electorate will directly benefit the GOP.  The Republicans have been losing the race with America’s fasting growing demographics and they know it. 

            It is no surprise that Republic Governor of Florida, Rick Scott, has fought to decrease early voting by a week, or that numerous Red states have fought for stricter voter ID laws.  Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Mike Turzai planned on using strict voter ID laws as a strategy to help Mitt Romney win his state.  He explicitly stated that voter ID would allow Governor Romney to win Pennsylvania.  Luckily for US, our system has worked and numerous judges struck down that law and others throughout the nation.  The judges argued that the laws inhibit the elderly, the poor, and minorities (usually democratic voters) from exercising their right to vote.  

            The problem I have with the GOP is they succeed when Americans are denied their right to vote.  The ironic part is that I believe most Americans are moderate Republicans (socially liberal, fiscally conservative, advocates of small government).  The message of the GOP has gone so far right that they alienated large groups of Americans.  Now I truly believe Mitt Romney is a moderate Republican, which is why I contemplated voting for him, but it is unfortunate that he had to feign being a conservative to win the primary.  But that issue is for another day. 

            The United States of America is supposed to be the bastion of democracy in the world.  Millions have died for rights that many of us take for granted.  Just take a look at Syria and Libya and see how people will give their lives for democracy.  Unfortunately, many institutions in the US have misplaced their attention.  Both parties should work to make sure every single eligible voter participates in elections because only when we practice what we preach will the United States be legitimate in promoting democracy around the world.  To try to prevent individuals from voting is the most Un-American thing one can do. 

            And to reiterate that point, it is the responsibility of every American who can vote to do so.  We owe it to everyone who died, is dying, and will die for the right to choose his or her government.  I can’t stand it when people say, “I’m not voting, the system won’t change,” or “voting is a waste of time.”  We take voting for granted, just like any other freedom, because we have never lived without it, but ask anyone who cannot vote how important they think it is.  So whether you vote for Obama or Romney or any other candidate all that matters is that you vote!  If you don’t like the current system then vote for 3^rd party candidates.  No vote is ever wasted so get out and make your voice heard! 

             

The Final Debate

            Debate season is finally over!  Feel relived?  I wasn’t sure if the candidates could handle anymore!  The debates covered topics ranging from Obamacare, to China, to gun policy, but did anyone else notice the lack of tough questions?  The Romney and Obama teams made sure no moderator was going to throw either candidate a curve ball.  From Obama’s first debate to Romney last night, we can see that these candidates rehearse and plan their answers.  Don’t seem too combative!  Don’t say anything stupid!  No gaffes here!

            Unfortunately for the America people, when candidates are not asked tough questions we don’t hear the answers we need.  I couldn’t help but notice the lack of discussions on two of the most important issues we face today as a country: the fiscal cliff and the lack of bipartisan leadership.  Oh I’m sure they where both mentioned in passing.  The last two minutes of the first debate was even dedicated to the topic.  However, if it were up to me I would have a debate solely on these two issues because they explain what is wrong with our government today.  Our current government is compromised of two parties who refuse to work together and solve our nations problems.  As seen with the fiscal cliff, Democrats and Republicans have been kicking the can down the road for decades.  Whether the issue is healthcare, financial reform, immigration, or social security, both parties only seem to point fingers and pass blame.  This complete and utter lack of governance has forced the United States to the brink of decline and we need to resolve this.  Without both parties working together for the benefit of America and not democrats or republicans, we will not solve any of our problems.

            The most important question facing our next president is “What will you do to work with the other side and lead our great nation?”  I voted for Obama in 2008 because I thought he would be able to lead us.  Hope and Change resonated with me. President Obama admitted you cannot change Washington from within.  However, Obama could have been a better leader.  The reason I am not as fired up as I was in 2008 is because Obama has changed.  He stopped reaching out to us, talking to us, telling us what he was doing.  I am not on the Romney bandwagon either because I think Romney will work for his donors rather than the American people.

            One of my favorites President’s ever was FDR.  In high school, I learned about FDR’s fireside chats.  I found his leadership amazing.  Every week FDR got on the radio and talked to the American people.  It was FDR and not the media who shaped the narrative of our great nation.  Today too much talk comes from Fox News and MSNBC and not enough from our President and leaders. 

            With that said, welcome to purple-state politics.  A blog based on independent, centrist views.  American needs to break away from this red / blue divide and realize we need to work together to succeed.  With help we can begin to create more purple states with government that leads rather than bickers.  These states will be based on what is best for the nation and not for each individual party.  I believe I am in the majority as a fiscal conservative and social liberal.  It is time for us to stand up and make our voice heard!