In the quarrelling and accusations following Barack Obama’s decision to forego a spending earmark to run his presidential campaign – a correct decision apparently undertaken for all the wrong reasons – both major party candidates seem determined to make one thing clear – this election is not about you, your hopes, your ambitions, your desires for government policy. No, this election is all about them, and their plans for you.
How wonderful would it have been had Senator Obama, in choosing to finance his campaign with voluntary contributions rather than a taxpayer funded budget earmark, announced, "I am honored that so many Americans want to join our campaign. Nothing is more American than taking concrete steps to support the political candidate of one’s choice. We should celebrate the fact that so many Americans, black and white, young and old, from north and south, from east and west, Democrats, independents, and yes, even a whole lot of Republicans, want to make their voice heard. These supporters don’t intend to corrupt me, and I am not corrupted by their support. And at a time when budgetary earmarks have gotten out of control, there is no reason that your taxes should pay for what millions of Americans will pay for voluntarily."
But what Obama actually said was that he believes that campaign contributions are corrupting, except that his donors, and he, are somehow different – uncorruptable, unlike the rest of you slobs out there. Moreover, Obama wanted to take tax money, it appears, but not if the rest of us were still allowed to speak. According to press reports, Obama and McCain failed to reach an agreement to take the tax subsidy because, "they could not agree on how to limit spending by the campaigns and outside groups heading into the late summer party conventions." In other words, they could not figure out a way to shut you up.
McCain’s camp made equally clear the contempt it has for voter participation in campaigns: “[Senator McCain] wishes that 527s did not exist on either side,” said McCain strategist Steve Schmidt. "[McCain] abhors these groups,” added John Weaver, the Arizona senator’s former chief strategist. Damn citizens, talking about things the candidates don’t want to talk about!
What kind of campaign is it, when the two leading candidates seem to be working tirelessly to keep the public on the sidelines? What does it mean when the two leading candidates think that the voices of citizens interfere with their campaigns – their plans to tell America what is good for them?
Remember that this fall – this election isn’t about you – it’s about them. And remember that when someone – McCain, Obama, Democracy 21, Common Cause, whomever – says we need more "campaign finance reform." It isn’t about making you heard, it’s about making them heard.
