Feingold Uses Campaign Finance Deform

The great crusader for his infamous campaign finance reform deform has created his own little PAC with its own big money contributions in an apparent race for President.

As of Feb. 28, the latest report on file, Feingold's PAC had raised $57,000 from about two dozen contributions, most from Florida and New York. Although the March report is not due until April 15, Feingold's campaign manager, George Aldrich, said it will show the PAC has raised about $100,000 through March 31.

He [Fiengold] argued that the contributions are limited in a way that does not "corrupt" the political process, and are used to support progressive causes, not "big-monied" interests.

Contributions under $100 are normally considered "grassroots contributions" whereas those over that amount would be considered "big-monied" interests. So far if you look at the contributions, none have been under $100 and many of them have been up to $5,000. Additionally, if you look at who the contributors are, many of them are lawyers and business owners. Since when have lawyers and business owners become exempt from being a "big-monied" interest?

And then there is the first contribution by the PAC to.....Senator Byrd. Yes, that past member of the Ku Klux Klan and staunch obstructionist of the judicial nominees. Not a really great way to show that you're reaching out to the heartland America if you are planning to run for President. But again, his voting record doesn't show a reach out either.

There is nothing illegal with what Feingold is doing. I don't even fault him for doing it. What I do find hypocritical is that while he continues to tout his campaign finance reform deform that has squashed political free speech, he continues to demonstrate that for the savvy, smart, and well pocket lined his little legal traps are easily avoided--they continue to pour in the monies--while those who want to start a grassroots campaign are intimidated and restricted from participation in political speech.

I know. I work with a small grassroots organization that works on local politics and we always are fearful that we will run afoul of the election laws since we don't have anyone, let a lone a horde of lawyers, on our payroll to guide us thru the legal snares.

It appears that one of the stepping stones to the Presidency for Mr. Feingold was to enact his deform so that he would have less opposition from normal citizens and more support from big monies in the ironic twists of campaign finance deform.

Cross posted: Wild Wisconsin