Image: prisoners being held my masked gunmen
Text: "ISIS executes more Christians in Libya"
Voiceover: "How did Libya get so bad?"
Image: Hillary Clinton speaking
Text: "The main architect of US Libya policy"
Voiceover: "Responsible for a disaster; more threats; more war"
Hillary in testimony: "I was responsible."
Text: "Hillary Clinton: At least her RECORD doesn't lie"
Click for Hillary Clinton on other issues.
Source: OnTheIssues FactCheck on 2015 ABC/WMUR Dem. debate in N.H.
Bernie Sanders on Health Care
: Dec 19, 2015
We spend more on care than countries with single-payer
Not only are deductibles rising, 29 million still have no health insurance and millions can't afford to go to the doctor.. Why is it that the US is the only major country on earth that does not guarantee health care to all people? This ties into
campaign finance reform. The insurance companies, the drug companies are bribing the s Congress. We need to pass a Medicare for all single payer system. It will lower the cost of health care for a middle-class family by thousands of dollars a year.
Click for Bernie Sanders on other issues.
Source: 2015 ABC/WMUR Democratic primary debate in N.H.
Donald Trump on Government Reform
: Oct 25, 2015
Candidates should disavow PACs
I have disavowed all PACs. I had many people setting up PACs for me and we sent letters last week saying we don't want their money. I mean, we respect them, we love them,
assuming it's all on the up and up, because I don't know these people who run PACs, I don't know what they do with everything. We disavowed all PACs, every one of them.
Click for Donald Trump on other issues.
Source: CBS Face the Nation 2015 interview by Bob Schieffer
Bernie Sanders on Budget & Economy
: Oct 13, 2015
Almost all new wealth goes to the top 1%
I think most Americans understand that our country today faces a series of unprecedented crises. The middle class of this country for the last 40 years has been disappearing. Millions of Americans are working longer hours for lower wages, and yet almost
all of the new income and wealth being created is going to the top one percent.Millionaires and billionaires are pouring unbelievable sums of money into the political process in order to fund super PACs and to elect candidates who represent their
interests, not the interests of working people. What this campaign is about is whether we can mobilize our people to take back our government from a handful of billionaires and create the vibrant democracy we know we can and should have.
It is
immoral and wrong that the top 1/10 of 1% in this country own almost 90 percent--almost--own almost as much wealth as the bottom 90 percent. That it is wrong, today, in a rigged economy, that 57% of all new income is going to the top 1%.
Click for Bernie Sanders on other issues.
Source: 2015 CNN Democratic primary debate in Las Vegas
Bernie Sanders on Energy & Oil
: Oct 13, 2015
Climate change is a moral issue: tax on carbon
Pope Francis made this point. This [climate change] is a moral issue. The scientists are telling us we need to move boldly. I am proud that, along with Senator Boxer, a few years ago, we introduced the first piece of climate change legislation which
called for a tax on carbon. Nothing is gonna happen unless we [deal] with campaign finance reform, because the fossil fuel industry is funding the Republican Party, which denies the reality of climate change. The future of the planet is at stake.
Click for Bernie Sanders on other issues.
Source: 2015 CNN Democratic primary debate in Las Vegas
Bernie Sanders on Government Reform
: Oct 13, 2015
Citizens United means billionaires donate for THEIR interest
As a result of this disastrous Citizens United Supreme Court decision, our campaign finance system is corrupt and is undermining American democracy. Millionaires and billionaires are pouring unbelievable sums of money into the political process in order
to fund super PACs and to elect candidates who represent their interests, not the interests of working people.
Click for Bernie Sanders on other issues.
Source: 2015 CNN Democratic primary debate in Las Vegas
Bernie Sanders on Principles & Values
: Oct 13, 2015
I do not have a Super PAC nor raise money from billionaires
I think that there is profound frustration all over this country with establishment politics. I am the only candidate running for president who is not a billionaire, who has raised substantial sums of money, and I do not have a super PAC. I am not
raising money from millionaires and billionaires, and in fact, tonight, in terms of what a political revolution is about, there are 4,000 house parties--100,000 people in this country--watching this debate tonight who want real change in this country.
Click for Bernie Sanders on other issues.
Source: 2015 CNN Democratic primary debate in Las Vegas
Donald Trump on Tax Reform
: Sep 25, 2015
OpEd AdWatch: Trump more liberal on taxes than Democrats
A lawyer for Donald Trump fired off a letter to the conservative Club for Growth threatening a `multi-million dollar lawsuit` if the group does not pull its TV ad claiming Trump `supports higher taxes.` Trump's lawyer says the claim is false & libelous.
Club for Growth Action, the super PAC of the anti-tax group, says it is merely exposing Trump's `very liberal` record. So who is right?The ad, called `Politician,` begins by showing images of Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and
Hillary Clinton and asks which presidential candidate supports higher taxes. `It's Donald Trump,` the narrator says.
Asked for backup, the Club for Growth referred us to a Feb. 15, 2000, article in The Advocate in which
Trump states, `My plan to impose a onetime net worth tax of 14.25% on the super-wealthy, when combined with our current projected surpluses, will raise enough to pay off the national debt.` But Trump isn't advocating anything like that in 2015.
Click for Donald Trump on other issues.
Source: FactCheck.org AdWatch on 2016 presidential hopefuls
Bernie Sanders on Corporations
: Aug 30, 2015
Wall Street business model is a fraud & led us to recession
Q: You said that the same old, same old cannot win.SANDERS: People do not understand why the middle class of this country is collapsing at the same time as almost all of the new income and wealth is going to the top 1%. People do not like the idea
that, as a result of Citizens United, our campaign finance system has become corrupt and politicians are dependent upon super PACs and billionaires for money. People want us to deal with climate change, make college affordable.
Those are the issues I have been talking about.
Q: You also talk about taking on the billionaire class. Give us some specifics.
SANDERS: I think that the business model of Wall Street is fraud. And I think these guys drove us into the worst economic
downturn into the modern history of America. I think they're at it again. I believe that, when you have so few banks with so much power, you have to not only reestablish Glass-Steagall, but you have got to break them up.
Click for Bernie Sanders on other issues.
Source: CNN SOTU 2015 interview series: 2016 presidential hopefuls
Bernie Sanders on Government Reform
: Apr 30, 2015
Constitutional amendment to reverse Citizen United ruling
On Campaign finance: Limit corporate and interest-group spending in campaigns.Sanders proposes a Constitutional amendment that would effectively reverse the Supreme Court's Citizen United ruling and ban corporations
and nonprofits from unlimited campaign expenditures. The independent senator would also require disclosure of any organizations spending $10,000 or more on an election-related campaign.
Click for Bernie Sanders on other issues.
Source: PBS News Hour "2016 Candidate Stands" series
Mike Pence on Government Reform
: Apr 1, 2015
Campaign finance reform is on the road to political serfdom
Mike Pence voted against the McCain-Feingold Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act; declared theÿCitizens Unitedÿruling a "major victory." Pence joined Sen. Mitch McConnell's legal challenge to McCain-Feingold and attached a rider to Justice Department
funding that would have prevented DoJ from enforcing McCain-Feingold's ban on electioneering communication spending.ÿ He said, "We are on the road to serfdom in American politics with campaign-finance reform."
Click for Mike Pence on other issues.
Source: EndCitizensUnited.org on 2016 Veepstakes
Hillary Clinton on Government Reform
: Jul 21, 2014
Consider Constitutional Amendment against Citizen's United
While eying a potential presidential run that would surely be boosted by deep-pocketed super PACs, Hillary Clinton said that she's open to supporting a constitutional amendment to overturn the
Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, which opened the door to the outside groups and the flood of money that poured into the political process with them:
"I would consider supporting an amendment among these lines that would prevent the abuse of our political system by excessive amounts of money if there is no other way to deal with the Citizen's United decision,"
she said in response to a question on the measure.
Click for Hillary Clinton on other issues.
Source: Alex Seitz-Wald on MSNBC, "Citizens United" on 2012 election
Cory Booker on Abortion
: Sep 1, 2013
No restrictions before viability; exceptions after viability
Cory Booker supports a woman's right to choose, according to his campaign website. But to hear a conservative group's ad tell it, Booker supports much more than choice.The American Commitment Action Fund, a conservative PAC behind the BookerFAIL
website, funded a new ad that claims Booker condones abortion at any stage of pregnancy and without restrictions. "He supports late-term and partial-birth abortion and opposes safety regulations," the ad states.
We checked with the Booker campaign. "We can all agree that we want to prevent unintended pregnancies, and therefore the need for abortion," a spokesman said. "Mayor Booker supports Roe v Wade, which allows women the right to choose up to the
point of viability."
As for late-term and partial-birth abortions? "Cory Booker does not oppose restrictions on post-viability abortions if exceptions are made for the health and the life of the mother," the spokesman said.
Click for Cory Booker on other issues.
Source: Politifact.com FactCheck on 2014 New Jersey Senate race
John Hickenlooper on Drugs
: Jan 10, 2013
Now it's legal, but keep marijuana out of the reach of kids
Now it's legal, but keep marijuana out of the reach of kids
Some other amendments passed in November... one on federal campaign finance reform... and another, for the life of me I can't remember the third one. Oh yeah, Amendment 64. [legalizing medical marijuana].
Now it's legal, but keep marijuana out of the reach of kids
We need to expand our DUI law to keep our highways safe from those driving while impaired, and we must put in place consumer and
Click for John Hickenlooper on other issues.
Source: 2013 Colorado State of the State address
Eric Swalwell on Government Reform
: Nov 6, 2012
Super PACS buy influence & game our political system
Citizens United: I oppose the recent US Supreme Court decision granting corporations the same first amendment rights to free speech as individuals.
This ruling has opened a floodgate of unlimited corporate campaign contributions to Super PACS who buy influence and have an unfair financial advantage in gaming our political system and winning campaigns.
Click for Eric Swalwell on other issues.
Source: 2012 House campaign website, swalwellforcongress.com
Cory Booker on Government Reform
: Sep 5, 2012
Campaign PAC money shouldn't speak louder than people
Booker tried to distinguish the differences between Democrats and Republicans: "To me no side has a monopoly on good ideas, but when I look at this [2012 GOP] platform, in many ways it's gotten a lot more extreme than even past Republican platforms and
that's very disturbing to me. But more importantly I want to bring light to that and I want the nation to see, look at the actual policies that each of these parties stand for and decide which you want," Booker said. "Take campaign finance reform--
for crying out loud, I mean this is incredible. This platform says pull back even more of the rules on campaign finance reform, get rid of McCain-Feingold," Booker, a co-chair on the Democratic platform committee, said. "This platform says well, wait
a minute, we're out of control right now with all this super PAC money, we want to find a way to put more fair rules on campaign finance reform so that money doesn't speak louder than people. And so that to me is very dramatic."
Click for Cory Booker on other issues.
Source: Politifact.com FactCheck on 2014 New Jersey Senate race
Cory Booker on Welfare & Poverty
: May 7, 2012
2011: Founded PAC to support urban-issue candidates
What does his future hold? Most people assume that he has had his eye on a statewide office. In 2009, early polls suggested that Booker could make a viable candidate for governor in 2013.
In 2011, Booker created a federal political action committee (PAC) to support candidates who supported urban issues.
Many speculated that such a PAC could help Booker launch a US Senate candidacy in the future. Booker ruled out a 2012 candidacy but did not rule out running in 2014.
While Booker is widely liked, he has to prepare for a street fight unlike anything he has ever experienced. The media that love him now will scrutinize him even more closely if he runs for statewide office.
Click for Cory Booker on other issues.
Source: The New Black Politician, by Andra Gillespie, p.228
Mark Sanford on Government Reform
: Jan 20, 2010
End unlimited and undisclosed campaign donations
We now have on-line transparency to allow a taxpayer to see more directly how their money is spent in state government. We found a way to begin on-line disclosure so that citizens could better see where money was coming from and going to in campaigns.
We passed campaign finance reform. It had been vetoed twice during the previous administration, and its passage ended the Wild West practice that allowed unlimited and undisclosed amounts to go to a political party or caucus.
Click for Mark Sanford on other issues.
Source: South Carolina 2010 State of the State Address
Barack Obama on Principles & Values
: Jan 11, 2010
Required email list from every candidate event he attended
Obama revamped his political action committee, Hopefund. The PAC had raised a fair amount of money in 2005, but its email list was paltry. Hopefund could become an embryonic infrastructure for Obama's future ambitions. Obama said, "We need to grow these
lists--at the end of the year, I want to have options."Within Obama's operation, "the options" became a code phrase , a reference to three live possibilities: launching a presidential run, bolstering his stature in the Senate with an eye toward the
VP slot in 2008, or returning to Illinois to run for governor--with a presidential bid so far remaining at the bottom of the option pile.
The scheme revolved around a simple transaction. Every time he did an event for a candidate, Hopefund would requir
the beneficiary to set up a registration system and then turn over the attendees' email address to the PAC.
The was no small thing. As 2006 rolled on, the requests poured in. That added up to a lot of chits, and a lot of email addresses.
Click for Barack Obama on other issues.
Source: Game Change, by Heilemann & Halpern, p. 32
Barack Obama on Government Reform
: Jun 20, 2008
GovWatch: No, McCain & RNC don’t get much money from PACs
Obama announced he would become the first presidential candidate since 1972 to rely totally on private donations for his general election campaign, opting out of the system of public financing and spending limits that was put in place after the Watergate
scandal. One reason, he said, is that “John McCain’s campaign and the Republican National Committee are fueled by contributions from Washington lobbyists and special interest PACs.”We find that to be a large exaggeration and a lame excuse. In fact,
donations from PACs and lobbyists make up less than 1.7% of McCain’s total receipts, and they account for only about 1.1% of the RNC’s receipts.
It’s not our place to comment on Obama’s financial strategy, except to note that it is perfectly legal and
also that McCain and Obama both refused to accept public funds or spending limits during the primary campaign. We also note that Obama’s decision is likely to give him a big financial advantage over McCain in the weeks just before the election.
Click for Barack Obama on other issues.
Source: GovWatch on 2008: Washington Post analysis on 2008 election
Mike Gravel on Government Reform
: Apr 22, 2008
Public taxpayer funding for federal candidates
Gravel supports the following principles regarding campaign finance reform:-
Support public taxpayer funding for federal candidates who comply with campaign spending limits.
- “I support clean campaigns and work to reduce the corrupting influence of money in politics.”
Click for Mike Gravel on other issues.
Source: Presidential Election 2008 Political Courage Test
Jesse Ventura on Government Reform
: Apr 1, 2008
Limit campaign money to one publicly-funded source
I think our elections are fraudulent today simply in how the system operates. Campaign finance "reform", that so-called bipartisan McCain-Feingold bill, is a sham. The 2 parties simply found loopholes and started cheating the very first year.
I cringe when I hear how many millions the 2008 presidential candidates have raised in campaign contributions.
I'm not big on socialism, but maybe it's time we limited the campaign money to one publicly funded source so that every candidate's share is equal.
If that's unconstitutional, then why not remove all limits and go to full disclosure? At least that way, you know who is buying the influence.
Click for Jesse Ventura on other issues.
Source: Don`t Start the Revolution, by Jesse Ventura, p.279-280
Mike Pence on Government Reform
: Feb 8, 2008
Campaign Finance Reform is censorship
The future of conservatism demands that we oppose censorship, whether it takes the form of the so-called Fairness Doctrine or takes the form of Campaign Finance Reform.
Our freedom to speak and listen to who we want when we want is a blood-bought American right. We must not permit the Democrats to bring back the so-called Fairness Doctrine.
Click for Mike Pence on other issues.
Source: Speech at 2008 Conservative Political Action Conference
Barack Obama on Government Reform
: Feb 2, 2008
Shine light on federal contracts, earmarks, & proposed bills
THE PROBLEM- Secrecy Dominates Government Actions: The Bush administration has ignored public disclosure rules and has invoked a legal tool known as the ‘state secrets’ privilege more than any other previous administration.
OBAMA’S PLAN- Shine Light on Washington Lobbying: Create a centralized Internet database of lobbying reports, ethics records, and campaign finance filings.
- Create a Public “Contracts and Influence” Database: Disclose how much
federal contractors spend on lobbying, and what contracts they are getting.
- Sunlight Before Signing:As president, Obama will not sign any non-emergency bill without giving the American public an opportunity to comment online for five days.
- Shine Light on Earmarks and Pork Barrel Spending: Obama’s Transparency and Integrity in Earmarks Act will shed light on all earmarks by disclosing the name of the legislator who asked for each earmark, along with a written justification.
Click for Barack Obama on other issues.
Source: Campaign booklet, “Blueprint for Change”, p. 3-5
Barack Obama on Government Reform
: Feb 2, 2008
Ended corporate jet travel subsidized by lobbyists
THE PROBLEM- Lobbyists Write National Policies: For example, Vice President Dick Cheney’s Energy Task Force of oil and gas lobbyists met secretly to develop national energy policy.
OBAMA’S PLAN-
Support Campaign Finance Reform: Obama supports public financing of campaigns combined with free television and radio time as a way to reduce the influence of moneyed special interests.
OBAMA’S RECORD-
Federal Ethics Reform: Obama and Senator Feingold (D-WI) took on both parties and proposed ethics legislation that was described as the “gold standard” for reform. It was because of their leadership that ending subsidized corporate jet travel,
mandating disclosure of lobbyists’ bundling of contributions, and enacting strong new restrictions of lobbyist-sponsored trips became part of the final ethics bill that was signed into law.
Click for Barack Obama on other issues.
Source: Campaign booklet, “Blueprint for Change”, p. 3-5
Barack Obama on Government Reform
: Jan 21, 2008
Never took money from federal lobbyists or their companies
I don’t take PAC money. I don’t take money from federal lobbyists. I’m not taking money from their companies. It is true that there are employees of all sorts of companies that have given to my campaign because, frankly, I’ve raised a lot of money, and
sometimes in $25, $50, $100 donations. But that does mean that I’ve gotten a bunch of money from drug lobbyists. It’s important to make that distinction. With respect to universal coverage, understand what this debate is about.
This is a legitimate policy debate. I respect the positions that Edwards and Clinton have taken. They have decided that we should mandate coverage for all adults. I believe that the problem--and understand what that means. A mandate means that, in some
fashion, everybody will be forced to buy health insurance. Edwards has been honest that that may mean taking money out of people’s paychecks in order to make sure that they’re covered. Clinton has not been clear about how that mandate would be enforced.
Click for Barack Obama on other issues.
Source: 2008 Congressional Black Caucus Democratic debate
Barack Obama on Government Reform
: Jan 15, 2008
No lobbyist money; no PAC money; fund campaigns instead
I don’t take money from federal lobbyists. I don’t take money from PACs. In reducing special interest lobbying, I alone of the candidates here have actually taken away the power of lobbyists. A law I passed this year says to lobbyists, if you
are taking money from anybody and putting it together and then giving it to a member of Congress, that has to be disclosed. Ultimately what I’d like to see is a system of public financing of campaigns, and I’m a cosponsor of the proposal.
Click for Barack Obama on other issues.
Source: 2008 Democratic debate in Las Vegas
Hillary Clinton on Government Reform
: Sep 23, 2007
Public financing would fix campaign donor problems
Q: Norman Hsu was a big fund-raiser for you, and now has come under federal investigation. Is this changing the way Washington does business?A: Well, I’m very much in favor of public financing, which is the only way to really change a lot of the
problems that we have in our campaign finance system. You know, as soon as my campaign found out that he was a fugitive from justice, we did return any contribution that we could in any way link to him.
Q: Back in the 1996 campaign,
Johnny Chung plead guilty to illegally funding of money, under very similar circumstances. How do you convince the American people that you have changed?
A: Well, this is a problem for every campaign. I have more than 100,000 donors, the vast majority
of whom have given me less than $100. We’re spending an enormous amount of time and effort raising money, mostly to be clear to go on television. It is not good for our political system. There has to be a way that public financing becomes the law.
Click for Hillary Clinton on other issues.
Source: Meet the Press: 2007 “Meet the Candidates” series
Barack Obama on Government Reform
: Sep 13, 2007
Ok to take $5 donations from drug company employees
Q: Do you accept campaign contributions from insurance executives?A: I don’t accept money from federal registered lobbyists and from federal PACs. Now, I’m sure that we’ve received money from people who work at insurance companies or work at drug
companies, because we’re getting contributions of $5, $10, $100 from all sorts of people. We don’t want to finance our campaign by people whose professional job it is to influence legislation in Washington. The drug companies, the insurance companies
spent a billion dollars over the last 10 years blocking reform. That’s how we ended up with a prescription drug bill that is better for drug companies than it is for our seniors. So it is an imperfect system. Money is the original sin of politics, & when
you’re running for president, you’re going to do some sinning when it comes to raising money because otherwise you can’t compete. But it’s less important what your health-care plan is, than are you able to overcome the special-interest-driven agendas?
Click for Barack Obama on other issues.
Source: Huffington Post Mash-Up: 2007 Democratic on-line debate
Barack Obama on Government Reform
: Aug 14, 2007
1998: First law passed, 52-4, stripping legislator perks
Legislatively, Obama managed to pass a decent number of laws for a first-term lawmaker in the minority party. His first major legislative accomplishment was shepherding a piece of campaign finance reform in May 1998. The measure prohibited lawmakers from
soliciting campaign funds while on state property and from accepting gifts from state contractors, lobbyists or other interests. The senate’s Democratic leader offered Obama the opportunity to push through the bill because it seemed like a good fit fo
the do-good persona projected by Obama. It was a tough assignment for a new lawmaker, since he was essentially sponsoring legislation that would strip away long-held privileges and perks from his colleagues. One colleague angrily denounced the bill,
saying that it impinged on lawmakers’ inherent rights. But Obama worked the issue by an overwhelming 52-4 vote.
The bill lifted Illinois, a state with a deep history of illicit, pay-to-play politics, into the modern world when it came to restrictions.
Click for Barack Obama on other issues.
Source: From Promise to Power, by David Mendell, p.123-124
Barack Obama on Government Reform
: Aug 8, 2007
No “bundled” money from federal-registered lobbyists
Q: You have taken a firm stand against accepting money from lobbyists, yet you allow them to raise money for you and “bundle” it. What’s the difference between those things?A: No, no, I do not have federal-registered lobbyists bundling for me,
just like I don’t take PAC money. People need to know who we are going to fight for. The reason I’m in public life, the reason that I am running for president is because of you, not because of folks who are writing big checks.
Click for Barack Obama on other issues.
Source: 2007 AFL-CIO Democratic primary forum
Mike Gravel on Government Reform
: Jul 23, 2007
Obama avoids PAC money, but takes lobbyists’ bundled money
OBAMA: [to Gravel]: We don’t just need a change in political parties in Washington. We’ve got to have a change in attitudes of those who are representing the people. And part of the reason I don’t take PAC money, I don’t take federal lobbyists’ money is
because we’ve got to get the national interests up front as opposed to the special interests.GRAVEL: Barack Obama says he doesn’t take money from lobbyists. Well, he has 134 bundlers. Now, what does he think that is? And, besides that, he has received
$195,000 from the head of a foreign-owned bank who has lobbyists in Washington.
OBAMA: Well, the fact is I don’t take PAC money and I don’t take lobbyists’ money. And the bundlers--the reason you know who is raising money for me, Mike, is because
I have pushed through a law this past session to disclose that. And that’s the kind of leadership that I’ve shown in the Senate. And that’s the kind of leadership that I’ll show as president of the United States.
Click for Mike Gravel on other issues.
Source: 2007 YouTube Democratic Primary debate, Charleston SC
Barack Obama on Government Reform
: Jul 23, 2007
Doesn’t take PAC money or federal lobbyists’ money
Q: [to Kucinich] What do you have that Senator Clinton and Senator Obama do not have?KUCINICH: The new doctrine that I’m going to promote throughout this campaign is that we’ll use the science of human relations and diplomacy to settle your
differences without committing the young men and women to war, unless it’s absolutely necessary.
CLINTON: The issue is: Which of us is ready to lead on day one? I have 35 years of being an instrument and agent of change.
OBAMA: I don’t think this is
just a Republican problem. I think this is a problem that spans the parties. And we don’t just need a change in political parties in Washington. We’ve got to have a change in attitudes of those who are representing the people. And part of the reason
I don’t take PAC money, I don’t take federal lobbyists’ money is because we’ve got to get the national interests up front as opposed to the special interests. And that is something that I’ve got a track record doing.
Click for Barack Obama on other issues.
Source: 2007 YouTube Democratic Primary debate, Charleston SC
Barack Obama on Government Reform
: Jul 23, 2007
People know his “bundlers” because he pushed disclosure law
OBAMA: [to Gravel]: We don’t just need a change in political parties in Washington. We’ve got to have a change in attitudes of those who are representing the people. And part of the reason I don’t take PAC money, I don’t take federal lobbyists’ money is
because we’ve got to get the national interests up front as opposed to the special interests.GRAVEL: Barack Obama says he doesn’t take money from lobbyists. Well, he has 134 bundlers. Now, what does he think that is? And, besides that, he has received
$195,000 from the head of a foreign-owned bank who has lobbyists in Washington.
OBAMA: Well, the fact is I don’t take PAC money and I don’t take lobbyists’ money. And the bundlers--the reason you know who is raising money for me, Mike, is because
I have pushed through a law this past session to disclose that. And that’s the kind of leadership that I’ve shown in the Senate. And that’s the kind of leadership that I’ll show as president of the United States.
Click for Barack Obama on other issues.
Source: 2007 YouTube Democratic Primary debate, Charleston SC
Barack Obama on Government Reform
: Jul 23, 2007
FactCheck: no lobbyist money; yes from bundlers who lobby
A testy exchange between Gravel and Obama requires some clarification. Gravel claimed, “Barack Obama said he doesn’t take money from lobbyists [but] he has 134 bundlers. Now, what does he think that is?” Gravel and Obama weren’t actually contradicting
each other. However, Obama’s policy is an ethical tightrope. Obama’s official policy is: “The Obama campaign does not accept donations or fundraising help from federal lobbyists or PACs.” Obama, however, is sticking to a strict interpretation of his ban
on lobbyist contributions.
[The largest bundler was] Robert Wolf, COO of the Switzerland-based UBS Investment Bank, who raised money for Obama to the tune of $194,930. Those contributions don’t violate the letter of Obama’s pledge, even though
UBS, like most large corporations, has lobbyists in Washington. Obama voluntarily listed Wolf, along with 254 other “bundlers” (influential types who agree to encourage and collect individual contributions) on his Web site.
Click for Barack Obama on other issues.
Source: FactCheck on 2007 YouTube Democratic Primary debate
Barack Obama on Government Reform
: Apr 26, 2007
FactCheck: no lobbyist money, yes from lobbyist spouses
Obama said, “I have not taken money from federal registered lobbyists. We’re not taking money from PACs.” It’s true that Obama hasn’t accepted any money from political action committees. And a campaign spokesman said that the campaign has returned
$50,566 from 49 donors whom it had identified as lobbyists. Nevertheless, Obama accepts money from lobbyists’ spouses and other family members, their partners at the law firms where they work if the partners aren’t registered to lobby, senior
executives at companies that hire lobbyists, and state-level lobbyists. Among his top fundraisers are at least a few who were registered lobbyists as recently as last year.
The campaign says it is making a “best effort” to stay away from tainted money. “It isn’t a perfect solution to the problem and it isn’t even a perfect symbol,” a spokesman said.
Click for Barack Obama on other issues.
Source: FactCheck on 2007 South Carolina Democratic debate
Mike Gravel on Principles & Values
: Jan 1, 2007
Has campaigned in NH almost fulltime since April 2006
On April 17, 2006, Gravel became a declared candidate for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States in the 2008 election, announcing his run in a speech to the National Press Club. Although Gravel’s campaign has been little-noticed by
the national media, he has campaigned almost full time in New Hampshire, the first primary state, since his announcement and has won the endorsement of campaign finance reform activist (and New Hampshire resident and former Alaska resident) Granny D.
Click for Mike Gravel on other issues.
Source: Wikipedia.org article, “Mike Gravel”
Barack Obama on Government Reform
: Nov 17, 2006
Hopefund PAC pushes government to honor sacred commitments
At [Obama’s PAC] Hopefund, our hope says that government alone cannot teach our kids to learn--but that government must honor its sacred commitment to provide the best schools.- Our hope says government must play a constructive role in investing in
our communities.
- Our hope says tax breaks can be a very useful tool, but that they should be used to reward the creation of jobs rather than companies that ship them overseas.
- Our hope says health care is every human being’s right, and when the
free market fails us, the government must step in to correct its abuses.
- Our hope says the liberties of every person are sacred, but that those liberties must be defended--with military might abroad when absolutely necessary, but also with courage and
vigilance at home.
“Hope,” as we understand it, does not mean government solving our problems. It means government changing its priorities just enough to give every child a decent shot at life and keep the doors of opportunity open for all.
Click for Barack Obama on other issues.
Source: PAC website, HopeFundAmerica.com, “About Barack”
Howie Hawkins on Government Reform
: Nov 1, 2006
Broadcast debates for all ballot-qualified candidates
Hawkins supports the following principles regarding campaign finance and government reform.- Support public taxpayer funding for federal candidates who comply with campaign spending limits.
-
Require Section 527 organizations to register with the Federal Election Commission as Political Action Committees.
- Q: Do you support instant run-off voting?
A: Yes. -
Q: Should Election Day be a national holiday?
A: Yes. - Hawkins adds, "Proportional Representation. DC Statehood. Abolish the Electoral College.
Public Verifiable Voting with a paper trail for recounts. Candidate debates for all ballot-qualified candidates carried by broadcast media as a condition of their FCC licenses."
Click for Howie Hawkins on other issues.
Source: 2006 Congressional National Political Awareness
Howie Hawkins on Government Reform
: Aug 1, 2006
Supports publicly financed campaigns
Q: What does Hawkins think of campaign finance reform?A: Supports campaign finance reforms and Publicly Financed Campaigns to allow regular working people to get into office, not corporate-financed candidates.
Click for Howie Hawkins on other issues.
Source: Email interview on 2006 Senate race with OnTheIssues.org
Hillary Clinton on Government Reform
: Feb 25, 2004
HILLPAC raised $31M through 2002
Hillary controls her namesake HILLPAC, a phenomenally successful ‘leadership’ political action committee engorged with her Whitehaven funds, a type of PAC usually associated with senior leadership figures like
Tom Daschle and Tom Delay.During the 2002 election cycle, Hillary was among the Senate’s top donors, disbursing more than $1 million to candidates and to party committees.
Hillary raises almost half of her funds from outside the state, with trial lawyers and law firms as her top categories.
She endearingly bestows the title ‘Hill Raisers’ on those who collect large sums for her. Lesser mortals can log onto the Hillary website and become ‘Hill’s Angels’
Click for Hillary Clinton on other issues.
Source: Madame Hillary, by R. Emmett Tyrell, p. 23-24
Joe Biden on Government Reform
: Feb 11, 2003
Campaign reform in 1980s made more problems than it solved
By 1989, it was clear that the ethics was had reached a new level of intensity. Each side was using high-powered legal weapons to stalk the other. The weapons were of recent vintage--the product of the historic government reform effort that came after
the Watergate scandal. "We were going to reform the system," said Joseph Biden, referring to his generation's arrival in Congress. "But we created more problems than we solved. The campaign finance laws, the
Independent Counsel statute--nothing turned out the way it was supposed to."Biden might have added: the Ethics in Government Act of 1978; the reforms of the presidential-primary selection process and of the seniority system in
Congress; the limitations on presidential war and budgetary powers; the "whistle-blower" reforms that enabled disgruntled government employees everywhere to bring anonymous complaints against their bosses.
Click for Joe Biden on other issues.
Source: The Natural, by Joe Klein, p. 93-94
Mark Sanford on Government Reform
: Nov 1, 2002
Limit campaign contributions but not campaign spending
Q: Do you support limiting individual contributions to state candidates? A: Yes
Q: For PAC contributions?
A: Yes.
Q: For Corporate contributions?
A: Yes.
Q: For Political Parties?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support requiring full disclosure of
campaign finance information?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?
A: No. I believe we need to bring sunshine to the political process in SC. Soft money donated to parties should be disclosed.
Click for Mark Sanford on other issues.
Source: 2002 S.C. Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test
Cory Booker on Budget & Economy
: Feb 7, 2002
Performance-based budgeting with no tax increases
[Accomplishments on City Council for] Better Government:- Campaign Finance Reform: Wrote systematic campaign finance reform legislation, making it more difficult for wealthy contractors to influence politicians.
- Council Spending Reform:
Passed legislation restricting council spending, mandating council expenditures be voted on in public meetings.
- Right to Speak Reform: Championed the effort to restore citizens' right to speak before the City Council.
- Perk and Pay Raise Reform:
Fought to end perks and pay raises for politicians.
- Voted against all pay raises.
- Turned down municipal car and advocated for others to do the same.
- Eliminated the use of expense accounts for personal meals or travel.
-
Performance-Based Budgeting: Fought to institute performance-based budgeting, creating more accountable department management.
- Streamline Budget Process: Worked to reform and streamline the budget process.
- No Tax Increases: Voted against Mayor's ta
Click for Cory Booker on other issues.
Source: 2002 Newark NJ Mayoral campaign website CoryBooker.com
Cory Booker on Government Reform
: Feb 7, 2002
Make it harder for wealthy to influence politicians
Better Government: - Campaign Finance Reform: Wrote systematic campaign finance reform legislation, making it more difficult for wealthy contractors to influence politicians.
-
Council Spending Reform: Passed legislation restricting council spending, mandating council expenditures be voted on in public meetings.
- Perk and Pay Raise Reform: Fought to end perks and pay raises for politicians, and voted against all pay raises.
- Turned down municipal car and advocated for others to do the same.
- Eliminated the use of expense accounts for personal meals or travel.
-
Fought to institute performance-based budgeting, creating more accountable department management.
Click for Cory Booker on other issues.
Source: 2002 Newark NJ Mayoral campaign website CoryBooker.com
Mark Sanford on Government Reform
: Nov 4, 2000
Pledged never to take any PAC money
While my GOP primary opponent Van Hipp and I saw pretty much eye-to-eye on the deficit, federal spending and other issues, we parted company over term limits and PACs. Hipp had received baskets of PAC money during the campaign.
I’d taken none and pledged never to take any, if elected.On the issue of PAC money, my general election opponent,
Robert Barber, raised the point that he did not want to unilaterally disarm when it comes to fundraising. Over the last five years in Washington,
I have heard his argument used by Republicans and Democrats alike. In politics we never seem to like the idea of just leading the way because we think it right or what we believe.
Click for Mark Sanford on other issues.
Source: The Trust Committed to Me, by Mark Sanford, p. 40&46
Jesse Ventura on Government Reform
: Jul 2, 2000
Ban PAC funding; limit soft money; limit free air time
We need to talk about making PAC contributions illegal. Candidates pay attention to whoever coughs up the cash. If the only sources of funding they have are the people, then candidates will have no choice but to listen to us.We also need to fix the
loopholes in the campaign funding system. There’s already a cap on donations to an individual candidate, but no limit to the amount you can donate to a party. This so-called soft money is then funneled to individual candidates in the form of “issue ads.”
We ought to cap the amount that each candidate is allowed to spend on a given campaign.
Some people have tossed around the idea of providing all candidates with equal chunks of free air time, free print space, and free Internet access, which they could
use to state their positions, hold debates, and conduct question-and-answer sessions. We just have to be careful with the term FREE. In some circumstances, FREE may not mean what it appears to. Who exactly will pay for the free air time?
Click for Jesse Ventura on other issues.
Source: Do I Stand Alone, by Jesse Ventura, p. 37-38
Bernie Sanders on Government Reform
: Jun 17, 1997
Accepts PAC money, but not from special interests
As a Progressive, I have adamantly refused financial support from Big Money interests. Throughout my political career, I have never accepted one penny from a corporate PAC. (Of the Banking Committee's 52 members, only 2, including myself, receive no PAC
funds from interests associated with the corporate financial community.)While I will not accept PAC money from corporate America, I gladly accept PAC contributions from organizations fighting to improve life for ordinary people. Over the years, my
campaigns have received strong financial support from PACs associated with organized labor, the environment, women, senior citizens, human rights, and the needs of children. My opponents call me a "hypocrite" for accepting PAC money. How can I accept
PAC money, they say, and then claim that I am fighting against "special interests"? Isn't a PAC, by definition, a "special interest"? [It does] make a difference who the PAC represents--the problem is NOT that ordinary people have too much influence.
Click for Bernie Sanders on other issues.
Source: Outsider in the House, by Bernie Sanders, p. 74-5
Bernie Sanders on Government Reform
: Jun 17, 1997
Publicly fund elections, or small individual contributions
This whole campaign fundraising situation stinks to high heaven. In the past, I have fought hard for campaign finance reform which limits the amount of money that can be spent in an election and which emphasizes public funding of elections and
small individual contributions. Ordinary Americans should have a chance to win elections, not just the rich or representatives thereof. If reelected, I will accelerate my efforts in this area.
Click for Bernie Sanders on other issues.
Source: Outsider in the House, by Bernie Sanders, p. 73
Bill Weld on Government Reform
: Oct 19, 1996
Supports term limits; they bring in fresh blood
A resident pressed the candidates on term limits, an issue mostly untouched in the campaign so far. Weld, a supporter, said he is as an example of fresh blood that came into politics and made a difference.
Kerry, who opposes term limits, said the real issue involves reforming campaign finance laws. "The problem is money--the average person can't run," Kerry said.
Click for Bill Weld on other issues.
Source: Harvard Crimson on Kerry/Weld debates
Page last updated: Aug 01, 2019
