Why is MSM against private campaign funding?

Scroll down a bit atIlliniPundit's site, to the March 28 blog headed "Blagojevich Donor is new UI Trustee", and you'll see my words in somebody else's keyboard. Or, rather, you'll find that IlliniPundit has the same view of campaign finances that I have.

First, IP states: "Donating to a political candidate has become the new scarlet letter, and that really aggravates me. What is wrong with writing a check to support a candidate you like? Why should donors be punished, in perpetuity, for such democratic largesse?"


That's a very good point. I should be able to support a candidate in any lawful way I see fit. As long as my efforts are honest, and the candidate is honorable, the candidate should have the right to offer me a position for which I am qualified, and which is his to dispense, when he gains office. (Hey, I can dream of paychecks, can't I?)

IlliniPundit goes on to say: "Let's simply demand instantaneous disclosure, online, of all campaign contributions, and then hold our public officials accountable for any actual corruption we find..."


IP is talking mostly about statewide issues, dealing with our gov's appointment of a donor to the U of I Board of Trustees, and the media perception that this is evil evil evil... and of the proposal to have state campaign finance come strictly from public coffers, but the issue is also a national one. From castigating somebody for an otherwise (it would seem) appropriate appointment, to ignoring the violations -- in spirit of law-- of the 527s, finance reform laws and the leaders of that movement are threats to our freedom of speech, and greater threats to our Constitutional Democratic Republic.

IP is absolutely right. In conjunction with the threats to the blogosphere under this same guise of campaign reform, limiting, restricting the source of finances for candidates or parties simply leads us down the path away from democratic action, creating a new governing class from among major news outlets... I'll call it a Mediocracy.

That's MUCH worse than mediocrity.