Dean calls for further limits on campaign contributions

[Rose Siding]

snip>
"One of the reasons they don't stand up for what's right is because they're always looking at who contributed money to their campaign and figuring out whether they're going to be angry or not," he said during a speech at his New Hampshire campaign headquarters. "So if we want people to stand up for what's right, we have to have real campaign finance reform."

Dean said for every $100 that someone donates to a presidential campaign, the government should match it with $500 and give the donor a $100 tax credit. He said the government should raise spending limits in the primary elections and increase the incentive for candidates to stay within the public financing system.

snip>

Dean also said he wants to get rid of the Federal Election Commission that oversees campaign financing because it's toothless and serves the parties instead of the public. He wants to require broadcasters to devote a few hours of air time to public affairs every week.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-01-21-dean_x.htm

[Norquist Nemesis]

1. It will never fly

Especially when it's being touted in the media as "at taxpayers expense". Here's AP's first paragraph:
"MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) -- Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean said Wednesday he wants to put further limits on campaign contributions and increase taxpayers' share of paying for presidential campaigns."

Personally, I support the idea behind it and agree there needs to be more reform, but a $500 match is too much. I can hear the screeching right-wing on this one already.

[demdave]

2. Cna he please keep quiet until at least the debate tomorrow?

I thought my search for a candidate was over. I don't want to start from scratch again.

Dean said he would never opt out of the matched campaign funds system and would make it a point to bring it up if any other candidate did, and then he opted out. I gave him a pass on that because I thought he would be the best candidate and Bush had so much more money. But it doesn't give him any room to discuss campaign finance while still operating under my pass, in my opinion.

[Justice]

3. Edwards Say The Same Thing

I heard him say it last night

(about public financing of campaigns, not about the exact details of how to reform)

[Moderator]

4. Dupe... locking

Please continue here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=324017

Thanks!
DU Moderator