Clark calls for 'New Progressive Era' in campaign finance reform.

[Julien Sorel]

I’m not beholden to any special interest," he told The Citizen. "I’m not a captive of any lobby group or special interest group. I don’t believe that money is healthy for American politics. I’m putting character and issue back in front."

He said he’s not worried about working with Congress despite his former ability to have his orders carried out.

"Congress is a political log-rolling process," he said. "With Congress it’s all about money." He said he believes the growing dependence on money in the political process puts democracy at risk.

"We need a new progressive era to reform political campaigning," he said, and said he would form a non-legislative commission to develop campaign finance reform.

http://www4.citizen.com/news2003/December2003/December_18/pol_clark_12.18.03a.asp

In a system where people can donate across party lines to interfere with primaries, and shadowy groups are formed to run attack ads because of donation limits, this is the right call at the right time.

[KissMyAsscroft]

1. Wasnt he a lobbyist?

nt

[SahaleArm]

4. That's why he thinks this is the right thing to do n/t

[KissMyAsscroft]

6. Do you have a statement to back that up?

Or is that your personal gut feeling?

He made a ton of money as a lobbyist and now all of a sudden he is against the system?

And you Clarkies call Dean a waffler? LOL!

[SahaleArm]

8. Actually he made 1/2 his money doing lecture tours...

but I guess it's better to make money from money...

[KissMyAsscroft]

11. So you dont have an answer...

Thank you! I didnt think you did.

[SahaleArm]

14. No need to reply to something that you haven't sourced n/t

[KissMyAsscroft]

17. I was asking a simple question...

Has Clark explained how he can be the candidate for CFR when he was a prominent lobbyist?

Would you take this kind of double standard from Bush?

I didnt think so.

[Julien Sorel]

19. Clark was never a 'prominent lobbyist.'

Either support this ludicrously inflated statement or drop it.

[SahaleArm]

20. Moot point - Bush didn't advocate campaign finance reform

I am questioning the veracity of the following:

He made a ton of money as a lobbyist.

How much did he make as a lobbyist and how much is a ton?

He worked on the board of a few companies that had government contracts, by law he had to register as a lobbyist when talking to the government (as he was an employee of said private company).

[KissMyAsscroft]

21. Oh Lord...

By your standards, that is excactly what Cheney did!

I am pointing out the double standard, surely you see that.

Now I agree with what he is doing, I just question his sincerity.

[SahaleArm]

22. What Cheney did was collusive.

You can of course claim hypocrisy and I can't argue, it is your opinion afterall. The difference is that Cheney was paying back his buddies in spades while Clark is advocating campaign finance reform, not giving a handout.

[robbedvoter]

24. Hasn't outtsider *D hired lobyists for campaign ? And no, Clark wasn't.

[Myra]

2. Excellent. CFR is the nation's #1 issue, after voting fraud of course

If we can only get past the voting fraud so that we can
attack CFR. Quite the uphill battle.

[BootinUp]

3. More intelligent stuff from Clark

Its hard for me come up with stuff I don't like from Clark. This sounds good, and most Americans can agree with the approach I believe.

[stickdog]

5. Dean's campaign IS CFR.

Time to join the 21st century, General.

We've already figured out how to fight back regardless of the corporate whore written ground rules.

[SahaleArm]

7. Ask Dean why universal healthcare is a non-starter...

Money, lobbies, and the insurance industry. Campaign finance reform is more than matching Republicans dollar-for-dollar.

[KissMyAsscroft]

9. Getting elected is the first step.

All of these ideas mean jack shit if there is a Repub in office.

First things fist....

[SahaleArm]

10. Then let me be the first to welcome you to the Clark campaign

;)

[KissMyAsscroft]

13. Im ABB all the way!

If Clark is the nominee, I will be there right alongside you!

[SahaleArm]

15. Same here, a little give-and-take through primaries is good n/t

[stickdog]

12. Gotcha. I'm just happy that we figured out a stopgap solution.

Does it take a lobbyist to beat down lobbyists?

[SahaleArm]

16. No just a little foresight on how to separate politics from money ;) n/t

[robbedvoter]

23. Like the Clean Air Act,the Clear skies and Lying is good...

Sure it is, kiddies. W thought he's have to kill it in courts until *D showed up! He said it's against W - but is killing it FOR THE PRIMARIES! Is the 21 Century the doubletalk time? I thought that was..1984!

[izzie]

18. I am with him on this. It is just as bad as ever what is going on

Course I really do not think what is put on TV makes me vote for or against any one. I just shut the ads off. When they start saying one is this or that I then turn that one on in my mind when it shows up. You have to have had 5 children and a husband that liked to tell you what you were doing wrong to beable to do that!!!!!

[Bread and Circus]

25. What does Dean say on this...."send my campaign more money?"

[HFishbine]

26. Hypocricy

"I don’t believe that money is healthy for American politics."

"Except when I'm accepting it to lobby congress on behalf of companies that want the government's business in order to establish unprecedented surveillance dossiers on American citizens. But other than that, I condemn it."

[BootinUp]

27. Mind Reader

I mean your ability to reach into Clark's mind is impressive. Since I can't read his mind I assumed he actually believed what he was doing was a good thing for our national security despite the scary spin job you put on it.

[HFishbine]

28. Fine

So, participating in the moneied influence on Wahsington is okay as long as Clark deems it worthy. That's still contradictory to his statements above.

[returnable]

29. Hypocrisy?

You mean like a candidate who says he's for CFR, except when it impedes his ability to outspend his opponents in a primary race?

Is that the hypocrisy you're talking about? :eyes: