I don't think it is fair that a candidate wins because they are a multi-millionaire

[Rosa Luxemburg]

and the fact they have now corporations too aswell as the other corporate funds and more corporate funds, not to forget the other corporate funds.

Why don't candidates actually run as a member of a party on the party's policies instead of being slaves to corporations?

[SheilaT]

1. This is not exactly something new.

It goes back decades.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

2. I know, but shouldn't it change?

[davidinalameda]

3. I thought candidates won because they got the most votes

:shrug:

[KingFlorez]

4. People like Meg Whitman and Rick Scott only got the most votes because they spent tons

It's very clear what the OP is saying.

[Dawson Leery]

6. Fiorina and McMahon too.

[Dr. Strange]

15. The OP should be saying...

I don't think it is fair that more people vote for a candidate because they are a multi-millionaire.

[brooklynite]

20. You can also spend tons and LOSE...

look at Rudy in 2008.

[karynnj]

27. Even more so - look at Jon Corzine

It was his fortune that made him Senator and Governor - and when his polls were abysmal, it prevented him being primaried. It did not work to re-elect him.

[Orsino]

23. That's exactly the defense the multilimillionaires will use. n/t

[Ignis]

24. got -> bought

[Honeycombe8]

5. So true. But it's always been this way, they say. Fact of life.

Good thing the Democrats have plenty of rich people in their party, too.

[Egnever]

7. I have a real problem with donations across state lines for local candidates

I mean I donated to alan grayson and I live in nevada. I think it is getting ridiculous especially with the internet making it so easy. Local elections are no longer local. It is really starting to bother me.

[phleshdef]

12. It doesn't bother me because their decisions effect everyone in every state...

...at least if you are talking about US Congress/US Senate.

[Ken Burch]

8. Well. in Florida, the multi-millionaire LOST in the Democratic primary

Kendrick Meek, the people's candidate, won instead.

Now all we have to do is to get Democrats in Florida to actually work for him in the fall.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

9. yes

[Freddie Stubbs]

10. Tell that to Jeff Greene

[Ken Burch]

13. Democrats realized that Greene stood for nothing but his own ego

Even money can't hide that.

Clearly, we're better off that Greene lost.

[old mark]

11. Welcome to America. nt

[apnu]

14. No shit, they're all multi-millionaires (nt)

[old mark]

16. If they ain't when they start, they are by the time they leave.....nt

[Blue_Tires]

29. +1

[4lbs]

17. This is nothing new. Read about early 20th Century US history, political history especially.

Before they became "philanthropists", the CEOs of Standard Oil (J.D. Rockefeller) and Carnegie Steel (Andrew Carnegie) bankrolled many political candidates, all of which, when elected, helped those companies get bigger and crush competition.

What about J.P. Morgan? He literally controlled Wall Street in the early 20th century, and at one point loaned the federal government billions of dollars. That gave him huge political influence over the President and Congress.

[MikeW]

18. average people cant run

It takes lots of $$$ to run a successful campaign these days.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

19. it shouldn't

people should be chosen on ability to governe and tend to the needs of ordinary people. Of course politicians are feathering their ouwn nests.

[jberryhill]

21. Alvin Greene ran on $10K and "word of mouth"

[MikeW]

25. give me a break ... i knew someone would pull that rare event out

[karynnj]

28. I assume you mean people of average waerlth can't run,

but the fact is that many people, who were not born to families with millions have run and won. Now, some of them first had a successful career where they made money. That should not be held against them. My Senators were not born to rich families - in fact they were born to families headed by immigrants.

I heard Lautenberg speak to a couple whose family, like his, was from Patterson. He spoke of how his father worked in a silk mill and how his dad told him when he was young that the air was bad and that it was important for him to do well because he could rise above having a job like that. (He then spoke of how those stories and others are what made him so pro union and concerned about worker safety. His father died when he (the father) was in his 40s. Lautenberg used the GI bill after WWII to go to college and became wealthy because he created ADP. Menendez was also not wealthy.

In neighboring NY, neither Gillibrand or Schumer were born wealthy. In CT, Lieberman was not born wealthy. Dodd was a Senator's son - but not very wealthy. In MA, Kerry's parents were upper middle class - even though he is descended from the first Governor of MA. If you look at Presidents, Obama was raised by a single mom, who was not well off. Clinton was raised by a poor single mom.

Now, all these people are more intelligent and more committed than average - but I assume you want that.

[Orsino]

22. Money = speech.

It's not only legal, it's constitutional.

America's fuse is already lit.

[paulk]

26. it's not fair

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michele-swenson/restoring-democratic-elec_b_690682.html