A Watergate lesson: Secret money means payoffs, bribes and extortion

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A Watergate lesson: Secret money means payoffs, bribes and extortion

COMMENTARY | October 19, 2010

Some are comparing today’s secret campaign contributions with those in the Watergate scandal. Barry Sussman describes the criminal money fraud in the early Nixon years and concludes that, bad as it was, the problem is much worse now.

By Barry Sussman

The newest wave of massive, secret campaign financing is increasingly being likened to the illegal corporate campaign contributions that were part of the Watergate scandal (see Jill Abramson of the New York Times and Bloomberg’s Albert Hunt). The comparison is apt -- but the problem actually seems much worse today.

Secret contributions were the driving force behind the criminal activities in the Watergate scandal. They included million-dollar payoffs, bribery, and regular, organized extortion of companies and individuals, both American and foreign, by operatives for Richard Nixon.

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But it was also small change compared to the $250 million or so in undisclosed funds expected to play a big role in the off-year 2010 elections.

Does Rupert Murdoch get more than access when he gives millions to Republicans? Do big insurers, telecoms, the defense industry and others expect only access, or actual payback? Does anyone doubt that Karl Rove knows how to strong-arm companies? If he doesn’t, then possibly Fred Malek, who every now and then apologizes for his loathsome activities as an aide to Nixon, can offer guidance? Malek is one of the fundraisers active in obtaining secret money now.

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Well Karl Rove has been claiming that he knows the Chamber of Commerce doesn't accept foreign money. How does he know?