There's a sickening cycle in campaign finance reform, one that plays out over and over again at the federal and state level. Politicians show a little moxie and actually propose reform. Some, like (NY Gov. Eliot) Spitzer, even fight for change. Usually, incumbents or conservatives fight that change, as is happening in New York. And then, unless the politician is living in a monastery, he or she has to continue to raise money while the system remains unchanged.
Horrors! This is deemed hypocrisy. Gleeful opponents of reform point to the gap between legislative goals and ongoing fundraising. Lazy journalists, who understand that shouting 'gotcha' is far easier than spelling out who really stands to gain from blocking reform, go for the cheap story. And dismayingly, even some reformers reliably declare their outrage over the fact that politicians who support reform still have to fund raise, and that their supporters are not driven away with a stick but given the opportunity to meet with them.
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