NYT editorial: Campaign Money to Burn

After Tuesday’s vote, there is no limit to the ambitions of stealth political groups bankrolled by anonymous check writers. Two of the flushest pro-Republican operations, American Crossroads and Crossroads GPS, plan to extend their campaigning into the lame-duck session of Congress with waves of misinformation about tax and immigration issues.

The moment could not be more pressing for lame-duck senators to revisit — and pass — the “Disclose Act.” It has been approved by the House and would mandate that the public at least be told which deep-pocketed corporate and union donors are politicking from the underbrush. The measure failed by one vote in a September filibuster by Republicans.

The Democratic majority needs just a few Republicans to break party lock step and stand up for politicking in the sunshine. Republicans who once made disclosure their mantra (as an alternative to robust limits on contributions) are predictably backing away.

One Republican newcomer, Senator-elect Mark Kirk of Illinois, did offer a ringing endorsement of disclosure in the campaign. Asked in a debate about the $1.1 million in advertising support that he received from Karl Rove’s Crossroads GPS, Mr. Kirk firmly insisted special-interest groups writing campaign checks “should reveal their donors and be fully transparent.”

(More here.)

You have read this article with the title NYT editorial: Campaign Money to Burn. You can bookmark this page URL http://ogbcommunity.blogspot.com/2010/11/nyt-editorial-campaign-money-to-burn.html. Thanks!