Does it make sense for a candidate for Senator or Congress from your state or district, who will represent you in Washington, to receive the bulk of his or her campaign contributions from parties who reside or PAC’s located outside you state or district? As voters, why do we allow our representation to be diluted or perhaps stolen by some folks with money giving heavily to campaigns around the country? Was this what was intended by the founding fathers?
Here is an example: In Minnesota, former comedian Al Franken is waging a campaign for the Senate against the incumbent Norm Coleman. Al Franken has raised $9 million, much of it from people in Hollywood. Norm Coleman has raised $13 million. With each side raising money all too often from outside the State, how can they truly represent the interests of the constituents of the state? Should Franken win, will he be beholden to Hollywood? Should Coleman win, who will he represent? Why would Hollywood types contribute to the campaign – they do not reside in Minnesota? Is it to help put people in office who have a Hollywood view and not a Minnesota view of this country.
Ask you Congressman or Congresswoman and Senators how much campaign money they have raised and how much has come for outside the State or District. Find out just how much your vote has been and will be diluted. Find out just how much your representation in Washington has been compromised.
It is time we put a stop to this mindless, anything goes, fund raising and require fund raising to only emanate from individuals primarily residing in the State of representation for the Senate campaigns and the District of representation for Congressional campaigns. I have written of this before and believe that in order to avoid being circumvented by a wide reading of the first amendment, a new constitutional amendment would be in required.
Write or email your U.S. Senators, your Congressperson, your state senator, and your state representative in the state assembly. Tell them “I want a constitutional amendment that restricts Senate and Congress campaign fund raising, in the form of money, personal property, real property, or in kind services of any type, to come only from individuals primarily residing in the State of representation for Senatorial campaigns and in the District of representation for Congressional campaigns.” Pass this on to others.
Of course, if we repealed the 17th amendment we would not need to include senatorial campaigns. Send this request to as many people as you can. We, the voter, must take back our Congress from the special interests – we must make our representatives accountable to us, their constituents and no one else. Read more at
Maybe all the true statesmen are working for the oil companies.let’s face it,they are in better shape than this country or even most of the other countries put together.
I also think it would be great if Al Franken was given the speech writers position when osama obama becomes president,then we can all get a good laugh when obama runs the country further into the ground.although Al Franken did his best comedy writing during the worst years of Saturday Night Live.
But seriously folks,we do need someone completely dedicated to the welfare AND safety of this country.But so far,i don’t see anyone.Mccain is the closest to that aim but close ain’t good enough.
We seem to be in an unstoppable spiral down the proverbial toilet.
Wait a minute,I do see someone………How about it Mr. moyes,you certainly couldn’t do any worse.