Do you support the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002 (McCain-Feingold)? Why or why not? Has it b

Question

Do you support the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002 (McCain-Feingold)? Why or why not? Has it been effective at reforming campaign financing?

Answer 1

The Campaign Finance Reform Act put a ban on "soft money" -- unlimited contributions to the national political parties.  The bill also placed restrictions on outside groups airing so-called "issue ads" that tout or criticize a candidate's position on an issue, but refrain from explicitly telling viewers to vote for or against that candidate.

The Campaign Finance Reform Act was a step in the right direction.  With the growing influence of big money from large corporations and special interests, these groups to a large degree control the political process by calling the shots behind the scenes.  This further reduces the role of the individual citizen participating in the democratic process by voicing an opinion on an issue with the hope that a realistic chance exists that his/her opinion on an issue will be considered.  When Joe Q. Public's stance on an issue is presented alongside the desires of a large special-interest group that is backed by large reserves of cash, who do you think is more likely to prevail?  

The Campaign Finance Reform Act has improved the process, although there will always be ways for big-money groups to find a way to exert political influence.  I think the challenge of the future is for more reform-minded members of Congress to continue to find ways to level the playing field.

Answer 2

It doesn't do anything to reform the campaign finance process. It's just provided a lot of job security for accountants and attorneys who are finding ways to drive the money truck right through the loopholes in the law.

This whole issue first surfaced in the wake of the Watergate scandal. But, it wasn't the accumulation of "corrupt" campaign funds which sent most of those involved in Watergate to jail. They went there for being Federal officers who lied under oath to other Federal officers. It had nothing to do with the money!

McCain-Feingold is just the latest attempt to fix a problem which wasn't there in the first place. There are hundreds of punitive laws on the books to take care of corruption in  office. Let's use them!