Money in Politics - Excerpt From My Letter to Planet Money

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Your story on Money in Politics was not quite right, but unfortunately a standard misunderstanding people have about how money in politics work.

I used to actually be a fundraiser for Congressional Democratic candidates. I still work in politics, so I have a certain level of expertise that I think help me understand this issue better.

Yes, money does get you access, but not to the issues people think of as core values such as choice or support for green energy. What you hinted at but did not quite grasp is that with 435 Representatives, 100 Senators, a President plus 50 State Houses, Governor's mansions and judiciaries, there is actually a limited number of financial resources for elected officials. Most of the money that is dolled out is entirely ideological. For example a Democratic House Representative will get money from unions or choice groups because they are likely to believe in those issues. Republicans get more money from CEO's and the Chamber of Commerce because what they believe lines up with those concerns. Even still that money is only given to candidates in swing districts and heads of committees. The rest of the money, most of it, comes from business people, associations and personal contacts in the Congressional District itself. That is where the pressure point of money actually takes place for most elected officials.

Where money is interesting on a more national level is actually on the issues that don't get covered. The issues where the American public are not at the table are where money plays its real role. For example, Communications firms spend more than just about any other industry. That's because the media doesn't cover itself. So for example you will see an issue where Republicans and Democrats agree is on giving Comcast the ability to buy NBC or Verizon to merge with T-Mobile. Opposition to Net Neutrality gets support from the Right Wing and the Congressional Black Caucus because that money flows to everyone in Congress on that issue.

Ironically the movie The Distinguished Gentleman with Eddie Murphy has done one of the best explanations of how money actually works. An issue comes before a Congressperson, and without any money, the lobbyists are able to appeal to the promise of Jobs. Fear of being opposed on a complex issue and not getting the sort of intelligent coverage of that issue by the media makes it hard to take it on. If you succumb to status-quo that lobbyist has money to make it more palatable decision.

The solution is actually simple. You don't need to regulate any money spent by Congressman. Just give them free access to the people's airwaves. Give every person running space on newspapers who get funding from the government as "Newspaper of record," and give them access to the radio airwaves. Equal access for free would take away any need for all the money.

Which gets to the heart of why money is needed in politics. For many local stations, Political Commercials are a primary source of income. So the media NEEDS money in politics.

I hope the next couple of stories on this get better.