DEMOCRACY COMES AT A HIGH PRICE - Elections Sold To Big Money, Even In One Of Nation's Poorest Districts

(10/27/2002)

By Bob Weaver News reports today said the Humphrey vs. Capito race spending in West Virginia's 2nd Congressional District is the largest amount of money spent in any congressional district in America, an amount that will likely exceed $10 million dollars, or maybe even $20 million, who knows. At stake is control of the U. S. House of Representatives. Humphreys may well exceed the $6 million he spent in his last contest with Capito, mostly from his own pocket. National Democratic Chairperson Terry McAuliffe has accused corporations and "dubious citizens groups" of funneling many times Humphreys' amount into the Capito campaign, much of it soft money which is still allowed under the law until November 5. The GOP is rushing to spend $180 million from their soft money chest and the Democrats are unloading $121 million. What a shame. Meanwhile, President Bush is scheduled to make another appearance in the state for Capito and Congressional leader Congressman Dick Gephardt will appear for Humphreys. The expenditure of such funds is a slap in the face of the democratic political system, and speaks loudly against elections being bought. Even with campaign finance reform, it always seems moneyed people and special interests still have their way.

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