Dean
"McCain-Feingold is a very
important first step toward the sweeping campaign finance reform this country
really needs, and I’m glad the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality
of this law," he said.
"Much work, though, remains to be done. Even with this law in place, George W. Bush is able to raise $200 million from corporate special interests--and in return, giving those 'Rangers' and 'Pioneers' unprecedented access and government giveaways in return for their support. We have a long way to go to change the toxic political culture in Washington."
"Our campaign is campaign
finance reform. We’ve collected hundreds of thousands of small contributions
from ordinary Americans all across the country. Those ordinary Americans
own this campaign and they are the ones who will call the shots in a Dean
administration."
Gephardt
"In 2002, I led the fight
in the House of Representatives to restore confidence and trust in our
democracy by reforming the nation's campaign finance laws. I knew McCain-Feingold
would have political ramifications, but I supported it because it was the
right thing to do. The Supreme Court's decision today to uphold essential
provisions of this historic campaign finance reform law vindicates this
fight."
Kerry
"Today's ruling is a victory
for democracy over big corporations. The problem in American elections
is that big corporations have too much influence over our government and
our elected representatives. I've won four elections without special
interest money and I've worked my whole career to clean up the election
system and weed out the influence of big corporations and the special treatment
they get from elected officials in return."
Kucinich *December
12, 2003
"Banning soft money is a
step in the right direction, but doubling hard money limits is a giant
step the other way, and one that has received much less attention.
The National Voting Rights Institute challenged that change on behalf of
a coalition of non-wealthy voters, candidates, and public interest organizations
-- including the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, the Fannie Lou Hamer
Project and ACORN. That suit alleged, quite accurately, that doubling
the hard money limits excludes non-wealthy voters and candidates from the
political process based on their economic status, in violation of the Equal
Protection Clause in the United States Constitution. When only 0.11
percent of the voting age population contributed sums of at least $1,000
to a 2002 congressional candidate, doubling the limit to $2,000 provides
even more power to a tiny financial elite. How much power?
Those large contributions amounted to 55.5 percent of the candidates' individual
fundraising.
"Think about that. More than half the money driving the political campaigns comes from 1 percent of the people. And we wonder why popular positions, like universal health care or a living wage, are not enacted. Six of the 10 major party candidates for president in 2004 have raised more than 75 percent of their money from contributions of $1,000 or more, and that includes President Bush, who has raised about as much as all the Democrats combined. Most people cannot pay $2,000 to attend a dinner with a candidate. It is very difficult to run for office at all if you are neither rich nor willing to accept money from corporate interests. I know. I'm trying to do it.
"Banning soft money is a
positive step which has oddly overshadowed in the media the bigger negative
step of doubling hard money. What we need, other than media reform, is
true campaign finance reform, complete public financing and the criminalization
of bribery."
Lieberman
"This is a huge victory.
Today the Supreme Court has affirmed the basic principle that our democracy
is not and cannot be for sale. Money and influence must not drown
out the voice and the values of ordinary Americans. I fought for
McCain-Feingold because I believed it was not just consistent with the
Constitution, it was necessary to preserve its basic promise of one person,
one vote and stop the corrosive influence of big money on our political
system.
"George Bush, on the other
hand, fought this law all along until his position became politically untenable.
And now he's doing his best to violate the spirit of campaign finance reform
by staking his reelection on the huge stake he's being given by special
interest contributors. The way to beat him is not to mimic him, as
some of my opponents have done in opting out of the public financing system,
but to fight for what is right, and show the country the consequences of
George Bush's lack of integrity and his special interest sell-out."
Moseley Braun
"We have to make certain
that the role of campaign finance is not he who has the gold makes the
rules. The whole point of our democracy is inclusion. And to
the extent that raising money excludes or inhibits participation - especially
among disenfranchised groups like women and people of color - policy makers
have the obligation to remedy the situation.
"Congratulations to Senators McCain and Feingold for their dogged determination in pursuing this law, which is the first step in real reform. Now, let's finish the job.
"Currently, all voters are not equal in the eyes of the law. In Buckley v. Valeo, the high court found money to be the equivalent of speech. I hope today's decision is the beginning of real reform, including expanding the public finance of campaigns so that politics is no longer dominated by the rich.
"As long as the big bucks of a few rule public elections, regular people will continue to fight uphill battles and become further disillusioned with the political process. Democracies are built upon people -- not money. And our democracy cannot continue to thrive unless all of us - including women - have a place at the table."