For the last week we've received some interesting emails and comments from our members about Change Congress's stance on Obama's decision to opt out of public financing. Our basic response is one echoed by some' pundits and those working in the reform movement over the last two decades. It's a tough situation for any candidate to be in. The current public finance system is a mess and desperately needs to be overhauled.
Public financing is only one piece of the overall campaign reform puzzle, yet, a vital one. The recent dancing around public funding by McCain and Obama is a situation that no candidate should have to be in -- choosing between a broken system that could cost them the election while gaining positive press or being called a "flip flopper" for opting out of that same broken system.
The current public financing system fails to address major loopholes abused by both parties over the past twenty years. Until this needed reform happens, we're foolish to think that any candidates able to raise more on their own would ever opt-in to a broken system that could end up costing them a victory down the line.
The Big Loophole - the explosion of 527 groups over the past ten years has given rise to the nastiest negative campaigning we have seen in our time. On both sides of the aisle 527 groups have made it their raison d'etre to challenge and accuse candidates not in line with their political ideals, launching powerful, well-funded attacks that can single-handedly change the outcome of an election. While many of these groups do not (and indeed by law cannot) work with or coordinate with a campaign, they are often ideologically aligned with one candidate and are often staffed with members of the same political party
The Big Flaw - the $84 million that public financing offers is not enough to run a presidential campaign in this economy. The problem is not that there is too much money in politics, rather that there is too much of the wrong kind of money in politics -- money from lobbyists and PAC organizations, people who expect favors later on. If we want a public financing system to be legitimate we have to honestly address the shortfalls that this sum of money leaves in its wake; the cost of national advertising on television, radio and internet being a major one. Or the cost of employing a national grassroots staff working in every state in the country. The public financing offer from the government should be realistic compared with the costs of a presidential campaign. If we want candidates to buy into the system, make them a decent offer. They aren't going to accept a used Chevy Malibu when they can buy a new Ferrari with their own money.
Pundits on the right say Obama is a hypocrite, given his pledge to accept public funding earlier in the campaign and then recently deciding not to. Both candidates could be called as such. McCain gladly accepted public financing during the Republican primaries when he was losing and broke, and then petitioned the Federal Election Commission to opt back out when he was winning and wealthy (and now he's opting back IN). Neither are wrong, they are simply doing the expected political shifting based on our broken system.
I can't wait for the day when a well-crafted, mutually agreed-upon, public financing system is finally ready to be implemented. But that day will come only after enough of us stand up to change that system by making it possible for politicians who fight for issues like public financing to win office and take this change to Washington. Change Congress is about working with you and other organizations dedicated to reforming this system from the inside out. The current system isn't working for the people, so it must be changed by the people from the bottom up. You can help, be a part of our movement, help us re-build this broken system. Join us! Its only our government if we work to reclaim it.
Groups from both the left and right gathered to share ideas, network and move closer towards bridging the divide of politics and technology. One highlight was a Skype visit from Elizabeth Edwards (yes she uses Skype) who was later joined (unplanned) by her husband Senator John Edwards (video here). She spoke candidly about her insights and experience as a an avid user and blogger in the political reform technology movement.
Lawrence Lessig also gave a presentation. Here’s a short interview with Lawrence as he discusses Change Congress’s goals, the upcoming presidential election, and how we can begin embedding a government we can all trust again.
Fresh off her special election victory here in the CA 12th Congressional District, Congresswoman Jackie Speier is looking to take on the problem of earmarks. Unexpectedly, Speier asked Republican Congressman Jeff Flake of Arizona to begin talking about ways to approach the earmark problem. I think this is a great move on Ms. Speier's part. Earmark reform is an issue that both parties should get behind. The movement from inside the Congress to abolish earmarks is being led by a group of Republicans, of which Flake is a part of. Ms. Speier, while not clearly stating where she falls on the issue, does acknowledge that the practice needs to be curtailed.
Speier, who has been in the House for just two months, says she has been so appalled by her fellow members’ earmarking ways that she has met with Flake to discuss how they can cooperate to curtail the practice.
“The biggest surprise since I’ve been here have been earmarks,” Speier said. “I didn’t realize how insidious it was and how deep it ran and how accepting so many people are of it.”
We'll be interested to see where Congresswoman Speier ends up on the earmark issue. I imagine if she is willing to talk with Flake and other reform-minded Republicans she's also talking with her own party leaders. If any of you would like to contact Congresswoman Speier you can here. Give her a call or drop her a note to let her know you support transparency in government and reforming the earmark process now.
We don't need to tag Jackie Speier's candidate page with any additional info with this news, but it does tell us that we may be able to in the near future, if and when she comes out with a specific stand on cleaning up the corruptive practice.
Last night on a warm, summer Peninsula evening, supporters gathered at the Stanford Law School courtyard to pay tribute to Lawrence Lessig and the movement created under his leadership, Creative Commons. While Lessig will remain on the board of Creative Commons, he will shift his focus to Change Congress and our fight to end government corruption.
Lessig thanked the leadership, particularly Chairman of the Board James Boyle and CEO Joi Ito, as well as supporters, for allowing him to move on to this project. Boyle delivered a satirical speech in Lessig's signature style. Amid the roasting and the toasting one thing became clear—the baton has been passed.
At the event last night, Boyle said that when he and Lessig started Creative Commons, he told Lessig that the task of reforming copyright worldwide was impossible. Six years later, Creative Commons is a thriving organization that continues to achieve its goals. Change Congress has an even more difficult task to accomplish.
As the Executive Director for Change Congress, I got a strong visceral sense of what we need to create in order for Change Congress to "…end corruption in the next 10 years, or at least put a huge dent in it…" (as Lessig put it). Because in 10 years, we may be passing the baton to another one of Lessig's ideas. Here is one thing I am clear about from last night – the 'we' part of Change Congress is poised to grow.
Now, with the ceremonious blessings from Creative Commons for Professor Lessig to turn his focus on ending corruption, there is excitement among the handful of Change Congress staff and volunteers that were present that night. The task ahead will be hard work, many hours, fun and challenging all at the same time. And it is clear WE need to grow.
Join now and look for us at the upcoming Personal Democracy Forum in New York this June 23 and 24.
I've known about Lawrence Lessig for a total of 2 months…so not so long compared to most of you. You might also say that I am new to this whole world…the blogging world and the world of technology. Given this is my second post ever.
Before I joined Change Congress (C-C), I was clear about how I wanted to spend the next decade of my life, I wanted to find someone with "BIG IDEAS" and help to make them happen. And like all of us, I wanted this next decade to define my "foot print" (not carbon) of contribution to this world. I think it is safe to say…I really had no idea what I was getting into.
Now that it's been a couple of months as the new Executive Director to Lawrence Lessig's new movement, I don't feel as shy to share my voice with the C-C community. And…to take a moment to brag about my new boss, because to me, he is new and he is taking on the boldest idea yet, reforming our Congress. I invite you to take a look at his latest speech given in Minneapolis at the National Conference on Media Reform.
Greetings to you, our Change Congress community. You’ve not heard my voice on our blog as of yet, I am the Executive Director for Change Congress and no doubt you will be hearing more from me. I have an invitation for all qualified candidates. Please read below and reply if you’re serious and you meet all specifications. We are located in downtown San Francisco.
Duties:
Drive people to the C-C web site and keep the community engaged in our process.
Find and implement the latest organizing technology and tools for the growing Change Congress community.
With use of cutting edge technology, empower our community to make the greatest impact for our cause.
Work with developers and political director to build new organizing technology to support the Change Congress community.
Present monthly updates to staff highlighting options for organizing technology we could utilize for future strategy building.
Proactive thinker and team player
Job Description:
Direct and design the technical framework for our website.
Blog on website and engage with community; keep the community excited about C-C work.
Anticipate and design new tools for community to use and engage in as necessary/needed.
Engage with other bloggers.
Work with technical team to ensure site is built and updated, and tools are being used.
Work in conjunction with Political Director to drive messages to community.
Requirements:
Software product management experience a plus.
History of political blogging experience a big plus.
Previously worked on successful technical project.
Please, only qualified serious candidates need apply. Submit your resume to admin@change-congress.org. Include 2-3 paragraphs in a cover letter along with your resume telling us why you feel you would be perfect for this position with this organization at this moment in time. Salary is commensurate based on experience. Please no phone calls.
We're excited to say that our first Change Congress candidate, Chellie Pingree won her democratic primary last night over Democrat Adam Cote and C-C's other committed candidate, Ethan Strimling. We were thrilled to have two C-C candidates vying for the seat and it's a real testament to the people of Maine's first congressional district and the type of change they want in Washington, D.C. that two C-C candidates were so well represented (well, Pingree a bit more than Strimling when all was said and done).
Both C-C candidates were outstanding and we thank them for participating in perhaps one of the toughest parts of an active democracy: running for elected office. Ethan Strimling ran an incredible campaign on a minuscule budget that depended upon everyday people engaging their neighbors and friends and spreading the word about their candidate. Chellie Pingree, former director of Common Cause and one-time candidate for U.S. Senate, has been actively engaged in working for change for decades in Maine. Thanks so much to both of them for a great race and we'll be watching Chellie as she takes on Republican Charles Summers in November.
Today, two C-C candidates are squaring off in Maine's First Congressional District. Ethan Striming and Chellie Pingree, both of whom signed the C-C pledge, are battling amongst other Democratic candidates for the open seat left by Rep. Tom Allen who is challenging Republican Susan Collins for governor.
CQ Politics has a brief writeup of the political landscape in Maine's first district and it looks as though the latest polls have favored Pingree in part because of her political history within the state. Strimling, for his part, committed to all four C-C pledges and has run an incredible campaign on a shoestring budget. Pingree, committed to all but the first C-C pledge.
I'm looking for early results before the polls close in Maine. If anyone has any results they'd like to post please do!
Big news coming from the DNC this evening as Barack Obama, the Democrat's presumed nominee for 2008, made it crystal clear how seriously his party will take addressing corruption inside the beltway.
"We will not take a dime from Washington lobbyists or special interest PACs," he said. "They will not fund our campaign, they will not run our party, they will not drown out the voices of the American people."
Not only has Obama's campaign taken this pledge but now so has the Democratic Party.
This is good news and a big step forward for Change Congress' goals. Having one of this country's two leading parties refuse donations from PACs and registered lobbyists is a defining moment. This is where we should be heading to keep this government free from special interest control and corruption. Whether or not Democratic candidates will follow the lead of the DNC is yet to be seen and is the real test behind this proclamation, where the rubber meets the road.
However, there is still work to be done. We hope that John McCain and the Republican National Committee will respond in similar fashion, but as of yet there is no official word.
