Brooks should know better about campaign finance
David Brooks’ recent column defending the Citizens United Supreme Court decision struck a nerve.
He isn’t a stupid guy and he’s in the middle of the national political scene. So a lack of brains or access aren’t credible reasons for totally ignoring the real problem of runaway campaign spending. Although the influence of money on election results is a valid concern, the issue is how beholden a candidate is to donors. The fact Brooks cites – both parties do it – makes the Citizens United decision and the McCutcheon ruling, which struck down aggregate limits on how much an individual can give to federal candidates, political action committees and parties, alarmingly worse. They are certainly not acceptable and harmless as he suggests.
For an example, look to Gov. Tom Corbett and the natural gas industry. The industry’s investment in – I mean, contribution to – Corbett’s campaign ensured them carte blanche to treat Pennsylvania’s natural resources, water, air, infrastructure and citizens as lab rats while it works out its kinks.
Brooks should know better. Actually, I think he does.
Don DeAngelis
Canonsburg