Transparency in Political Campaigns

I believe politicians initially enter the arena to effect change, but not long after they begin to make a name for themselves, the requisite "call time" (aka calling everyone you know and begging for money) eventually makes them beholden to various interest groups. Money drives the election machine. As I continue to read about the democratic front runners, I am even more pleased (and often times suprised) with the straight forward, non-beltway insider manner in which Barack Obama runs his campaign. Here is more on the topic of campaign finance transparency, a topic that should really top every voters list of demands from a candidate (from the Washington Post):

"On this issue, Obama leads the pack -- I'd say PAC, but he (and Edwards) don't take their checks, either. He helped pass a far-reaching ethics and campaign finance bill in the Illinois state Senate and made the issue a priority on arriving in Washington. Much to the displeasure of his colleagues, Obama promoted an outside commission to handle Senate ethics complaints. He co-authored the lobbying reform bill awaiting President Bush's signature and pushed -- again to the dismay of some colleagues -- to include a provision requiring lawmakers to report the names of their lobbyist-bundlers.

"He has co-sponsored bills to overhaul the presidential public financing system and public financing of Senate campaigns. It's nice to hear Clinton talk about how "we've got to move toward public financing" -- Edwards backs it, too -- but I don't see her name on those measures.

"Obama readily agreed to identify his bundlers. Unlike Clinton and Edwards, he has released his income tax returns. Perhaps most important, Obama has pledged to take public financing for the general election if he is the Democratic nominee and his Republican opponent will do the same."

With his pledge, I am happy to say that I marked the box on my IRS form this year to donate money to publically finance federal campaigns.