Even Milkman Donates Mother's Milk of Politics

For decades people have asked me what can be done to mitigate the influence of special interests, especially the cash-hog corporate lobbyists in Washington. My answer was always the same: “Get involved. Give a dollar, two dollars, maybe 10 dollars.” At this point in the conversation the person is usually backing away fast, perhaps turning on his heels while searching desperately for an exit.

I have always believed the quickest way to push fat cat lobbyists out of the picture in Washington is get more people involved in the selection process. Not just cheering for their candidate from the sidelines but actually contributing real money to the campaign.

Many years ago, I worked for a US Senator who was elected from a state of nearly 5 million citizens, 2.1 million of whom were registered voters. When he ran for office the first time, no more than 4,000 individuals contributed their own money to his campaign – less than .002 percent of registered voters!

That was not an atypical situation anywhere in the country – then, or now.

At least it was not atypical until Barack Obama came along, and with him, the Internet. As enthusiasm for an Obama candidacy began to build, the Internet was employed to engage voters directly and motivate them to willingly contribute small amounts of their own money to his candidacy.

Obama has done what no candidate for national office has ever been able to do: he has engaged both the minds and pocketbooks of the voters in large numbers. Indeed, his financial reports are so large they have overwhelmed computers at the Federal Election Commission.

More than half of individual contributions to Obama have been in chunks of $25 or less. That means most of his contributors are nowhere near the individual limit, and thus, are likely to come back to give again for the general election.

Obama is taking no money from lobbyists. And now his campaign has persuaded the DNC to refuse further contributions from lobbyists. Obama contributors did not realize they were making history. Most never gave a thought to the fact that they might be marginalizing Washington lobbyists. But they did, and they are.

I never thought I would live to see it. This may be the moment in American history when the people actually take back their government. At least, we have a chance to do so. We have a chance.