Your thoughts on political spending .

Do any of you agree that there has to be a limit on political spending for campaigns ? Obama's millions is ridiculous ! Indiana is now at a tie .... and he's back here for the 40th time spending another million .

Correct me of I'm wrong, but it's out of their own pocket's ain't it?

If so, then more power to them. Can' tell 'em how to manage their money.

No, it's usually not. I mean, initially it is. But once they're nominated by their party, they have the choice to either receive public funding (the "would you like to donate $3 to a political party?" question on your taxes) or through private fund raising.

McCain chose public funding, and Obama changed his mind to go to his own fund raising. He's had insane fund raising success.

I know the money comes from donations... but I have a hard time believing someone wants to help "the poor and middle class" when they are spending millions of dollars on Bullsh!t.

On commercials that no one wants to see or hear.... on all the ridiculous travelling... just useless junk. OK fine... people want to hear them speak... you go to each state ONCE... not multiple times.

Imagine what all that money could do for charities.

It's just LAME.

But then again I wouldn't waste my money by donating to a political campaign when there are much more worthy causes out there.

Obama raised his own money, I don't think it's bad at all.

But, in answer to the question, yes I do think there should be a limit. Give both candiates the same set amount and see what they can do with it. Call it a first lesson in managing a budget.

Uhhh Sparks, I don't think they can donate the money to charities. Not ethically, anyway, considering people/businesses donated the money for a specific purpose.. ie, the campaign.

Grammy, I don't think there should be any limit. I do, however, agree with whoever said that candidates should be wearing the names/logos of their donors on their sleeves.

I would love to see adds on the tv and the calling my house literally 8 times so far today-illegal.

Its horrible when you get the calls because you can't even argue with the stupid recordings:lol-sign:


They are all going to spend a ton because if they don't they know who they run against will. It is a huge waste though.

I understand that... that's what I'm saying though... all that money donated so they can put those ridiculous ads on TV, buy TV time, put ads all over the radio, staff people to harrass you at home etc etc etc. Imagine what all that money could do for charities.

but like I said... I would never donate to a political campaign ... they don't NEED it.

Agree joce... it is a waste.

I do see your point, but I can't agree that the campaigns should be donating the money to charities instead. The DONORS should, if that is what they want to do with their money, but if they donate it to a campaign because they want the money used in that manner, then it would be completely unethical of the campaigns to give the money elsewhere even if it was going to a good cause - and your idea of a good cause or my idea of one might be very different than those who donate to the campaigns.

Actually, its probably legal. Political campaigns get all sorts of exceptions to the rules about calls . . . and it was probably 8 different companies that called you . . .

It is a HUGE waste of money . . . but then . . .he can't use it for anything else, so he might as well spend it. Notably, I don't donate to national polticians campaigns . . . I've given small ammounts to local politicans, but these are people for whom flyers are a major expense.

absolutely. I'd be cheesed if I gave money to ANYONE with a specific purpose and they turn around and use it on something else. No thanks.

And if the money Obama had were elsewhere, many folks would have no problem with it. I swear folks just make my brain twitch.

Couldn't agree more.

And as for "raising their own money" I am sure when "special interest groups" donate...........it's paid back one way or another Kid yourself if you want, but candidates don't usually forget who gave large sums to their "campaign fund"

Further more, it ain't Aunt Betty's bake sales that gets the kind of money needed to run a campaign in this country anymore..........and I am not just talking about the presidency here.

Glad that some agree with me !!! To me there's so much waste !! In my day , you bought a button and that $1 went to the candidate of your choice . Today a Billionaire can give hundreds of thousands for the candidate that will help them fill their pockets . I think that Obama's prime time ad cost him over 3 million . And don't forget , in both cases , when ever a candidate visits an area , that town or city spends thousands for security etc . I loved the old way !! Campaigning from the caboose ! LOL!!!!

Just like bosses don't forget who brings in the big fish...teachers don't forget which kid helps them carry those heavy books...and Universities don't forget who left them a big check...I sure don't kid myself on the way the world works. LOL.

I think what I am saying is being misunderstood.

I didn't SAY the campaigns should... I meant the donors. Imagine if people put as much money into a cause they believed instead of to a political campaign... the money might actually do some good.

The way I see it... it's a waste... the money goes to some part of a campaign that doesn't (or shouldn't) make a lick of difference. I wouldn't vote for someone based on how much money they raised, how many times they visited my state, or how many commercials they put out there. The donated money doesn't influence their words and their intentions (I hope). and since only one of them can win does that make the money donated to the other guy worthless... I mean all that money was spent for nothing.

I UNDERSTAND that the donors WANTED to donate money to the campaign and I'm not saying they shouldn't be allowed to do that. But I just can't help but think how those millions of dollars could actually be HELPING someone.

but that's just me.

You don't know that they don't give sparks...so I guess I am not getting why it was brought up. We ALL should give when we can...but I won't assume we all DON'T just because someone might have some extra to fling at a candidate?

When you have a ton of money...if we're talking big fish...it PAYS actually to be charitable so I have little doubt that they do, in fact..."give" some of their money away to things not involving politics.

No. Constitutionally, we can't limit what they can spend on campaigns

I agree that both candidates should have the same amount of money. Would be a good test to see their budgeting skills.

I mean really Obama is going to do all this for our national budget, but he is going to spend $2million dollars on a party for something he hasn't even actually won yet?

Not too mention just the tv ADS, but Obama has his own TV CHANNEL! Has anyone else noticed that? I know he does on Dish Network, I don't know if it is just on Dish or if it is on other satellite services as well?

I hope you understand that the comment wasn't directed at you Gina, LOL, but more the people who tend to be "proud" of candidates that "raise their own funds" like it's "wow, look at them.........they did it all on their own" type thing :rofl1: Ya right! haahahahah

that's ok... You don't have to like it butI still believe that that money would be better off going to something useful

I didn't say they don't give to someone else... I am talking DIRECTLY about the money wasted on campaigning not about the other money the donors spend... I am talking about the money given to campaigns. SURE the donors may give a million dollars to starving children... but I'm talking about the campaign money specifically. if all that money went to a charitable cause (JUST the money given to campaigns not talking about other monies... just to be clear... JUST money for the campaigns)

I'm not saying they should be MADE to donate the money to charitable causes instead of campaigns... I'm not saying they don't donate other money to other causes ... I'm not saying ANYTHING OTHER THAN "Imagine what the money wasted on campaigns could do for other causes" on TOP of whatever funds they might already donate elsewhere.

Now... just to doubly make sure... I am ONLY talking about the amount of money donated to campaigns and not the rest of the donors bank account

This is only my opinion... the money campaigns spend is a WASTE... to ME. Not saying it is a waste to people who believe it makes a difference to a campaign... only referring to how I feel about it... a WASTE. not saying that everyone else should feel the way I do. But I'm certainly not going to change my opinion that campaign spending is a WASTE ... a big ... fat... WASTE