Well Duh! David Broder Grasps The Obvious

McCain-Feingold didn't get the money out of politics after all. And, you just can't prevent political discourse. That damned First Amendment you know.

For the first time, the nominees of both major parties have discarded public financing of their pre-convention campaigns. Instead, George Bush and John Kerry have entered a free-spending competition and have shattered all fundraising records.

Second, the money chase by members of Congress has reached what Roll Call, the Capitol Hill newspaper, called "dizzying new heights." The Federal Election Commission reported that by the end of March, House and Senate candidates had raised $583 million -- one-third more than at a comparable point two years ago.

Third, a whole new category of groups -- allied with but formally separate from the party -- has sprung up to raise hundreds of millions of additional dollars for the presidential campaign. These "527" organizations (named for the section of the tax code under which they're organized) are collecting the same huge "soft money" contributions that were outlawed by McCain-Feingold, from many of the same individuals and groups.

But, the news isn't all bad. To be sure, these are not the only effects of the legislation. As Fred Wertheimer, the veteran "clean government" lobbyist, points out, you must also count one positive accomplishment. No longer can federal officials personally solicit six-figure donations from people with a powerful interest in issues pending before Congress.

No, we don't have that anymore. Instead we have Democrats soliciting 8 figure donations from leftist kooks like George Soros.