Campaign Financing: When Does Money Matter?

John McCain is to campaign-finance reform what John Brown was to the abolition of slavery: the guy with the ax. So what happens if you have to swing it at yourself? McCain's services on behalf of a major contributor gave an opening last week to George W. Bush, the man who has benefited most, dollarwise, from things as they are. McCain is being asked to explain why he wrote letters to various federal agencies in support of 15 of his top campaign donors. "Somebody who makes campaign finance an issue has got to be consistent," Bush declared, "and walk the walk."...

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