|
 |
 |
|
Obama will Rue his Vote for Nepotism
-
01/16/07 12:05 PM ET
NOTE: The following is an extract from Morris’s column that will appear in The Hill tomorrow.
Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) made his first misstep when he joined only a handful of Democrats in opposing a reform banning the increasingly widespread practice of legislators hiring family members on their campaign or PAC payrolls. Obama has not heard the last of this vote. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), who opposes wives cashing in on their husbands' positions, voted righteously in favor of the reform and will probably use the Illinois senator’s vote against him in the presidential primaries.
When a legislator hires his or her spouse on the campaign or PAC payroll, he is effectively converting campaign contributions to his campaign committee into personal income that flows into the family’s checking account, blurring the line between contribution and bribe.
Obama’s inexplicable pro-nepotism vote may have been cast in sympathy with Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.), whose hiring of his wife, Sandi, to work on his campaign prompted an FEC ruling allowing the practice. Jackson might be afraid that the Senate action will catalyze a similar reform in the House that could cut way back on his disposable family income.
But, whatever the reason for his vote, Obama has screwed up. The public will not take kindly to a senator pledged to clean up the political process voting to allow wives to be hired with special-interest campaign funds.
Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) made his first misstep when he joined only a handful of Democrats in opposing a reform banning the increasingly widespread practice of legislators hiring family members on their campaign or PAC payrolls. Obama has not heard the last of this vote. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), who opposes wives cashing in on their husbands' positions, voted righteously in favor of the reform and will probably use the Illinois senator’s vote against him in the presidential primaries.
When a legislator hires his or her spouse on the campaign or PAC payroll, he is effectively converting campaign contributions to his campaign committee into personal income that flows into the family’s checking account, blurring the line between contribution and bribe.
Obama’s inexplicable pro-nepotism vote may have been cast in sympathy with Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.), whose hiring of his wife, Sandi, to work on his campaign prompted an FEC ruling allowing the practice. Jackson might be afraid that the Senate action will catalyze a similar reform in the House that could cut way back on his disposable family income.
But, whatever the reason for his vote, Obama has screwed up. The public will not take kindly to a senator pledged to clean up the political process voting to allow wives to be hired with special-interest campaign funds.
Most Viewed RSS Feed »
