As an advocate of full disclosure and no other restrictions on campaign finance I am posting my major donor report that will be filed with the Secretary of State today.
For those people who find money in politics to be distasteful or corrupting I say too bad. Free speech is our right and I literally put my money where my mouth is.
No longer can you simply stand in the park and recite your grievances with the government and have an impact. Supporting good candidates and issue is the way we do it today–don’t villanize me for speaking my mind.
People who have problems with money in politics don’t understand why some people give to politics. My motivation is often times helping friends. For instance, my good friend Steve Vargas is running for city council in Brea. He was on the council several years ago and now he is ready to serve another round for the residents there. I have given him $2500 so far and fully expect to donate several thousand more before November. I didn’t do business in Brea while Steve was on the council previously and don’t expect to do business there after he is elected. My motivation is to support a good friend in his quest to serve in his community.
Another example is Anthony Adams, the GOP nominee in the 59th Assembly District he is nice guy, I have met him a few times but we are not buddies. But Bill Postmus (Chairman of the San Bernardino Board of Supervisor and County Central Committee) is a friend and he is a big supporter of Anthony’s. That was good enough for me to write a check to Anthony. Again, I don’t lobby the legislature or do business with the state of California but I do want good conservative valued legislators. That is my motivation.
So the next time someone groans about money in politics, tell them to get over themselves and if they don’t like that people like me give some much to politics, they should work on a constitutional amendment to ban political contributions, because this back-door restricting of money in politics that the disciples of McCain dream about is just plain wrong!