Operationally speaking, I can discern no appreciable differences between any of the major political parties in Washington. The only differences are with regard to the standard stump issues such as health care, foreign policy, social services and the like. All parties scramble and fight and cajole and gift and favor and promise and wine and dine to fill their own war chests. Money is the lifeblood of the body politic. Why should campaign finance be reformed, when the cost of advertising rises steadily year after year? Do the Dems get better rates on advertsing than the Repubs? Do they somehow need to be less uh...efficient in their fundraising activities? One look at how Hilary nearly ripped Obama's throat out over recent fundraising issues in California nicely illuminates the issue I should think.
The less money one raises, the less exposure one receives, the less chance for election. These games about "scandals" such as Abramoff and Jefferson are nothing more than one party trying to outmaneuver the other - morally, politically or financially. Meanwhile, its business as usual. Why are people surpised when Washington acts like Washington? The naive outrage over Democratic methods of fundraising as being somehow purer and more righteous than Republican methods of fundraising...ALGore went all the way to a Buddhist Temple across the world in Tibet to scrounge over $100,000 in contributions for his campaign for goodness sake. But no, it was the Republicans who invented the game. Sheeeeesh.
The incredulity is laughably partisan.