Quote Originally Posted by dragonrider
All of the money in the system is definitely a corrupting influence and a serious problem. Donations from big donors, like corporate donors or special interest lobbyists, are generally not about getting one candidate elected over another candidate, because often the same big donors give to BOTH candidates. They want to get them BOTH elected? No, they are hoping their money will have some influence over the eventual winner, whoever it turns out to be.

For the most part, I don't think most politicians make any kind of commitment to support or oppose any particular policy in exchange for contributions --- that would be true bribery and corruption. It happens, but I do not think it is very common. I think mostly the donors are hoping for access. They know that a candidate may not actually side with them in the end, but they know that if they give a decent amount of money, the candidate will likely at least hear them out on their positons. Having a face-to-face sit-down with a candidate is worth a lot of money to some interests.
Jim Johnson
Chris Dodd
Tom Craddick
Ted Stevens
Tom Delay
Bob Ney
Ryan Fraizer (local city council in Colorado.. yes even the small fries do it)

Hillary Clinton (top donator, Norman Hsu plead guilty to one count of grand theft for defrauding investors as part of a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme. It just doesnt' look good)

John Coyers (no donation problems but used government resources to act as his servants, babysitters.. etc etc. Just as bad IMO).

Diane Feinstein (gave government military contracts to two companies that were owned by her husband)

Mike Huckabee.. I won't even get into this one.. oh boy.

Barack Obama (I won't even explain this.. look at the link below for more information)..


Judicial Watch Announces List of Washingtonâ??s â??Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politiciansâ? for 2007 | Judicial Watch

There are more politicians that I haven't listed that are in that link.. and probably explanation into a few of them better than I did.

Point being. It does happen.. and it is common.