Your Voice

So… as a challenger I do not expect a lot of PAC (Political Action Committee) money. It is just the way the game works, I am told. My opponent, on the other hand, will probably receive much of her money via PAC’s. Again just the way it works.

I never really appreciated what all the talk was about. How many say PAC money is bad and how it negatively affects the system, until recently. I was contacted by a PAC organization that has a vested interest in seeing my incumbent challenger removed from office, thus they have a reason to talk with me. I agreed to meet with them simply because I was interested in learning more about the issues they represent?!?!? That’s what they do, right, represent various issues of importance?

I wanted the meeting to be a discussion/education about their issues. My idea was that I could learn first hand why they cared so deeply about the groups they represented. The problem is that they treated the meeting as an opportunity to, quite literally, dangle a carrot of money and support in front of me. If I was willing to promise that once elected I would vote a certain way, they would support my campaign heavily with money and man power? Talk about cut to the chase.

I was sort of stunned that they were taking my candidacy so seriously that they were actually trying to bribe me before I was elected to anything. I guess I should be honored, but I wasn’t, I was offended. I was offended that when I refused to promise to vote a certain way and said I wanted to understand both sides of the issue fully they were visibly annoyed. It was a you are with us or against us mentality with no room for reason or compromise. When I asked questions about why they were seeking certain policy changes, I got vague, undetailed answers. The type of answers that make anyone think, there has to be more to this, they are hiding something?

So, I stood my ground, refused to offer anything but a promise to completely understand the issue and left the meeting a bit shaken. I decided I would not like to take any PAC support and certainly I will not take money from this group. Since, I have to raise a ton of money that may be easier said then done, we will see.

Why is PAC money a bad deal for the average voter? I now know first hand it is because they are trying to buy their way into the system from the inside and affect change that may not be best for the common good.

The irony is I think I may have supported them in the long run, ……….. Well, actually maybe not!