by John Dankosky - 2010 will be a record year for campaign spending in a midterm election. In Connecticut alone, we’ve seen tens of millions poured into races for Governor and Senate. Meanwhile, our state has struggled to institute a new “clean elections” law that was meant to take money and influence out of politics.
But does big money always mean political success? What does Linda McMahon’s stunning success so far tell us about political spending? How are the dollars spent on Washington lobbying and Connecticut TV ads really affecting the way our government is run? And how does the landmark “Citizens United” ruling by the Supreme Court change the game when it comes to transparency in political contributions?
I hope you can join me tonight at 7pm (Wednesday, September 29) at Torp Theater on the campus of Central Connecticut State University for “Money, Power and Politics: A Where We Live Special.” This program will be recorded in front of a live audience, and broadcast on WNPR at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Friday, October 1.
Peter Overby photo by Antony Nagelmann
The guests are Peter Overby, a veteran NPR correspondent in Washington, whose work directly uncovers how money and influence are linked; and Ned Lamont, a former candidate for Senate and Governor in Connecticut, who is a Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Philosophy at CCSU. Lamont has spent millions of his own dollars running for office, but supports public funding of campaigns.
Ned Lamont at WNPR by Chion Wolf
This program is a co-production of WNPR’s Where We Live, CCSU’s Journalism Program, and The Arts and Sciences Public Policy Committee. Support comes from The Robert C. Vance Endowed Chair in Journalism and Mass Communication. (To provide full disclosure, I am the current holder of the Vance Chair at CCSU.)
Today as I was listening to the “Where We Live” episode of Money, Power and Politics I became quite distracted after hearing Ned Lamont, the Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Philosophy at CCSU, making a statement in which he stated our country is a democracy when, in truth, the United States is a constitutional republic. We are, however, a democratic form of government. Professor Lamont should study the history of the United States before instructing students in Political Science. I was embarrassed for him.
Phyllis Hilt
Program Chair/Assistant Professor, Health Information Technology
Lincoln College of New England
Southington, CT
Personal Email: philt@snet.net