Fair Elections/Campaign Finance Corporate power is buying our elections The Nation goes after corporate spending and says while Congress should pass DISCLOSE, it doesn’t go far enough and says we need public financing. The business case for Fair Elections Augusta Free Press picks up David Brodwin’s op-ed on Fair Elections Obama dropped ball on campaign reform While President Obama may have talked a big game on reform, Professor Julian Zelizer says he didn’t follow through. Whether it was abandoning public financing (we’re still talking about that?) or cutting back room deals to pass legislation, it’s his fault the system isn’t fixed. Congress Barack Obama’s surrender on outside spending Sure, some of the lack of money from Democratic donors this cycle is out of frustration, but it also has something to do with President Obama’s disavowal of outside spending in 2008. And he plays golf with staffers instead of glad handing billionaires. One Dem donor, Steve Phillips, has a nice summary: “It's ironic and problematic that those who organized independent donors in '07 and '08 were shunned and criticized while now, on the right, the big donors are being fully embraced by the conservative political leadership.” K Street goes incognito on the trail Lobbyists are on the campaign trial, but they are trying to remain incognito. “Nobody wants the Brooks Brothers brigade out there campaigning for you.” In Colorado, big coffers mean slew of negative ads It’s a deluge of attack ads in Colorado. Campaign Money Watch's ad is mentioned. Is Citizens United responsible for record election spending? This ABC report cites the CFI study that there is 40 percent more cash than in 2008. Race for Congress costs millions Mississippi isn’t immune from record campaign spending.