Communications Director, Center for Responsive Politics
Communications Director for the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan group that tracks campaign contributions and their effects on elections and public policy
PROFILE
Massie Ritsch
Guest
FROM Massie Ritsch
To the Point
How Would the Candidates Fix This Financial Mess? The Fed rescued insurance giant AIG yesterday, but the stock markets took a dive anyway. Today, central banks in America, Europe and Asia promised $180 billion in hopes of calming financial jitters. We find out how the markets reacted. With the financial system on the ropes, Congress still plans to adjourn within the next two weeks without taking action. It turns out that major funders of both John McCain and Barack Obama are firms involved in the current financial crisis. Does McCain's political history undercut his call for more regulation? What about Obama's ties to Wall Street, including the former head of Fannie Mae? Note: The McCain campaign declined our invitation to participate in today's program.
To the Point
Private Funding for Obama's Campaign Barack Obama says he supports the public financing of political campaigns, but today he became the first major presidential candidate since 1976 to reject public money . John McCain's campaign says Obama has broken a promise . Because McCain will accept public money, he'll be limited to spending $84 million. Obama raised $95 million in February and March alone. Massie Ritsch is communications director for the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks campaign spending and its effect on elections and public policy.
To the Point
Rhetoric and Reality in Presidential Campaigns "Maybe I've lived a little long, but I have no illusions about how hard this is going to be. You are not going to wave a magic wand and have the special interests disappear." That's according to Hillary Clinton , referring directly to fellow Democrat Barack Obama , but her comments could apply just as well to Republican John McCain . Both leaders in this year's presidential nomination battles have denounced lobbyists and claim to have embraced public financing for political campaigns. But McCain's campaign manager and his chief political advisor are lobbyists and Obama uses lobbyists as consultants, and both take money directly from corporations and unions that employ lobbyists on Capitol Hill. How far have the two presidential front-runners distanced themselves from business as usual in Washington and on the campaign trail?
To the Point
Record-Breaking Expenditure on Election Members of Congress have been investigated, prosecuted and sent to prison this year for converting special interest contributions into public policy. Nevertheless, there's more money in this year's mid-term election campaigns – perhaps as high as $3.1 billion -- than there was in the presidential races two years ago. New records are being set at the state level, too. Where does the money come from, where does it go, and what's the return on investment? Corporate America contributes to both parties, but it's difficult to establish a quid pro quo even when votes go their way. Can the corrupting influence of money be stamped out, or is it the cost of democracy, American style?
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To the Point
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.
To the Point
What is Trump's plan for Middle East peace? On his first foreign tour, President Trump has promised "peace" between Israel and the Palestinians. Are there any details for re-starting talks that have been stalled for the past three years?
To the Point
The Trump agenda: where's the beef? President Trump says big things are happening. After celebrating a House bill on health care, he doesn’t yet have Senate agreement. With James Comey’s public testimony scheduled tomorrow, the President today tweeted his selection of a new FBI Director. Is the Chief Executive all style and no substance? Later, terror attacks in Iran and conflicting claims about who’s behind them.
To the Point
Venezuela spirals into economic and political chaos Venezuela, a country whose potential for prosperity is unmatched, finds itself on the verge of civil war. What sustains the repressive government? With time running out, guest host León Krauze looks at what the international community can do to pull the country from the edge of collapse.