Michael Parenti Quotes

I don't have any real opposition against me in my state because the Republicans can't raise enough money to run a decent race.

In the United States 95% of the people who win elections have the most money. That's it. So, money is a big part of elections. But that happens all the time.

Donald Trump disproved the notion that there is a direct dollar-for-dollar correlation between how much money you had in your traditional war chest and what your election outcome was going to be.

People have their constitutional right to contribute to a campaign and if they have discretionary money that they want to contribute to a candidate, whether a Republican or a Democrat, they should be able to do so.

Over half of your money will probably come from large donors and PACs. The rest of it you're going to fight tooth and nail for.

Congressman are spending too much time raising money.

In a political contest, the use of some [money] is both right, and indispensable.

In running for Congress, you have to raise over $2 million. You are going to end up shaking hands with people with whom you would rather not shake hands. 95 percent of all the candidates with the most money, win.

It is now clear that giving to a candidate’s PAC is equivalent to giving to his campaign; the leaders of the PAC are, for all practical purposes, are the campaign’s bag men.

Spending for congressional campaigns is getting to be like the arms race.

All contributions by corporations to any political committee or for any political purpose should be forbidden by law.

Public campaign financing isn't perfect and can doubtlessly be improved upon as we go.

We have to talk about the way we finance campaigns.

Let's face it, the subject of campaign finance is not always scintillating. But it's incredibly important.

The [Democratic] party is a bank. It collects money and gives it to TV stations.

The problem isn’t too little money in political campaigns, but not enough.

In fact, not only do I support eliminating soft money, but I support full public financing for campaigns.

Elections are a competition with only one winner. Giving more money to the opponent every time one speaks on behalf of a favored candidate discourages the speech that triggers the matching funds.

In constant pursuit of money to finance campaigns, the political system is simply unable to function. Its deliberative powers are paralyzed.

We have to get rid of the constant fundraising that happens inside the Congress. Before, political parties used to raise money; now, individual members are raising money through the DCCC and the RCCC. It is absolutely corrupt.

I don't think I would have to run a campaign that's financed like General Motors.

And, you know, money is - the money edge is really dangerous to democracy. Because what you have right now - people have said to me that, look, you'll always be outspent, so how can you ever win?

I'm asking regular folks to be my super PAC.

A political race today, even a primary, is $150 million. The whole political system has become obscene in terms of the absurd amount of money that is required to compete. Just put it on ESPN and call it a sporting event.

We will not lose this election for lack of money.