Art Buchwald Quotes

In Washington, they do take money—I know it’s open, though it’s hard to identify—they take money from the same people they regulate. Now, in New York City, you would never get away with that …

And when the guy [politician] says “Yes, I took money, but it didn’t influence my vote”? Oh, come on. The company that’s giving you the money thinks it is going to influence the vote. Why else would they give you the money?

Honest Graft

Congressmen are not bribed anymore. They simply have a lot of friends who are willing to help them out whenever they find it necessary.

Congress has become the center of legalized bribery/

Big contributions from those who are seeking government favors are a menace to honest government.

I would never, ever trade any campaign donation - that's absurd - for some type of favor to anyone.

Oh, that all the things my father had told me about how disgusting Washington is are true. And again it's the system - there are lots of nice, well-meaning people there. But it's a sleazy place. And politics is all about doing favors.

What we have now is a situation where politicians get a whole bunch of money from mainly business interests. Then once they hold that office, they spend all their time in office paying back over and over again those campaign contributions through various favors and contracts and that sort of thing.

Our form of democracy is bribery, on the highest scale.

I have been around long enough to know that when large amounts of money are donated to politicians, something besides good government is expected in return.

Good men and women come to Washington and get caught in a culture of corruption.

This [political fundraising] is a very sophisticated system … This is a legalized bribery system where no one has to say anything. I don’t have to say what I want—you [the politician] know what I want.

In Washington, every closet has a revolving door.

Does it seem like Washington's rigged for the well connected? That's because it is.

Washington's a cesspool of money.

An honest politician is one who, when he is bought, will stay bought.

As a lobbyist, I thought it only natural and right that my clients should reward those members who saved them such substantial sums with generous contributions. This quid pro quo became one of hallmarks of our lobbying efforts.

I would argue that one of the issues which the public should be much more emphatic about with all politicians... is patronage, appointing people to high positions because they supported your campaign or helped you raise money.

You can’t have a corrupt lobbyist if you don’t have a corrupt Congressman or staff member…. It’s a team effort.

Farmers who are legislators are the easiest to buy and seduce.

Those guys [congressmen] lived on the basis of getting their little tidbits and their perks.

Politicians can be bought and often are.

Friendship is the most corrupting influence in politics.

I have never seen such lobbying before as we have had in the last few weeks and such crookedness and complicity among members [of congress].