Mark Shields Quotes

Money in politics is like ants in your kitchen. You close all the holes and get them all out or they'll find their way in again.

The ability of big money to shape perceptions - where you have four anti-climate lobbyists for every single member of the House and Senate - is a big factor.

Money has too big an influence on our politics in Washington and somehow we need to do something about that.

America has the best congress money can buy.

Politicians can be bought and often are.

The first iron rule of American politics is Follow the Money. This explains, oh, about 80 percent of what goes on in Washington.

Politics has become unbelievably and unfortunately way too much about how much money is involved rather than what kind of ideas are involved.

Anyone who has been around Washington politics long enough can't avoid this truism: Election-year money is like a rushing river that invariably finds cracks in any dam the reformers erect.

Trying to take money out of politics is like trying to take jumping out of basketball.

Experience in other countries shows how big money, rather than the best political candidate, can influence politics.

Big money is ruining the political system.

Even though Senator Cranston was one of the most liberal members of the Senate, most of the time I was with him he was on the phone asking rich men for money….His ideals were as wonderful as any, but at the end of the day, he was still beholden to money.

A $5,000 campaign contribution to a member of Congress will hardly get you a thank you these days.

If you put enough money on the table, Congress will respond to the money.

Large sums of money really unbalance the democratic process.

Special interests and Congress are too closely connected and the ties that bind are the millions spent on campaigns.

Money in politics leads to bad things—and I am bipartisan in that view.

People correctly perceive that the most powerful thing in Washington is money.

Much of the money raised in politics does not come free of charge.

American politics is money and thirty second spots.

So long as politicians need millions to win a seat in Congress and nearly a billion to contest the White House, they will sanctify the methods needed to raise such sums.

Public [campaign] financing and free television time are the things that will diminish the high influence that money has on politics.

The Federal campaign contribution limit of $2,500 is way too low. You can’t even buy a Democrat for $2,500.

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

Not since the gilded age has our politics been opened so wide to corporate contribution and donations from secret sources.