October 21, 2010
I've had it. Enough is enough. Thanks to the Supreme Court, any fat cat can now pour unlimited funds to political candidates through so called "super pacs." And now this corrupting practice has happened here in the 1st Congressional District where, as reported in the Baltimore Sun of October 19th, two wealthy individuals, a construction company owner and a New York hedge fund executive, have entered the Congressional race between Frank Kratovil and Andy Harris by donating a total of $500,000 to Mr. Harris, including more than $149,000 for TV ads attacking Mr. Kratovil ("Firm's $300,000 backs Harris").
This raised the question in my mind of what the donors' reasons are for giving so much money to defeat Mr. Kratovil.
Considering the donors' backgrounds, they may believe Mr. Kratovil is anti-business. But that can't be because Mr. Kratovil is pro-business, as shown by his endorsement by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Well, maybe they think he is anti-gun. But again, that's not so as shown by his endorsement by the National Rifle Association. So what's left? Let's take a look at what Mr. Harris stands for as shown by his voting record in the state Senate. He has voted against funding for family planning; against extending unemployment benefits for part time employees; against Maryland's strategic energy program; and against increasing the minimum wage to $6.15 an hour. So Mr. Harris is against family planning, against the working poor and against taking steps to improve the environment.
Now I understand why the big shot, money bags support Andy Harris and believe it is worth investing half a million dollars to get him elected.
Larry Ageloff, Towson
