Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun Applauds U.S. Supreme Court Decision on Campaign Finance

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December 9, 2003
FOR MORE INFORMATION - Michael Mannino (312) 842-8500 or Loretta Kane (202) 543-5071

Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun Applauds U.S. Supreme Court Decision on Campaign Finance
Statement by Ambassador Carol Mosley Braun

We have to make certain that the role of campaign finance is not he who has the gold makes the rules. The whole point of our democracy is inclusion. And to the extent that raising money excludes or inhibits participation - especially among disenfranchised groups like women and people of color - policy makers have the obligation to remedy the situation.

Congratulations to Senators McCain and Feingold for their dogged determination in pursuing this law, which is the first step in real reform. Now, let's finish the job.

Currently, all voters are not equal in the eyes of the law. In Buckley v. Valeo, the high court found money to be the equivalent of speech. I hope today's decision is the beginning of real reform, including expanding the public finance of campaigns so that politics is no longer dominated by the rich.

As long as the big bucks of a few rule public elections, regular people will continue to fight uphill battles and become further disillusioned with the political process. Democracies are built upon people-not money. And our democracy cannot continue to thrive unless all of us - including women - have a place at the table.