who really benefits from CFR?

[Ellen Russak <erussak@aol.com>]

Kevin writes: Who will benefit the most from strict control of 
campaign financing? If candidates do not have avenues to 
disseminate their messages, will media giants such as: AOL 
Time-Warner, Disney, Fox, and Westinghouse have tremendous 
influence over what messages we receive?

Right now the ones who benefit the most from the present system 
are the corporations, large unions, and a very few, very wealthy 
individuals who basically buy the candidates and therefore are 
the only ones who are represented when they get into office. The 
media certainly are happy with the present system - what could be 
better for them except weaker campaign finance laws allowing more 
money to flow into ads?

There presently are web sites dedicated to providing candidates 
free, interactive, debates, where citizens can submit questions 
and all candidates can present their positions on issues, debate 
each other, and answer questions.  The League of Women Voters 
runs one and there are others.

Right now it is generally the less funded candidates who utilize 
this medium because they can't hope to compete with the media 
blitz of the well heeled candidates.  If legitimate campaign 
finance reform leveled the playing field somewhat, there would be 
a lot more interest in these less expensive (in this case, free) 
types of campaigning. I emphasize "legitimate reform" because 
there are a lot of sham bill being put out (such as the Hagel 
bill) that say they are providing campaign finance reform but 
either do not, or do just the opposite.

Besides, CFR does not eliminate raising funds - it just makes it 
more reason