Has the Marriage of Political Power and Big Money Gone Too Far?
Jump to full article: ABC News, 2000-08-03
Author: Brian Ross
Intro: And last night they did not want ABCNEWS anywhere near them, as they pushed our camera away. “Get back, get back, this is private property,” is all they said.
Among those given a prime Four Seasons room by the Republicans was John Scruggs, the chief lobbyist for Phillip Morris.
Scruggs and at least 20 other lobbyists for the embattled tobacco company have been all over the town this week, their access guaranteed by all the money they’ve put up to pay for the parties in honor of the same Republicans who may control any legislation involving the tobacco industry.
When asked why they contribute so much money to the Republican Party — almost $3 million during the 1997-1999 election cycle — Scruggs answered: “Well, we feel that he [Gov. Bush] has been responsive to our issues and what we have to say.”
Is that a kind of legal bribe?
“Oh no, we don’t think so, not at all,” Scruggs says.
Shakedown?
But now even some corporate executives are saying big money and politics, Phillip-Morris-style, have gone just too far.
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