Money and Politics - E.J. Dionne Jr.

Money and Politics by E.J. Dionne, Jr. - CJ

WASHINGTON -- With the Supreme Court slowly closing the door on traditional approaches to campaign finance reform, individual citizens will have to take the cause into their own hands.

The good news is that hundreds of thousands of Americans are doing exactly that. The small-donor uprising, which began in the 2004 campaign, could fundamentally alter the direction of American politics without any changes in the law. But if Congress took some modest steps, it could ensure this revolution's success, and do so in a way that even judicial conservatives could accept.

The recent fundraising reports from the presidential candidates should give them hope in this endeavor. An unprecedented number of small contributors are standing up to the big guys.

Barack Obama is the main beneficiary, but by democratizing fundraising -- the most elitist aspect of our politics -- small donors could bring a salutary dose of equality to the process.

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