Politics

Donald Trump Just Nailed the Bitter Truth About Money in Politics

August 16th 2015

GOP Presidential candidate and current front-runner Donald Trump told reporters on Saturday that he would be willing to spend $1 billion dollars to win his presidential campaign, if necessary. The businessman spoke to reporters while campaigning in Iowa and did not mince words about the vexing nature of money in politics. 

Trump specifically attacked his fellow GOP presidential contender, Jeb Bush, calling the former Florida governor a "puppet to his donors."  He elaborated by saying "I know how the system works better than anybody. Many of the people who gave to Jeb and to Hillary and to anybody else, they are friends of mine or enemies of mine. But they are people I know. These are not people that are doing it because they like the color of his hair, believe me. These are highly sophisticated killers.  And when they give $5 million dollars or $2 million or $1 million to Jeb, they have him just like a puppet. He'll do whatever they want. He's their puppet. Believe me."

Trump went on to detail how he turned down a $5 million dollar contribution from a lobbyist friend of his recently in order to evade being comprised in making policy decisions.  "I don't want [your 5 million dollars]," he said. "Because when you come back to me in two years and you want help for a company you are representing or a country that you are representing, I am going to do the right thing for the people of the United States and I don't want to have to insult you."

Joel Silberman, a media critic and partner at Democracy partners, wrote for ATTN: earlier this week that an overlooked upside of Trump's campaign is his significant net worth in that he can't be bought or co-opted by lobbyists, whether you agree or disagree with his message.  "Almost every candidate on stage is admittedly seeking the support of the billionaire donor class," Silberman wrote. "Donald Trump does not need these people. He is one of them. He does not need their money. He has his own and will be glad to tell you about it."

Trump concluded his statement to reporters: "Believe me nobody played the [campaign contributions] game better than I did. I know the game from the other side."

According to Bloomberg View, it is expected that the 2016 race will cost around $10 billion dollars, with both the Democratic and Republican party front-runners spending about $2 billion each. 

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