Democrats Are Strapped, Strapped, Strapped!

Wednesday, June 11th, 1997 -- With the 1998 congressional elections looming, the Democratic National Committee is hurting. Rumored to be at least $15 million in debt and burdened with extraordinary legal fees, the party, now calling for across-the-board soft-money cuts or outright bans, is out there drumming up dollar support in a big way.

This evening the President of the United States will attend a dinner at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington. His charge? To get 50 traditional DNC heavy-hitters to raise enough money to get the party to break even. It's doubtful the President will ask for the money directly, but those attending tonight's fete already know why they're having dinner with Bill Clinton -- and it's not just because he likes them. Attendees have been briefed that they are expected to give at least $200 thousand apiece -- and raise another $50 thousand from other sources over the next two years.

To be fair, the White House did not ask for a total ban on soft money and does not expect that the FEC will act on its request this year. It is also expected that the GOP -- a bigger beneficiary of soft money donations -- will fight any attack on this source of funds -- even in court, if neccessary.

The press has not been easy on the President about this matter. Each time he attends a fundraiser cries of "foul" emerge in White House press briefings from reporters seemingly "outraged" that on one hand the President asks to lessen the impact of money on politics, and on the other, asks for big money contributions.

White House press secretary Mike McCurry is not amused by the Clinton-baiting. At a particularly abusive daily news briefing McCurry said he was tired of reporters playing "Gotcha!" every time President Clinton attends a fund-raiser.

"As long as we're going to have politics and campaigns in this country paid for by private sources, we're going to have to have fund-raisers. Okay? That's just not going to change,'' he muttered.

McCurry is right. Whether or not the White House supports down-the-road campaign finance reform, such support should not exclude Democrats from trying to match GOP contributions dollar for dollar.

Right now, that's the American way.

© 1998, 1997, American Politics Journal Publications Inc.