Political parties break soft money fund-raising records

June 6, 2000
Web posted at: 2:22 PM EDT (1822 GMT)

By Beth Fouhy/CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- It may be the ultimate love-hate relationship: politicians and soft money. Because, despite all the handshakes, the legislation and the proclamations, the political parties can't get enough of it -- and they're raking it in like never before.

According to newly released figures by the Federal Election Commission, the Republican party and its campaign committees raised $86.4 million in soft money between January 1, 1999 and March 31st, 2000. That's a staggering 93 percent increase over the same period in the 1995-1996 election cycle.

Democrats did almost as well, raising $77 million for its party committees, about 94 percent above the 1995-1996 figures.

It was the Democrats' aggressive fund-raising tactics in 1996 that called attention to the easily-exploitable, soft money loophole. Congressional hearings and a Justice Department investigation depicted a fund-raising machine nearly out of control -- with the party accepting illegal overseas donations, and President Bill Clinton personally vetting so-called issue ads that clearly advocated his re-election.

The 1996 controversy also painted an unflattering portrait of Vice President Al Gore. In addition to his infamous visit to a Buddhist Temple for an illegal fund-raiser, Gore narrowly escaped an independent counsel investigation after he admitted making some 71 soft-money solicitations from his White House office -- despite his claims that "no controlling legal authority" presided over the fund-raising tactic.

Democrats argue that Republicans have long been the main beneficiaries of soft money, pointing to Republicans' efforts to thwart bipartisan legislation sponsored by Sens. John McCain (R-Arizona) and Russ Feingold (D-Wisconsin) that would have banned it.

So while both parties argue, the money keeps rolling in. The new FEC figures don't even reflect the two parties' most recent huge fund-raisers -- a $21 million Republican gala in April, and a blue jeans and barbecue bash for the Democratic National Committee last month that raised $26 million.

The two parties are now baiting one another over who will be the first to go on the air with issue ads, paid for by soft money. Judging from the new FEC figures, they'll both have a lot of it to work with.

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Tuesday, June 6, 2000

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• Gore announces child-care initiatives; Bush honors World War II veterans
  
• Democrats plan first wave of 'issue ads'
  
• Judge orders White House to produce e-mails
  
• Clinton pressures Congress on spending requests
  
• Political parties break soft money fund-raising records
  
• Republicans and Democrats share the Garden State's market for political intrigue
  
• Republicans offer compromises on patients' rights bill
  
• Vice President's wife appeals for votes, saying politics is 'personal'
  
• Bradley casts vote for Gore, promises to campaign for Democrats
  
• NRA's Baker sees year as pivotal for gun lobby
  
• latimes.com: Mountain states feel the neglect of presidential campaigns
  
• Gore, Mrs. Clinton raise $4 million at New York fund-raiser
  
• Secret money invading political system
  

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