<p>As one who has followed Sen. Mitch McConnell's stiff opposition to campaign finance reform efforts for many years, I can't help but recall that while McConnell opposed any campaign finance reform efforts he was always a fan of campaign finance disclosure. That's why his current position on the secret hold/objection on the Senate's electronic disclosure bill - I know but I won't tell - is a bit strange. I mean, if he's for disclosure, then he should want to help S. 223 along. </p> <p>Here's a sampling of some of what he said in 2001 and 2002 in the context of the debate on the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform law:</p> <blockquote><p>This is about as mild as it gets. All we are asking is for a simple disclosure to the public and to union members of how this money is spent....</p> <p>It doesn't restrict their spending of the money. It doesn't in any way hamper their ability to raise the money. Simple disclosure is all the Hatch amendment is about, disclosure and sunlight....</p> <p>If you want to deal with perception, you take money all the way out of politics and we'd have a Japanese kind of system. What we ought to have is <a name="ORIGHIT_9" title="ORIGHIT_9"></a><a name="HIT_9" title="HIT_9"></a>disclosure.... </p> <p>I think groups should have the right to run those ads, but they ought to be disclosed and they ought to be accurate. </p> </blockquote><p> <br />Sen. McConnell has even gained praise in at least two Kentucky papers for his advocacy of campaign finance disclosure: </p> <p>The Kentucky Post has written: "But give McConnell this: He has never hidden his opposition to campaign spending limits, he's been a worthy opponent for all comers and he has advocated full disclosure so that voters know who is giving to whom. He has elevated the debate."</p> <p>The Lexington Herald Leader wrote: "McConnell and others oppose most restrictions on constitutional grounds and instead advocate greater <a name="ORIGHIT_8" title="ORIGHIT_8"></a><a name="HIT_8" title="HIT_8"></a>disclosure of the sources of money in political campaigns."</p> <p>So where does Senator McConnell stand today? For or against campaign finance disclosure? Call him and find out at (202) 224-2541. If he won't talk with his colleagues and ask them to drop their objection on S. 223, or start naming names, we know he's no friend of transparency.</p> <p> </p>
