Saturday, August 23, 2008

"Yet the party's just beginning. The candidates' own lavish conventions and invitation-only events may be the ultimate display of the corporate coziness they say they're against, CBS News investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson reports. To prohibit unfair influence, it's illegal for corporations to give directly to politicians, campaigns or political parties. But under a giant loophole, corporations can give unlimited money to the political conventions. And the politicians expect it. Corporations donate to so-called convention "host committees" that are supposed to be bipartisan and separate from the campaign. In reality, they're run by party leaders who produce brochures selling political access. Corporate clout at the conventions is now so institutionalized and blatant; it's a $100 million business."