The high cost of politics

This will probably be the most expensive election in Iowa history, judging by all the money that’s being spent on political advertising.

The political ads seemingly run non-stop. I’ll bet the race for Iowa governor will cost more than $30 million when all of the bills are paid.

Not all of the cash is being spent by the candidates themselves. The really nasty ads are run on their behalf by PACs (political action committees) that are supposedly independent from the candidates. Sure.

I think the most effective ads have been from Josh Turek, candidate for U.S. Senate, a spina bifida patient who has been shown campaigning by rolling his wheelchair uphill. These ads depict his determination and fight, traits that appeal to nearly everyone.

A huge amount of money is being directed at social media, as Facebook and YouTube lure viewers from traditional TV. Since we’re in western Iowa, we not only get to watch our own state’s candidates pitch for our votes, but we get to see all the nastiness in Nebraska politics as bonus coverage. The Dan Osborn-Pete Ricketts Senate race in the Cornhusker state is a doozy. I don’t think they like each other.

Not all politicians have played this game. One of America’s most prominent Senators, William Proxmire of Wisconsin, never spent more than $200 on his campaigns. The only money he spent — all out of his own pocket — was for the fees to file his reelection papers. He didn’t even accept reimbursement for travel expenses related to his official duties. The Democrat, who served from 1957 to 1989, was an early proponent of campaign finance reform and refused all contributions. He promoted his campaigns through newspaper, TV and radio coverage and public meetings.

President Donald Trump isn’t even a candidate, but he’s running TV ads promoting himself like he is running. There are at least 13 ads planned, at a budget of $20 million. The ads were paid for by taxpayers in violation of U.S. law. On Monday night Trump agreed to have his campaign fund pay for the remaining ads, but taxpayers are still on the hook for the first group. One of the ads is an eerie black and white view of Trump walking down a long door-lined hallway, glowering into the camera, a foreboding soundtrack in the background. Creepy.

Around Washington, D.C., you can see three-story banners of Donald Trump’s face, draped outside several government buildings including the Department of Justice, Department of Agriculture and Department of Labor. They’re reminiscent of Chairman Mao’s giant portrait in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. Your tax dollars at work.

I’m John Cullen and I approve of this column.