Better to Give than to Receive?

I once heard a seasoned political strategist give this advice to a group of Public Affairs professionals: “Don’t let your clients try to understand how things work in politics. It will only frustrate them.”

Over the last several days, I’ve made the mistake of trying to understand what purpose was served by politicians giving back contributions they received legally and properly from people who were later charged with corruption.

My reasoning was sound. In most cases the money in question was spent long ago, so it’s really someone else’s money being returned. Giving it back isn’t going to magically restore our faith in the political process. Finally, I thought capitulating to Democratic attacks of guilt by association would only cloud the issues of real corruption on their part.

I still think I was right.

But sometimes in life, you have to make a choice between being right and being happy.

Today Mark Green’s happiness cost him $30,000 in campaign contributions, contributions he received legally and properly over a seven year period ending in 2003.

As a donor to Green’s campaign, I hate the idea that some of that money might be mine. On the other hand, if it buys Mark Green the distance he needs to keep shining the light on Governor Jim Doyle’s fundraising, I guess I can learn to be happy too.