Adam Smith: “I think the point is I do not believe that most people just say well, you did not give me $1,000, so you do not have…”

“I think the point is I do not believe that most people just say well, you did not give me $1,000, so you do not have access. I think what happens is everyone thinks that. So now some might be playing hard ball and saying ``Do not even come see me if you do not bring money.'' That is the exception. The American people think that is how it operates. But it has it started to be that is they do it because someone on another issue might counter you, and if you do not do it, what if they do it, and it becomes a spending war here. In Washington State, when I first arrived, it bothered me there as much, and I was in the State legislature, as it is doing here. I realized they had fund raisers immediately before a session, even though they did not have them officially during the half year or so they were in session. They would have them and just back people up into these huge rooms and continually, several a night, raise money. They had office funds, which is where the gifts were put, and that is the money they could use for stereos and things like that, then they would have campaign funds. And every chair kept track of who came and who did not come, and it was pretty blatant there. I do not know if it is here or not, but the American people perceive both as disgusting. It took me actually 4 years of trying with the legislature, to finally have an initiative.”