Former Dem congressman, GOP operative decry dark money
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A former Democratic congressman and a prominent Republican political operative are calling for an end to untraceable spending for and against candidates in Tennessee and around the country.
Former Rep. John Tanner told reporters on Tuesday that the lack of controls over spending has created a system of what he called “election by auction.”
Political strategist Tom Ingram, who has managed the campaigns of Republican Sens. Lamar Alexander, Bob Corker and Gov. Bill Haslam, said the lack of restraints on spending has made it near impossible for anyone without personal wealth to become a candidate for statewide or federal office.
Ingram said current rules force candidates to take advantage of the flood of money. In his words: “It’s like if steroids were legal in baseball, everybody would take steroids.”
