StudioGlyphic

DEAN'S E-REFORM

Indeed, the Dean campaign will likely mark the end of the big money era in our politics, when campaigns were dominated by ultra-wealthy donors or special interests contributing massive amounts of money.

Dean is proving that, through the Internet, he can mobilize large numbers of relatively small contributors, whose combined giving can overwhelm that of wealthy special-interest donors. In so doing, he's also ending the oligarchy of monied power in the Democratic Party typified by Terry McAuliffe, the Democratic National Committee chairman whose sole qualification is his ability to raise big bucks.

He just doesn't get it. You're still going to have big-money campaigns. George Bush is running a big money campaign and is expected to haul in close to $50 million this quarter. You're still going to have fundraising by face-to-face contact, direct mail, and telephone. Not everyone likes to use the Internet, and some people want to be able to see a candidate before supporting him. The Internet is not replacing anything. Combinations of all these communication tools and fundraising techniques will continue to be used for the next 10 years, at least.

What makes the Dean campaign different is that people are attracted to Dean and his message. And yes, they've been stirred up by their opposition to the radical Republicans in charge. But the Internet stuff is a symptom and not the cause of that grassroots support. It's like saying that Dean is successful because he speaks to crowds of thousands of people, and that in the future, all candidates can become successful by speaking to crowds of thousands. Nice try, Dick.