OPINION:
“Money is the mother’s milk of politics,” said Jesse M. Unruh, who in the 1960s was a powerful Democratic politician and speaker of the California State Assembly.
It is a disgrace — if much is disgraceful these days — that we spend so much money electing to Congress people who do little or nothing to solve real problems once they get to Washington.
AdImpact, the leading advertising intelligence and market analytics company, estimates that more than $3.4 billion will be spent on this year’s midterms across all races. In Texas alone, an estimated $446 million will be spent by November.
President Trump wants to spend more. He has pledged to send every American a $5,000 check — but with a condition. Republicans must maintain their majorities in the House and Senate in order for Americans to get their “milk.”
This is just a shameless effort at vote-buying, though it is not without precedent.
In 1972, Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern tried something similar, promising to give every American — regardless of age or income — an annual $1,000 cash grant. He lost that race to Richard Nixon.
In 1936, Congress overrode President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s veto and appropriated $2 billion, amounting to $580 per World War I veteran. Presidents Biden and Trump sent “stimulus checks” to households during the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, Mr. Trump’s new promise has a twist.
Yes, Democrats do the same, though they try to be less obvious about it. There has always been “walking-around money,” especially in Democratic precincts in Chicago, to turn out the vote for Democratic candidates.
Today, we have “dark money” from the likes of George Soros and other progressives, as well as money coming from other countries that is laundered through American PACs and other entities.
There is a federal law against vote buying. It reads: “Whoever makes or offers to make an expenditure to any person, either to vote or withhold his vote, or to vote for or against any candidate; and whoever solicits, accepts, or receives any such expenditure in consideration of his vote or the withholding of his vote — Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if the violation was willful, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.”
Do not expect the Trump Justice Department (or even a Justice Department under future Democratic presidents) to enforce that one.
Democrats are threatening to challenge the president’s proposed payout, but it is difficult to see how they could do so in court before any checks have been issued, since the incentive to vote precedes the payment itself. Afterward, it will not matter, especially if Republicans hold on to or expand their congressional majorities.
The president has not said where his proposed “bribes” will come from. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the administration will not use tax dollars and noted there are several ways to raise the necessary cash to cover the estimated $1.2 trillion cost.
The Washington Times has reported that funding could come from the Trump Platinum Card program, which has not yet been launched. The program would require immigration applicants to pay a $15,000 processing fee and an additional $5 million contribution to the U.S. government in exchange for guaranteed citizenship.
That seems speculative.
Milk can turn sour. So can the “mother’s milk” of politics. This political “bribe” ought to be distasteful to every American, regardless of party.
• Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com. Look for Cal Thomas’ latest book, “A Watchman in the Night: What I’ve Seen Over 50 Years Reporting on America” (Humanix Books).
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