“Corporations have been enthroned … An era of corruption in high places will follow … until wealth is aggregated in a few hands … and the republic is destroyed.”

– Abraham Lincoln

I had this nightmare last night. It was the future and a puppet was being sworn in as president. And I got scared.

What happened next? Well, Iran.

When it comes to getting elected, the highest bidder wins.

In 2004, 91 percent of the presidential primary candidates who raised the most money won their general election, according to Look Who’s Not Coming to Washington.

In particular, Hillary Clinton is prostituting her potential political influence to fugitives and lobbyists for loads of cash.

Clinton recently gave back $850,000 in contributions to Norman Hsu, a Hong Kong native. He pled ‘no contest’ in 1991 to a grand theft case and skipped sentencing. And has been a fugitive on the run ever since.

So, I wonder.

Why would a thief give Clinton $850,000?

What kind of return was he expecting on his investment? Better medical care for the American people? Doubtful.

The Associated Press spun the story with this headline: “Clinton returns money, sets precedent.”

In the article, Larry Noble, a former member of the Federal Election Commission, champions Clinton, claiming she raised the bar on responding to troublesome fundraising.

The rest of the pro-Hillary article doesn’t dare mention the early August bashing she received for accepting $400,000 in campaign contributions from Washington, D.C. lobbyists.

She denied she was for sale, according to CNN.com: “I don’t think, based on my 35 years fighting for what I believe in, anybody seriously believes I’m going to be influenced by a lobbyist or a particular interest group.”

Seriously? That’s a relief, until you see her beliefs.

In February, Clinton revealed her thoughts on Iran. She believes “(they’re) a danger to the U.S.” according to the International Herald Tribune.

“We must not permit Iran to build or acquire nuclear weapons.

“We need to use every tool at our disposal, including diplomatic and economic in addition to the threat and use of military force.”

The stage is being set.

It appears Hillary is soliciting, and criminals and lobbyists are paying her top dollar for her services yet to be rendered. Orally, she denies being pimped.

But it’s scary to consider where her campaign contributions are coming from and what favors she’ll owe these investors if she gets in.

It hurts to see her hinting already toward invading Iran, under the weapons of mass destruction excuse.

It’s not a stretch to expect that the filthy rich are going to play dirty.

If the media were forced to provide free radio and TV time to candidates, it might help level the playing ground.

And how about some fresh faces? The same circle continues to pass the presidency around like it’s some party joint. It’s getting them so high, they’re above the law.

These changes aren’t coming by 2008, so who will you choose come election day?

Hillary, Mitt, Barack, Rudy, Pinocchio?

Which ever puppet you choose, expect money to do the talking, and forces unseen to be pulling the strings.

Ryan Szymczak is a senior English major and columnist for the Daily Kent Stater. Contact him at [email protected].