The Democrats Ignore the 500-Pound Lobbyist in the Room; By Michael Winship

In the 35 single-spaced pages of the Democratic Party’s platform draft, there is just one mention of lobbying. Oh, it says some fine uplifting things about voters lacking a proper voice in government, about money and politics and the need to overturn Citizens Unitedand Buckley v. Valeo, two of the Supreme Court decisions that unleashed a deluge of dollars into our electoral system. But the word “lobbying” is only in there once. And that’s in reference to regulating our financial system. “We will crack down on the revolving door between the private sector — particularly Wall Street, and the federal government, and bar financial-service regulators from lobbying their former colleagues for at least two years.” Nothing about how lobbyists bundle masses of cash for candidates and bankroll lavish lunches & soirees at the party conventions. Nothing about the thousands employed along K Street.