A comment made by Patricia Madrid during the 1st Congressional District debate Tuesday night was exemplary of what’s wrong with politics.
Madrid, a Democrat, was asked about $125,000 given to her political action committee by Stan Fulton, the owner of the Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino. Fulton gave the money in two installations, one just before and the other just after Madrid formally opposed last year the proposal by the Jemez Pueblo to build a casino 10 miles away in Anthony. She took the money despite the fact that Fulton admitted he’s tossing money around to try to defeat the Anthony proposal.
It’s money I’ve called on Madrid to return, but she has not done that.
“I do think you have to be careful about taking large sums of money from lobbyists,” Madrid said at the debate. “But even if you do, it is only to give them access to let you know about what their concerns are. Certainly it’s not to have you vote or rule in any certain way or obligate you in any way.”
Heather Wilson, Madrid’s incumbent, Republican opponent, responded appropriately.
“I’m amazed at what I just heard,” she said, according to the Albuquerque Journal. “No one buys access in my office. Any New Mexican that wants to speak to me, it’s not conditional on paying at the door.”
I’m skeptical of Wilson’s assertion that she doesn’t do the same thing, but Madrid’s comment was egregious. Unfortunately, her thinking is rampant in politics. Gov. Bill Richardson does it. U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce does it. The Bush White House does it.
A politician who gives better access to the rich is as hypocritical as a church that lets well-dressed people sit up front and makes the homeless stand in the back.
Our democracy is intended to serve all people equally, not give preferential treatment to the rich. If Madrid and other politicians give better access to corporate moguls than everyday citizens, they have lost sight of the jobs they were elected to do.
Fulton doesn’t even live here. He has a couple of homes in other Western states. It’s true that his casino creates jobs here, but it takes money from gamblers in return. That’s the deal. Additional access to politicians to keep rival businesses out of the market should not be allowed.
That’s because a decision on whether a casino is built in Anthony should be up to the citizens and the leaders they elect – not the corporations.
Do the impoverished Jemez, who can’t afford a $125,000 entry fee, get equal access to Madrid? Do all the people in Anthony and surrounding areas who support the casino?
Do the everyday citizens who agree with Fulton?
The implication of her comment is that they don’t.
Again, this isn’t a criticism of Madrid or Democrats only. A check of finance reports reveals that Fulton gives primarily to Republicans, and Republicans are just as guilty of giving special treatment to those who give a lot of money.
This is the single greatest problem with our current political system.
A comment made by Patricia Madrid during the 1st Congressional District debate Tuesday night was exemplary of what’s wrong with politics. 
“I do think you have to be careful about taking large sums of money from lobbyists,”