The Corruption of American Politics: What Went Wrong and Why [Paperback]

Elizabeth Drew (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2000

Drawing on her superb skills as a probing journalist and shrewd analyst, Washington reporter Elizabeth Drew details precisely how money and ideology, as well as a lower quality of politicians and lower standards of political behavior, have debased American politics over the past twenty-five years. Wise, insightful, and timely, The Corruption of American Politics offers invaluable suggestions as to how we can restore our government to be responsive to the needs of its citizens.

"[Drew] nimbly brings to life the machinations on Capitol Hill and the White House with fresh perspective, behind-the-scenes detail and convincing analysis. . . . In fact, Drew's examination of campaign finance makes a compelling narrative."--Richard L. Berke, The New York Times Book Review

". . . one of the most skillfully written, as well as insightful, looks inside the Beltway to appear in a very long time."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"There is no one better on Washington than Elizabeth Drew."--Joan Didion

"What Rachel Carson was to the nascent environmental movement of the 1960s, Drew is to the campaign finance reform movement of the 1990s. . . . [A] profoundly important and disturbing work . . . Elegant, magisterial, and persuasive, this book establishes Drew as the political conscience of the nation."--Library Journal

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Elizabeth Drew, longtime Washington correspondent for The New Yorker, provides an up-close look at the scandalous roots of America's political culture. With its focus on campaign-finance reform, The Corruption of American Politics is not a flashy read but a surprisingly engrossing one, full of vivid characterizations and sly observations (one senator, for example, is described as "unburdened by brilliance"). Drew places her subject in the larger context of what has happened to American political life since Watergate. The public has lost most of its faith in government, she writes, warning: "Lack of trust creates the risk of susceptibility to demagoguery, or of abuses of the democratic process." Her behind-the-scenes descriptions are a real strength--she has incredible access to Washington's movers and shakers--but they also give rise to a weakness: the politicians who double as sources tend to come off well, while the reverse is true for those who didn't invite Drew into their confidence. In addition, readers who lean conservative may detect a whiff of liberal bias on these pages; yet they need not agree with all of Drew's judgments to appreciate her journalism. For a glimpse at how Washington really works--from the naked partisanship of Congress to the White House spin machine--Elizabeth Drew is hard to beat. --John J. Miller --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Drew has been writing about Washington for a generation, so she is more than qualified to consider "the debasement of American politics over the past twenty-five years." In Whatever It Takes , she described how campaign finance law was manipulated in 1996; it was said that Senator Fred Thompson (R-TN) kept a copy of her book nearby as he headed the Senate committee investigating campaign finances. It comes as no surprise, then, that Corruption is largely about the travails of that committee and the unsuccessful efforts of legislators, including Thompson, John McCain (R-AZ), Russ Feingold (D-WI), Christopher Shays (R-CT), and Marty Meehan (D-MA), to pass legislation to reform the system. But the same issues central to the campaign reform battle--the dominant role of money, intense partisanship, lack of civility, erosion of trust, institutional failures, lack of leadership--were on display in the impeachment struggle, which Drew also discusses here. True to her years with the New Yorker, Drew never hesitates to deliver opinions; how awful to be one of the legislators she labels a "dim bulb" ! For political junkies and others who care about what happens inside the Beltway, Corruption offers fascinating insider detail. Mary Carroll --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 278 pages
• Publisher: Overlook TP; First Edition edition (March 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585670499
• ISBN-13: 978-1585670499
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #252,886 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Money does not equal free speech, September 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Corruption of American Politics: What Went Wrong and Why (Hardcover)

The book is a compelling argument for campaign finance reform, and a sobering portrait of the petty bickering, hypocrisy, and corruption inherent in the current system of federal elections. The reviewer from Washington, D.C., is not to be trusted; he or she misrepresents the First Amendment issues that hypocrits like Mitch McConnell use to scuttle reform bills. Drew devotes a whole chapter to the First Amendment, shining light on how soft money is used to fund "issue ads" that aren't about issues at all but are designed to target specific candidates. In the end, the current system favors incumbents or wealthy individuals, and leads to bribery of elected officials. Despite their rhetoric, people opposed to campaign finance reform are not defending the First Amendment; they are simply using any means possible to stay in power and thwart true representation in government.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I wish this book wasn't still so relevant., August 25, 2001

By 

slomamma (San Luis Obispo, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Corruption of American Politics: What Went Wrong and Why (Paperback)

Elizabeth Drew wrote this book about campaign finance reform in 1999, but unfortunately itÕs still relevant. For years, Drew has been one of the most level headed and non-partisan political writers around. ThereÕs not a bit of "spin" in her work. So when someone as calm and reasonable as this writer says that the politicians we have to day are less intelligent, less thoughtful and less ethical than the politicians of a generation ago, I take her very seriously. We all love to complain about politicians, but Drew obviously has a lot of respect for government and the people who once served in it. She doesnÕt engage in idle rhetoric. Drew argues that we have lousy people representing us because the need to constantly raise money has driven out of politics all but a handful of the best people, leaving us nothing but the dregs. Both houses of Congress are now stuffed with men (and a handful of women) who know more about money grubbing than they do about history, economics or public policy. And money influences not only the quality of the legislators, but the kind of issues that come before congress. Like John McCain, she insists that we canÕt use government to help solve any of our problems until we get control of the power money has over politicians. Right now "our" government simply doesnÕt belong to us. I wish there were more solutions offered here. Drew ends by reminding the reader of the importance of voting and writing to representatives. That doesnÕt seem to me nearly strong enough. There must be more we can do. But as a chronicle of the influence of money in contemporary politics, this book canÕt be beat.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A familiar tale well told, February 20, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Corruption of American Politics: What Went Wrong and Why (Paperback)

I didn't vote for Nader and LaDuke this last election, but I understand why there were lots of voters who did. There may be differences between the Democratic and Republican "visions," but one thing both parties see clearly enough is $$$$ galor, soft, hard and in the shades of grey between. This, plus the eroding of even a modicum of civility and decorum in the House and Senate (I worked on Capitol Hill during the Seventies and, yes, both chambers USED to be civilized; thanks for nothing, Newt!) and the other ways in which our governing branches have fallen apart, are examined by Elizabeth Drew in detail and with a great deal of (warranted) dismay and disgust. And contrary to the folks here who've complained of Drew's so-called liberal bias, damned few current senators or representatives of any political stripe come out of this book without smelling. Senator Fred Thompson is one of the few who does emerge unscathed, hardly a "fiery liberal spirit," to paraphrase Tom Lehrer. This book may or may not be revelatory overall, but, more likely, it'll confirm what you've suspected all along---the system'll stay broke so long as money and special interests call the tune. Slick Willie's latest post-presidency revelations certainly indicate that this much is true and Mitch McConnell's only allegiance has been to the almighty dollar, anyway, so....but enough. A good, provocative book that should boil your blood.