by American Citizen

Created on: April 21, 2009   Last Updated: April 24, 2009

It's easy to see how poll results get skewed with questions like these. The tricks in the question include "campaign funds", "offices" and "benefit". An effective debate requires acknowledgement of the terms and usually definitions otherwise we may as well be speaking different languages.

Well, let's start with "office". There is really no reason why a politician's family member shouldn't be authorized to use the office for campaign activities. This is regardless of whether the relative is being compensated with campaign funds. What matters is the activity. Sarah Palin comes to mind when her husband used the governor's telephone for personal activity. The activity in question had to do with getting a former brother-in-law out of a law enforcement job because he posed a physical threat to the Palin family. Worthy activity. But still inappropriate usage of public equipment and space.

As for "benefit", let's use a couple hypothetical scenarios. Let's say Bob Jones is running for a US Congressional seat, and his college-age son is studying political science. The son is earning minimum wage to cover his pocket expenses. Between his parents' savings, his own savings, scholarships and minimal student loans, his tuition, room, board and books are covered. The canvassing and fundraising activities in which he's engaged for his dear old dad's campaign cost him $300 out of pocket.

Why wouldn't his father reimburse him out of the campaign funds? Three-hundred dollars to a college student is a painful chunk of change. But the question is, "Is that a benefit?" The kid has merely been made whole. If, on the other hand, his father covered the expenses and ALSO paid him $50/hour from the campaign funds, then that's an enriching benefit that probably wouldn't be justifiable to the constituents.

What if the good Bob Jones is not a member of the financial or political elite? Perhaps he's an independent organic farmer with a network of community contacts whose trust he has earned over the years. Bob's an honest broker. His food products can be totally trusted. There's no chemical run-off into the water supply. Organic farmers rely on his techniques because he shares them in books and articles. People rumor that he must have descended from King Solomon because his judgment is so sound. His "campaign office" is a customized shed he built in his barn. His entire family is campaigning for him and it's costing them quite a bit.

TV ads and radio spots are millions of dollars per week (per

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