. >> nina totenberg? >> in many ways, the is a for sale sign on the u.s. government. there are so many loopholes that allow so-called issue groups to spend money and nobody is accountable. it often comes in at the last moment to defeat people. i think it is a kindnd of scary thing for a democracycy. >> colby, from 1976 to 2008 every campaign was essentially controlled by the candite who would abide by limitations on what he could spend an rac. president obama in 2008 blew by that traditional and historical barrier and rode into uncharted territory. he said was raised $1 billion, republicans areoing to raise $1 billion. what is the consequence? >> you are right that money is the lifeblblood of politics, but it can also haveve a corrosive effect on politics. evan mentioned the negative ads ththat are going to be run. we havave already seen some of them in the washington area. the net effect will be not only to turn off people,ut to have an impact on voter turnout.t. where the money is being used is not enhance the reputation of any of these candidates. >> do we lose a s

. >> nina totenberg? >> in many ways , there is a for sale sign out side the u.s. government. there are so many loopholes that allow so-called issue groups to spend money and then shovel it back to other groups, and nobody is accountable, you have no idea who has spent money. it comes in often at the last moment, millions and millions of dollars to defeat people. it is a kind of scary thing for democracy. >> colby, from 1976 to 2008, every campaign was essentially controlled by the candidate, who abided by limitations on what he could spend an raise. president obama in 2008 blew by that traditional and historical barrier and went into uncharted territory. he said he would raise $1 billion, republicans will raise $1 billion. what is the consequence? >> well, you are right that money is the lifeblood of politics, but it can also have a corrosive effect on politics. evan mentioned the negative ads being run. we've already seen some in the washington area. the net effect will be to not only turn off people but to have an impact on voter turnout. the way the money is being used doe