Wealthy donors boost both political parties

USA TODAY’s analysis about the super rich driving this election demonstrates how overblown the criticism of the Citizens United court case is (“Meet the super rich driving election,” News, Feb. 9).

It mentions the as-yet fruitless spending of a super PAC supporting Jeb Bush as well as the substantial donations of billionaire Tom Steyer that largely benefit Democrats. Omitted in the discussion were the unsuccessful north of $100 million contributions by Karl Rove’s PAC and Sheldon Adelson to Republican causes in the 2012 political cycle.

Criticism of Citizens United might be justified if the decision had banned unlimited spending by one political party, but your piece illuminates the competitiveness of the big money donors.

For every Steyer, there is an Adelson. For every George Soros, there is a Jeb Bush super PAC. The ultimate result is basically financial equilibrium with voters benefiting from all of the competing information helping them to make their respective choices.

Joe Cordill

Shreveport, La.

Thank you for that column on former Treasury secretary Timothy Geithner in the Money section on Wednesday (“Geithner feels the love from bank he bailed out”). It just confirms my perception that it won’t make much difference who becomes president: Wall Street runs the country.

Bob Bowser Seal Beach, Calif.