--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I certainly want campaign finance reform…" description: "\"I certainly want campaign finance reform. I just wish this would do it in a way that would stand up to a constitutional challenge.\" — Ben Nelson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/ben-nelson-25615_campaign-finance_i-certainly-want-campaign-finance-reform_49619.png" --- # I certainly want campaign finance reform. I just wish this… ![“I certainly want campaign finance reform. I just wish this would do it in a way that would stand up to a constitutional challenge.” quote by Ben Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/ben-nelson-25615_campaign-finance_i-certainly-want-campaign-finance-reform_49619.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/ben-nelson-25615_campaign-finance_i-certainly-want-campaign-finance-reform_49619.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/ben-nelson-25615_campaign-finance_i-certainly-want-campaign-finance-reform_49619.png) > “I certainly want campaign finance reform. I just wish this would do it in a way that would stand up to a constitutional challenge.” [Ben Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nelson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates for campaign finance reform but stresses the need for constitutional robustness. **In simple terms:** Calls for reform that can survive legal scrutiny. Key Takeaway Legal viability is essential for lasting change. Themes politics law reform democracy constitution Mood determined cautious optimistic Type political policy legal When to use this quote - legislative drafting - court challenges - political advocacy Key Concepts campaign finance constitutional law policy design Practical Applications - drafting reform bills - building legal defenses Questions to Reflect On - What constitutional safeguards are most effective? - How can reform balance transparency and legal stability? A Different Perspective Some argue that any reform will be vulnerable to challenges regardless of design. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Campaign finance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/campaign-finance/) [Finance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finance/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Reform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reform/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [The number one lobby that opposes campaign finance reform in the United States is the National Association of Broadcasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-number-one-lobby-that-opposes-campaign-finance-reform-in-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But having said that, what's happening with campaign finance reform and our political culture is devastating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-having-said-that-what-s-happening-with-campaign-finance-reform/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [That's why I say no matter your number one issue, please make campaign finance reform your number two - because we cannot address our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-phillips/that-s-why-i-say-no-matter-your-number-one-issue-please-make-campaign/) [Dean Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-phillips/) > [Nobody wants campaign finance reform more than me. It would save me a fortune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-tobias/nobody-wants-campaign-finance-reform-more-than-me-it-would-save-me-a/) [Andrew Tobias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-tobias/) > [One such issue that Arkansans want action taken on is campaign finance reform. And this is a problem that is not really all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conner-eldridge/one-such-issue-that-arkansans-want-action-taken-on-is-campaign/) [Conner Eldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conner-eldridge/) > [It starts with campaign finance reform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zack-space/it-starts-with-campaign-finance-reform/) Zack Space > [I think there is an overwhelming support for campaign finance reform, and that includes conservatives and Republicans. Where the problem is is with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/i-think-there-is-an-overwhelming-support-for-campaign-finance-reform/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [I have a lot of stands on a lot of political issues. I'm very big on campaign finance reform. I still think most Americans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-fairchild/i-have-a-lot-of-stands-on-a-lot-of-political-issues-i-m-very-big-on/) [Morgan Fairchild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-fairchild/) > [We need to end unlimited, unaccountable money for all political parties by passing comprehensive campaign finance reform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-murphy/we-need-to-end-unlimited-unaccountable-money-for-all-political/) [Patrick Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-murphy/) > [The biggest issue that we have to contend with is campaign finance reform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/the-biggest-issue-that-we-have-to-contend-with-is-campaign-finance/) [Gaby Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaby-hoffmann/) > [I have gone from a proponent of campaign finance reform to a revolutionary during my time in public service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-murphy/i-have-gone-from-a-proponent-of-campaign-finance-reform-to-a/) [Chris Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-murphy/) > [We need real campaign finance reform to loosen the grip of special interests on politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-daschle/we-need-real-campaign-finance-reform-to-loosen-the-grip-of-special/) [Tom Daschle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-daschle/) > [Well, paycheck protection is an important ingredient for a successful campaign finance reform measure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-card/well-paycheck-protection-is-an-important-ingredient-for-a-successful/) [Andrew Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-card/) > [“If we don’t enact sweeping campaign finance reform we will never see progress on the major issues facing our country… as the special interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-potter/if-we-don-t-enact-sweeping-campaign-finance-reform-we-will-never-see/) [Wendell Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-potter/) > [Scaling back the campaign finance reform bill may get more Republicans aboard, but it leaves many of us who have been involved in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-torricelli/scaling-back-the-campaign-finance-reform-bill-may-get-more/) [Robert Torricelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-torricelli/) ## More by Ben Nelson > [I'm not averse to helping Wall Street when it helps Main Street.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nelson/i-m-not-averse-to-helping-wall-street-when-it-helps-main-street/) [Ben Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nelson/) > [Amending the U.S. Constitution, the document most sacred to those who love freedom and liberty, is a delicate endeavor and should be done only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nelson/amending-the-u-s-constitution-the-document-most-sacred-to-those-who/) [Ben Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nelson/) > [Somewhere along the line common sense should prevail,.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nelson/somewhere-along-the-line-common-sense-should-prevail/) [Ben Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nelson/) > [Let me be clear. I support the definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nelson/let-me-be-clear-i-support-the-definition-of-marriage-as-a-union/) [Ben Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nelson/) > [A democratic and stable Iraq and Afghanistan are essential to our broader efforts to make no place safe for terrorists and to win the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nelson/a-democratic-and-stable-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-essential-to-our/) [Ben Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nelson/) > [Anytime the president visits Nebraska its good for Nebraska.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nelson/anytime-the-president-visits-nebraska-its-good-for-nebraska/) [Ben Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nelson/) > [When George Washington was elected president, there was no national vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nelson/when-george-washington-was-elected-president-there-was-no-national/) [Ben Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nelson/) > [Any time the president talks, you listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nelson/any-time-the-president-talks-you-listen/) [Ben Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nelson/) > [If we cannot agree, then at least we ought to move on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nelson/if-we-cannot-agree-then-at-least-we-ought-to-move-on/) [Ben Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nelson/) > [The heroes who emerged first from the rubble of the September 11 attacks were not politicians or generals and they didnt become household names…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nelson/the-heroes-who-emerged-first-from-the-rubble-of-the-september-11/) [Ben Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nelson/) > [We can take full comfort in realizing the continuing strength of our nation. Americas lands remain radiantly rich with diversity, and freedom still reigns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nelson/we-can-take-full-comfort-in-realizing-the-continuing-strength-of-our/) [Ben Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nelson/) > [I look at ANWR (Artic National Wildlife Refuge) as a poison pill in the energy bill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nelson/i-look-at-anwr-artic-national-wildlife-refuge-as-a-poison-pill-in-the/) [Ben Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nelson/) > [The security of our nation depends on the men and women who are willing to sacrifice their safety, and possibly their lives, to protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nelson/the-security-of-our-nation-depends-on-the-men-and-women-who-are/) [Ben Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nelson/) > [Our first responders risk their lives to help others. The least we can do is make sure they have the resources they need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nelson/our-first-responders-risk-their-lives-to-help-others-the-least-we-can/) [Ben Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nelson/) > [For many Americans, including many who are employed, going to the doctor when they fall ill or become injured may not be an option…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nelson/for-many-americans-including-many-who-are-employed-going-to-the/) [Ben Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nelson/) [Explore all 22 Ben Nelson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nelson/) ## More Campaign finance quotes > [The reason that minorities and women don't have a better shot at getting elected to the Senate or to statewide office is because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-moseley-braun/the-reason-that-minorities-and-women-don-t-have-a-better-shot-at/) [Carol Moseley Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-moseley-braun/) > [We are very frustrated because we have a Supreme Court that seems determined to say that the wealthier have more right to free speech…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/we-are-very-frustrated-because-we-have-a-supreme-court-that-seems/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [Climate change joined immigration, job creation, food safety, pilot training, veterans' care, campaign finance, transportation security, labor law, mine safety, wildfire management, and scores…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-packer/climate-change-joined-immigration-job-creation-food-safety-pilot/) [George Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-packer/) > [Tom DeLay may or may not have broken campaign finance laws, but he did his best to look like he was breaking them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/tom-delay-may-or-may-not-have-broken-campaign-finance-laws-but-he-did/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [If the need for comprehensive campaign finance reform was not already clear, the Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United permitting unlimited corporate and union…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-k-simpson/if-the-need-for-comprehensive-campaign-finance-reform-was-not-already/) [Alan K. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-k-simpson/) > [The plea agreement negotiated by Janet Reno's Justice Department with Nora, Gene and Trisha Lum is a hoax. It allows two key players in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-klayman/the-plea-agreement-negotiated-by-janet-reno-s-justice-department-with/) Larry Klayman > [I admired the way McCain worked on campaign finance reform. I admired the way Nancy Pelosi stiffened the Democrats' spine during the health care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/i-admired-the-way-mccain-worked-on-campaign-finance-reform-i-admired/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [Some corporations don't want free markets, and they don't want democracy. They want profits. And they use our campaign finance system to loot our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-f-kennedy-jr/some-corporations-don-t-want-free-markets-and-they-don-t-want/) [Robert F. Kennedy, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-f-kennedy-jr/) > [The number one lobby that opposes campaign finance reform in the United States is the National Association of Broadcasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-number-one-lobby-that-opposes-campaign-finance-reform-in-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Most politicians are corrupt as they do not represent the masses that voted for them, but rather they choose to return numerous favors to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/most-politicians-are-corrupt-as-they-do-not-represent-the-masses-that/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [My issue with campaign finance is 100 percent disclosure. Wear a suit with patches from your big contributors. Depending on the size of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/my-issue-with-campaign-finance-is-100-percent-disclosure-wear-a-suit/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [Campaign finance and ethics reform only works if it curtails all special interest groups equally and does not carve out any exceptions to benefit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-kean-jr/campaign-finance-and-ethics-reform-only-works-if-it-curtails-all/) [Thomas Kean, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-kean-jr/) > [I guess I was a little idealistic and thought if you are honest and you're well-qualified and capable of waging a good fight, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-long/i-guess-i-was-a-little-idealistic-and-thought-if-you-are-honest-and/) [Wendy Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-long/) > [But having said that, what's happening with campaign finance reform and our political culture is devastating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-having-said-that-what-s-happening-with-campaign-finance-reform/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If we don’t enact sweeping campaign finance reform we will never see progress on the major issues facing our country… as the special interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-potter/if-we-don-t-enact-sweeping-campaign-finance-reform-we-will-never-see/) [Wendell Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-potter/) [Browse all 83 Campaign finance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/campaign-finance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I certainly want campaign finance reform. I just wish this would do it in a way that would stand up to a constitutional challenge.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Nelson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nelson/i-certainly-want-campaign-finance-reform-i-just-wish-this-would-do-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Campaign finance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nelson/i-certainly-want-campaign-finance-reform-i-just-wish-this-would-do-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/ben-nelson-25615_campaign-finance_i-certainly-want-campaign-finance-reform_49619.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/ben-nelson-25615_campaign-finance_i-certainly-want-campaign-finance-reform_49619.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/ben-nelson-25615_campaign-finance_i-certainly-want-campaign-finance-reform_49619.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I certainly want campaign finance reform. I just wish this would do it in a way that would stand up to a…” — Ben Nelson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ben Nelson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nelson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I certainly want campaign finance reform....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nelson/i-certainly-want-campaign-finance-reform-i-just-wish-this-would-do-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nelson/i-certainly-want-campaign-finance-reform-i-just-wish-this-would-do-it/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```