It’s not that there isn’t any political corruption in the U.S. government, only that sex scandals generally steal the limelight from political ones, which seem to go unnoticed by the U.S. population.
Unlike Spain, where any case of political corruption is widely covered by the media, in the United States this kind of case must be huge and affect key figures to have nationwide repercussion, according to Peter DeLeon, an expert in political corruption at the University of Denver.
In his book, “Thinking About Political Corruption,” DeLeon confirms that “the majority of political corruption cases in the United States have to do with bribery and patronage.” In the world’s largest economy, “influence peddling is rampant,” said DeLeon. “Money is frequently exchanged for favors. Or for access.”*
The “access” DeLeon refers to is the phenomenon by which large sums of money are given in exchange for getting to meet or have contact with key figures in government, finance and international sectors.
In fact, even the president of the United States has bought into the practice on numerous occasions. To raise funds for his political campaign, Obama has organized several evenings with businessmen and anyone else willing to pay thousands of dollars to dine with him. Last September, the president felt that the appropriate price for an evening in his company was $35,000 (about 26,600 Euros).
But he isn’t the first American politician who has used the practice, considered unethical by several focus groups. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton also organized evenings to raise funds to repay the debt that his wife, Hillary, accrued during her political campaign in 2008.
*Editor’s note: These quotes, while accurately translated, could not be verified.
En Estados Unidos no es que no haya corrupción entre la clase política, pero los escándalos sexuales suelen quitarles protagonismo a los políticos, que parecen pasar desapercibidos entre la población norteamericana.
A diferencia de España, donde cualquier caso de corrupción política es ampliamente difundido por los medios de comunicación, para que un tema de corrupción tenga repercusión nacional en Estados Unidos “tiene que ser muy gordo” y afectar a una figura importante, según señala el experto en corrupción política de la Universidad de Denver, Peter deLeon.
“La mayoría de casos de corrupción política en Estados Unidos tienen que ver con sobornos y clientelismo”, afirma el experto, autor del libro ‘Reflexiones sobre corrupción política’.
En la mayor economía del mundo “prolifera el tráfico de influencias”, explica deLeon, quien asegura que “es frecuente el intercambio de favores a cambio de dinero”. O de dinero a cambio “de acceso”.
El experto llama “acceso” al fenómeno por el cual se desembolsan grandes cantidades de dinero a cambio de conocer o poder estar en contacto con personalidades del gobierno, del mundo de las finanzas o líderes internacionales.
Sin ir más lejos el propio presidente de Estados Unidos se ha vendido a esta práctica en numerosas ocasiones. Con el objetivo de recaudar fondos para su campaña electoral, Obama ha organizado varias veladas con empresarios y todo aquel que esté dispuesto a pagar miles de dólares por cenar con él.
El pasado septiembre el presidente estimó que el precio adecuado que debía pagarse por una velada en su compañía era de 35.000 dólares (unos 26.600 euros).
Aunque no es el primer ni único político americano que ha recurrido a esta práctica, considerada como poco ética por varios grupos de opinión.
El expresidente estadounidense, Bill Clinton, organizó también veladas para recaudar fondos con los que saldar la deuda acumulada por la campaña de su mujer, Hillary, durante su candidatura presidencial en 2008.
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U.S. companies, importers and retailers will bear the initial costs which most economists expect to filter through the supply chain as a cost-push inflation.
“…sex scandals generally steal the limelight from political ones…”
Indeed! Bill Clinton was impeached for his sins, not his crimes.