You Should Have Just Stayed Silent, ‘K’
Here’s the explanation offered by Kyle Chisek (who remained deathly silent for most of the discussion) at tonight’s Sex, Beer, and Charter Reform! forum (hosted by the Mercury and the Bus Project) for why Team Potter dragged its feet on filing its campaign contribution reports: Do you pay your taxes right away, or do you stall until the last possible moment?
Very shortly thereafter, I drunkenly shouted out, “Transparency, Kyle!” The explanation, of course, isn’t an explanation.
One stalls on paying one’s taxes because one hates to part with one’s money.
One stalls on releasing one’s campaign finance reports because one wants to avoid, for as long as possible, anyone knowing who is giving you money to fund your campaign.
If you believe in the values of accountability, transparency, and oversight — as Team Potter claims it does — then you don’t simply follow the letter of the law. You follow its spirit.