Abraham Lincoln would have been a perfect poster child for campaign finance reform. 

Now it seems that there are only two types of people seem to complain about campaign finance reform — bloggers and a handful of maverick politicians.  But there are signs that the mainstream media just may be getting it.

Back in 1864 Lincoln wrote:

"I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. . . . corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed."

Yes that's right — Abraham Lincoln, a Republican, actually worried about how big business was wielding power.  Of course this was way back when the Republican party was the party of progressive ideals so those times are way far gone, but even today Lincoln's words speak volumes.

Wouldn't it be nice if a few mainstream media stories actually looked back and cited Lincoln as a source for why we need to evaluate campaign finance reform?