Fundraising frenzy

Re “Time to Get Private Money Out of Public Policy,” Jan. 23

It is amazing to watch Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger rehabilitating former Gov. Gray Davis’ image as a grubby fundraiser. Because of our current governor’s wildly excessive fundraising, Davis’ excesses begin to seem not so bad. Could it be that Schwarzenegger’s competitive nature drives him to establish new records for fundraising, or did he never really believe his campaign speeches? I never thought Schwarzenegger would give me a better opinion of Davis. Too bad -- I still think political fundraising is a cancer in the body politic that requires total extraction.

CHARLES M. WEISENBERG

Beverly Hills