93-year-old pushes for campaign finance reform

A 93-year-old woman who walked across the country three years ago to call attention to campaign finance reform is in Iowa today, spreading her message.Doris Haddock of Dublin, New Hampshire goes by the name “Granny D” on the road, and she spoke in Decorah last night and at the state capitol today. She says the greatest problem in American society is the way campaigns are financed.While corporations gain influence with their political donations, Haddock says Americans are losing our freedoms and democracy. She says she wants to maintain our way of life for future generations.Haddock says she has 16 great-grandchildren and wants them brought up in a democracy. “Granny D” says at 93 years of age, she’s seen one-third of our nation’s history and she says the political system doesn’t have to be “owned” by corporations. Haddock says it’s time for states, and the nation, to adopt public funding of elections.She says a man has to sell his soul or be a multimillionaire to run for office. “Granny D” headlined an event organized by three grassroots organizations that’re seeking campaign reform. Bob Uetz, an Ames high social studies teacher, calls Haddock a patriot.He says people like “Granny D” are the way things get changed in our country, they demand change. Uetz is board chairman of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement.