At the Intersection of Terrorism and Fundraising

The fact that members of Congress feel the need to raise enormous amounts of money isn’t new. Sometimes, the question that matters is how lawmakers solicit contributions.

Fundraising in the wake of a terrorist attack, for example, can raise awkward questions about basic propriety. NPR recently reported on one vulnerable Senate incumbent who’s arguably approaching an ugly line:

Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey’s campaign manager sent out a fundraising email, based on his opposition to letting Syrian refugees into Pennsylvania.

“Sen. Toomey believes nothing is more important than the security of the American people. To that end, he is pushing to suspend the admission of Syrian refugees into the United States until we are able to determine, with full confidence, that there are no security risks among them. … If you agree with Sen. Toomey, that nothing trumps the security of the American people, join the cause here.”