We learn from an early age that part of “being an adult” is filling out forms.  In grade school, how many of you guys had papers and tests returned to you with red marks pointing out where you skipped a problem, or forgot to write your name at the top?  Probably a lot of you.  It’s part of human fallibility.

But as you got older and wiser, this kind of thing happened less and less, as you became more responsible, and made sure that all your I’s were crossed and T’s were dotted, or vice versa, right?

FEC campaign disclosure forms may seem like mundane, pointless work, but a candidate’s willingness to be open with his or her financial records is a good indicator of how that accountable and transparent a candidate will be, if or when she’s elected to office.  If one fudges and obfuscates their campaign numbers, or forgets to file a form, it’s a good possibility they’ll fudge, forget, and obfuscate in Congress—the exact kind of thing we see in Congress today, and are trying to get rid of.

It just so happens that we have an object lesson in the Georgia 4th Congressional District Republican primary.  Candidate Liz Carter has the unique distinction of being the only primary candidate who disclosed and fully accounted for every contribution and expenditure—which, if you think about it, everyone should be doing, because that’s the whole point of campaign finance disclosures in the first place.

How untransparent and obfuscating is her competition?  One candidate hasn’t even turned in his “homework” yet, and the primary is tomorrow!  Whoops!

The upshot is this: if you want accountability from your Congress, and you live in Georgia’s 4th Congressional District, vote for Liz Carter.  Do your homework, and then vote for Liz Carter because she does hers right.