Get rid of the convention soft money

I was heartened to learn this week that the DNC is planning on adopting Obama's policy of refusing money from federal lobbyists.

But today's New York Times is depressing.  Both the DNC and RNC are planning on raising millions in soft money to pay for their conventions.

Donors who give $1 million or more at the “Presidential Sponsor” level are given convention credentials to all hospitality suites and are assured of invitations to private events hosted by Senator Ken Salazar of Colorado; the state’s governor, Bill Ritter Jr.; members of Colorado’s Congressional delegation; and other leading Democratic politicians.

I'm sorry, but this has no role in Barack Obama's Democratic Party.

I realize that $40 million is a large sum of money.

And I realize that regular folks don't want to donate money to be used for a big party.

I also realize that resources spent on the convention could be used elsewhere.

But I don't think we can let fat cats write $1 million checks for access during the convention.

It goes against what we stand for.

The politics are awful as well.  Just when the attention of the country will be focused on the democrats, the pro-McCain punditocracy is going to cynically call Obama a hypocrite for allowing this, even if McCain is much more dependent on the fats cats.

I would argue that we would gain millions of dollars in positive free media and credibility with the public if we could crow that we made our convention the first in the modern era not funded by special interests.

Ours will be the people's convention; theirs will the elitists.'

We know they want to paint Obama as an elitist.  Let's take away that talking point by holding a historic, untainted convention.

When the RNC meets, we could use our moral high ground to bludgeon them for cozying up to the wealthy when people are suffering economically.

I think this is worth $40 million dollars because it will help the Democratic brand enormously.  

What do you think?  Is this possible or is it unrealistic?