Find out why Washington is like "Rod Stewart's haircut": Watch John Oliver's takedown of the messy campaign finance world

"These are usually shitty parties in D.C. bars, restaurants, or townhouses," Oliver said of the fundraising circuit

Published April 4, 2016 3:59PM (EDT)

"Last Week Tonight" host John Oliver tackled campaign financing in congressional races.

Among the "most obvious form of fundraising" by congresspeople are fundraisers, Oliver explained.

"These are usually shitty parties in D.C. bars, restaurants, or townhouses," he said, noting estimates that representatives held upwards of 2,800 fundraisers in the 2014 midterm cycle. "Washington is like Rod Stewart's haircut: party in the front, party in the back; frankly too much party and no business to be found."

Oliver called the prominent fundraiser circuit "glamorous compared to the hours and hours that politicians spent fundraising over the phone." In 2013, the Huffington Post got hold of a slide from a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee recommending representatives spend 4 hours on the phone fundraising every day.

"Four hours on the phone," he added. "The only time that makes sense is if you're trying to have phone sex with Sting."

Watch the full segment below:


By Brendan Gauthier

Brendan Gauthier is a freelance writer.

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Campaign Finance John Oliver