Cite as: 528 U. S. 377 (2000)
Thomas, J., dissenting
tributions." Id., at 27. Later, in discussing limits on independent expenditures, the Court yet again referred to the interest in protecting against the "dangers of actual or apparent quid pro quo arrangements." Id., at 45. See also id., at 47 (referring to "the danger that expenditures will be given as a quid pro quo for improper commitments"); id., at 67 (corruption relates to "post-election special favors that may be given in return" for contributions). To be sure, after mentioning quid pro quo transactions, the Court went on to use more general terms such as "opportunities for abuse," id., at 27, "potential for abuse," id., at 47, "improper influence," id., at 27, 29, 45, "attempts . . . to influence," id., at 28, and "buy[ing] influence," id., at 45. But this general language acquires concrete meaning only in light of the preceding specific references to quid pro quo arrangements.
Almost a decade after Buckley, we reiterated that "corruption" has a narrow meaning with respect to contribution limitations on individuals:
"Corruption is a subversion of the political process. Elected officials are influenced to act contrary to their obligations of office by the prospect of financial gain to themselves or infusions of money into their campaigns. The hallmark of corruption is the financial quid pro quo: dollars for political favors." National Conservative Political Action Comm., 470 U. S., at 497.
In that same opinion, we also used "giving official favors" as a synonym for corruption. Id., at 498.
The majority today, by contrast, separates "corruption" from its quid pro quo roots and gives it a new, far-reaching (and speech-suppressing) definition, something like "[t]he perversion of anything from an original state of purity." 3 Oxford English Dictionary, supra, at 974. See also Webster's Third New International Dictionary, supra, at 512 ("a departure from what is pure or correct"). And the Court proceeds to define that state of purity, casting aspersions on
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