Not contributing.

They want you to give, but do they?

One of the kings of Democratic fund-raising, Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York, collected more than $25 million to win a second term easily in 2004, and he has raised much more since then as head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

None of it came from his own pocket.

Not once, according to federal records, has Mr. Schumer, right, donated to his Congressional campaigns, which go back more than two decades.

"Every spare nickel I have goes to college tuition," said Mr. Schumer, who has two daughters.

There are lots of others who don't contribute to their own campaigns. The typical excuse is that they need all their money to support their family. Who doesn't?