Corporate Control Over Major Party Conventions

[lostnfound]

Despite my own conviction that corporations practically own the political process in the U.S., Jim Hightower's commentary today -- about corporate influence over the Democratic & Republican conventions -- shocked even me.

http://www.jimhightower.com/air/read.asp?id=11197
Here's the most significant excerpt:

By 2000, there were more corporate executives and lobbyists at the two conventions than delegates, with the likes of Microsoft and AT&T paying $2 million each to worm their way inside where they could schmooze with the top office holders of both parties and win favor for their special governmental needs. And now, at next year's two presidential conventions, corporations are expected to put up more than $100 million to pay about three-fifths of the total cost of the conventions.--Jim Hightower

What can we do about this??
On edit: I mean, what immediate, practical actions can we do?
-A letter campaign?
-Street protests at the conventions?
-A class-action lawsuit on behalf of the American citizenry?
-Try to force all of our candidates to speak out against it (a cold day in Texas, no doubt)?

This process is utterly corrupt.