Who Bought Your Candidate?

Madeline

Rookie
Apr 20, 2010
18,505
1,866
0
Cleveland. Feel mah pain.
t r u t h o u t | Campaign Cash: The Independent Fundraising Gold Rush Since "Citizens United" Ruling

....The increasing popularity of under-the-radar 501(c) groups is underscored by contrasting this year’s public disclosures with past election seasons. A recent study from Public Citizen shows that in 2004 and 2006, the large majority of outside groups revealed their donors. By contrast in 2008 only about half disclosed their donors and this year, to date, a scant 32 percent have made such disclosures.

.....Early this summer, the Chamber’s feisty chieftain, silver-haired Tom Donohue, told a gathering of about 100 trade group leaders at a posh resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., that the organization was going to spend $75 million on its election program — more than double the $36 million it spent on the 2008 campaign.

.....Miller said corporate frustration is especially acute over four big issues that “have had, could have, or will have very negative consequences for the business community.” They are: financial services reform, health care reform, and the specter of both cap and trade and “card check” legislation that would make it easier for unions to organize. One mega-corporate donor has been identified: News Corp., whose CEO is billionaire Rupert Murdoch, reportedly has given $1 million to the Chamber for its political drive.

....Two companies in which Dallas-based billionaire Harold Simmons boasts major holdings — Southwest Louisiana Land LLC and Dixie Rice Agricultural Corp. — have plowed a total of almost $2 million into the 527 [for American Crossroads]. That makes the veteran conservative donors’ firms, one of the three biggest financial angels with Texas ties. Two other Lone Star moguls, Trevor Rees-Jones, who runs Dallas-based Chief Oil and Gas, and Robert Rowling, together with his company TRT Holdings, which owns Omni Hotels and Gold’s Gym, have each given $2 million to the group (and to a recently formed successor PAC).

.....Paul Singer, the New York-based founder and CEO of the $17 billion hedge fund Elliott Management Corp. has also written a seven-figure check to Crossroads GPS, say sources familiar with the group. Singer has also been a hefty donor and fundraiser for several GOP candidates and campaign committees this election season.

....American Crossroads has run a few direct advocacy ads in support of candidates, including one for former Rep. Rob Portman, who is making a bid for the Senate in Ohio, and it “will be doing more express advocacy going forward,” says Law, who besides his Hill background was deputy secretary at the Labor Department under McConnell’s wife, Labor Secretary Elaine Chao. Looking further ahead, Law and other leaders of the two groups stress that they expect to stay very active with issue advocacy and grassroots lobbying post-November and will also be a force in the 2012 elections.

Here's the bottom line: we will no longer know which company provided funding for a campaign, and companies are pouring money into this mid-term election in amounts that dwarf the last Presidential race.

Anyone besides me see a problem?
 
  • Thread starter
  • Banned
  • #3
*Puzzled look*

Mid-90's? Were screens so different then?


press200.png
 
t r u t h o u t | Campaign Cash: The Independent Fundraising Gold Rush Since "Citizens United" Ruling

....The increasing popularity of under-the-radar 501(c) groups is underscored by contrasting this year’s public disclosures with past election seasons. A recent study from Public Citizen shows that in 2004 and 2006, the large majority of outside groups revealed their donors. By contrast in 2008 only about half disclosed their donors and this year, to date, a scant 32 percent have made such disclosures.

.....Early this summer, the Chamber’s feisty chieftain, silver-haired Tom Donohue, told a gathering of about 100 trade group leaders at a posh resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., that the organization was going to spend $75 million on its election program — more than double the $36 million it spent on the 2008 campaign.

.....Miller said corporate frustration is especially acute over four big issues that “have had, could have, or will have very negative consequences for the business community.” They are: financial services reform, health care reform, and the specter of both cap and trade and “card check” legislation that would make it easier for unions to organize. One mega-corporate donor has been identified: News Corp., whose CEO is billionaire Rupert Murdoch, reportedly has given $1 million to the Chamber for its political drive.

....Two companies in which Dallas-based billionaire Harold Simmons boasts major holdings — Southwest Louisiana Land LLC and Dixie Rice Agricultural Corp. — have plowed a total of almost $2 million into the 527 [for American Crossroads]. That makes the veteran conservative donors’ firms, one of the three biggest financial angels with Texas ties. Two other Lone Star moguls, Trevor Rees-Jones, who runs Dallas-based Chief Oil and Gas, and Robert Rowling, together with his company TRT Holdings, which owns Omni Hotels and Gold’s Gym, have each given $2 million to the group (and to a recently formed successor PAC).

.....Paul Singer, the New York-based founder and CEO of the $17 billion hedge fund Elliott Management Corp. has also written a seven-figure check to Crossroads GPS, say sources familiar with the group. Singer has also been a hefty donor and fundraiser for several GOP candidates and campaign committees this election season.

....American Crossroads has run a few direct advocacy ads in support of candidates, including one for former Rep. Rob Portman, who is making a bid for the Senate in Ohio, and it “will be doing more express advocacy going forward,” says Law, who besides his Hill background was deputy secretary at the Labor Department under McConnell’s wife, Labor Secretary Elaine Chao. Looking further ahead, Law and other leaders of the two groups stress that they expect to stay very active with issue advocacy and grassroots lobbying post-November and will also be a force in the 2012 elections.

Here's the bottom line: we will no longer know which company provided funding for a campaign, and companies are pouring money into this mid-term election in amounts that dwarf the last Presidential race.

Anyone besides me see a problem?

Your piece is biased if all it talks about is the evil Republicans giving money.
 
  • Thread starter
  • Banned
  • #8
I suppose actually reading the article is out of the question, RGS?

....In late August, the AFL-CIO announced it would mount a joint national political operation this year with the SEIU and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW). The three union giants, who for the last couple of election cycles have worked separately, have plans for a combined political drive that could cost at least $94 million with each organization

....Of that total, the SEIU is slated to spend $44 million, a jump of about 25 percent from what it spent in 2006. AFL-CIO sources that its budget this year will be roughly equal to the $50 million it spent in the last elections.

Tell me, how effective do you think that strongly-worded email to your Congressman is likely to be if he's received 100 xs more than ever before from Big Business to vote in a way you disapprove of? The Citizens United decision is a disaster and we need our legislators to overturn it....by constitutional amendment, if need be.
 
Last edited:
I suppose actually reading the article is out of the question, RGS?

....In late August, the AFL-CIO announced it would mount a joint national political operation this year with the SEIU and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW). The three union giants, who for the last couple of election cycles have worked separately, have plans for a combined political drive that could cost at least $94 million with each organization

....Of that total, the SEIU is slated to spend $44 million, a jump of about 25 percent from what it spent in 2006. AFL-CIO sources that its budget this year will be roughly equal to the $50 million it spent in the last elections.

Tell me, how effective do you think that strongly-worded email to your Congressman is likely to be if he's received 100 xs more than ever before from Big Business to vote in a way you disapprove of? The Citizens First decision is a disaster and we need our legislators to overturn it....by constitutional amendment, if need be.

My point is proven you are biased, YOU chose to ONLY quote the evil Republican donations. Further there are a lot more then 2 Liberal organizations giving out money. Or have you forgot Soros?
 
I did not write the article, RGS. It's about two things: (1) huge increases in spending for PACs and political candidates and (2) the secrecy that shields these donors from public scrutiny. Are you suggesting this is okay as long as the donor is conservative?

That's just asinine.
 
I did not write the article, RGS. It's about two things: (1) huge increases in spending for PACs and political candidates and (2) the secrecy that shields these donors from public scrutiny. Are you suggesting this is okay as long as the donor is conservative?

That's just asinine.

If it is bad ten it is bad for ALL concerned. Your article attempts to paint the picture that the offenders are mostly Conservatives. I do not agree that legal organizations allowed to be in the political field are dangerous. But if they are, there are just as many Liberal ones, if not more. In fact 2008 taught the right the lesson of " do as the opposition does" Or have you forgotten that by a landslide 2008 was a massive win for the democrats?
 
Every politician is bought. It's nothing new or unique to modern America.

Yes, true, but in the past a reporter could check a donor list to see if a politican was voting in line with a business' interests on a controversial topic. There were (hahahahaha....as if) campaign finance laws that limited donation amounts. The Citizens United decision found that corporations have a right to free speech and eviscerated our system of campaign finance.

If you object to a a Billionaire buying a public office for himself, how happy will you be when they buy them for a puppet and you never get to see the strings?
 
Last edited:
Every politician is bought. It's nothing new or unique to modern America.

Yes, true, but in the past a reporter could check a donor list to see if a politican was voting in line with a business' interests on a controversial topic. There were (hahahahaha....as if) campaign finance laws that limited donation amounts. The Citizens First decision found that corporations have a right to free speech and eviscerated our system of campaign finance.

If you object to a a Billionaire buying a public office for himself, how happy will you be when they buy them for a puppet and you never get to see the strings?

You did not object in 2008 and are only objecting now cause liberals are set to possibly lose a lot of seats.
 
I did not write the article, RGS. It's about two things: (1) huge increases in spending for PACs and political candidates and (2) the secrecy that shields these donors from public scrutiny. Are you suggesting this is okay as long as the donor is conservative?

That's just asinine.

If it is bad ten it is bad for ALL concerned. Your article attempts to paint the picture that the offenders are mostly Conservatives. I do not agree that legal organizations allowed to be in the political field are dangerous. But if they are, there are just as many Liberal ones, if not more. In fact 2008 taught the right the lesson of " do as the opposition does" Or have you forgotten that by a landslide 2008 was a massive win for the democrats?

RGS, Citizens United was not handed down until January, 2009. This is the first election cycle to take place after the brakes were taken off. I'd argue with you that "most Billionaires are not conservative" but really, does it matter what party affiliation they have?

I dun want to live in a nation run by a secret cabal of the mega rich. Do you?

This article might be more to your liking:


The First Amendment Guarantees the Citizens United Decision - US News and World Report
 
Last edited:

Forum List

Back
Top