Bernie Sanders Exposes the 26 Billionaires who are Buying the 2012 Election

[Plasmaball]

Oh goody. Another conspiracy.

What, no Unions listed? They've been buying elections for decades. Of course they contribute mainly to Dems so they won't be on any list.

Yep. I'll get all the billionaires mentioned donated to Republicans. George Soros wasn't on the list, so it's obvious Berny Sanders ignored all the Democrat donors.

If these billionaires can donate their money in secret, then how did Berny find out who they were?

not very bright are you? if you where smart you would know this was answered..

 

[g5000]

Bernie Sanders Exposes the 26 Billionaires who are Buying the 2012 Election



In his new report, America For Sale: A Report on Billionaires Buying the 2012 Election, Sen. Bernie Sanders named names and called out the billionaires who using Citizens United to buy our democracy.

In front of a Senate panel today, Sen. Bernie Sanders outed the 26 billionaires who are members of 23 billionaire families that are using Citizens United to buy elections. Sen. Sanders estimated that these 26 billionaires are the tip of the iceberg. “My guess is that number is really much greater because many of these contributions are made in secret. In other words, not content to own our economy, the 1 percent want to own our government as well.”

Sanders explained how the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision put the government up for sale, “What the Supreme Court did in Citizens United is to say to these same billionaires and the corporations they control: ‘You own and control the economy, you own Wall Street, you own the coal companies, you own the oil companies. Now, for a very small percentage of your wealth, we’re going to give you the opportunity to own the United States government.’”

Sen. Sanders also did the last thing the billionaires wanted. He called them out by name.

According to the report, America for Sale: A Report on Billionaires Buying the 2012 Election, here are the 26 billionaires who are trying to buy your government:

1). Sheldon Adelson, owner of the Las Vegas Sands Casino, is worth nearly $25 billion, making him the 14th wealthiest person in the world and the 7th richest person in America. While median family income plummeted by nearly 40% from 2007-2010, Mr. Adelson has experienced a nearly eightfold increase in his wealth over the past three years (from $3.4 billion to $24.9 billion). Forbes recently reported that Adelson is willing to spend a “limitless” amount of money or more than $100 million to help defeat President Obama in November.


2. The Kochs (David, Charles, and William) are worth a combined $103 billion, according to Forbes. They have pledged to spend about $400 million during the 2012 election season. The Kochs own more wealth than the bottom 41.7 percent of American households or more than 49 million Americans.

3. Jim Walton is worth $23.7 billion. He has donated $300,000 to super PACs in 2012.

4. Harold Simmons is worth $9 billion. He has donated $15.2 million to super PACs this year.

5. Peter Thiel is worth $1.5 billion. He has donated $6.7 million to Super PACs this year.

6. Jerrold Perenchio is worth $2.3 billion. He has donated $2.6 million to super PACs this year.

7. Kenneth Griffin is worth $3 billion and he has given $2.08 million to super PACs in 2012.

8. James Simons is worth $10.7 billion and he has given $1.5 million to super Pacs this year.

9. Julian Robertson is worth $2.5 billion and he has given $1.25 million to super PACs this year.

10. Robert Rowling is worth $4.8 billion and he has given $1.1 million to super PACs.

11. John Paulson, the hedge fund manager who made his fortune betting that the sub-prime mortgage market would collapse, is worth $12.5 billion. He has donated $1 million to super PACs.

12. Richard and J.W. Marriott are worth a combined $3.1 billion and they have donated $2 million to super PACs this year.

13. James Davis is worth $1.9 billion and he has given $1 million to super PACs this year.


14. Harold Hamm is worth $11 billion and he has given $985,000 to super PACs this year.


15. Kenny Trout is worth more than $1.2 billion and he has given $900,000 to super PACs this year.

16. Louis Bacon is worth $1.4 billion and he has given $500,000 to super PACs this year.

17. Bruce Kovner is worth $4.5 billion and he has given $500,000 to super PACs this year.

18. Warren Stephens is worth $2.7 billion and he has given $500,000 to super PACs this year.

19. David Tepper is worth $5.1 billion and he has given $375,000 to super PACs this year.

20. Samuel Zell is worth $4.9 billion and he has given $270,000 to super PACs this year.

21. Leslie Wexner is worth $4.3 billion and he has given $250,000 to super PACs this year.

22. Charles Schwab is worth $3.5 billion and he has given $250,000 to super PACs this year.

23. Kelcy Warren is worth $2.3 billion and he has given $250,000 to super PACs this year.

The thing that these billionaires love most about Citizens United it is that it allows them to operate in total darkness. The American people couldn’t fight back because the billionaires were giving their money anonymously. This same cloak of invisibility is what made ALEC so effective for years. The conservative billionaire cabal works best in private, behind closed doors, far away from curious eyes.


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I find your last paragraph the height of hilarity. You bitch about donors operating in the dark UNDER A LIST OF THEIR NAMES WHICH ARE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE!!!



They don't "operate in total darkness". You are an idiot. They are required by law to disclose their names and their donations, dumbass. How do you think Sanders got the list?

 

[Black_Label]

Bernie Sanders.................Every clueless, leftwing, adolescents favorite American communist......

I'm glad Sanders has gotten you so pissy by exposing the masters of the america hating GOP

 

[Some Guy]

How can secret political donation be an issue if you know exactly who's donating and how much they are donating? That's like saying that a water shortage is a big issue while swimming in a large pool.

 

[g5000]

Here are the industries which donated to Bernia Sanders: Bernie Sanders: Campaign Finance/Money - PAC Data - Senator 2012 | OpenSecrets


Notice which one is by far the largest.


Labor.

More than twice as much as the second highest.

And here is the page which breaks down the Labor category: http://www.opensecrets.org/politici...cid=N00000528&sector=P&seclong=Labor&newMem=N



Notice which group is the largest labor donor.


Public employees.

 

[g5000]

Bernie Sanders' (avowed socialist) biggest donors:

American Federation of Govt Employees

American Federation of Teachers

American Fedn of St/Cnty/Munic Employees

American Postal Workers Union

International Assn of Fire Fighters

National Assn of Letter Carriers

National Assn of Postal Supervisors

National Assn of Postmasters

National Education Assn

National League of Postmasters

National Postal Mail Handlers Union

National Rural Letter Carriers Assn

National Treasury Employees Union

Natl Active & Retired Fed Employees Assn

 

[amrchaos]

and they are Americans

So what is the big deal?

 

[g5000]

and they are Americans

So what is the big deal?

Hypocrisy. Sanders has a mote in his eye.

 

[Harry Dresden]

While I get the spirit of your point, there really isn't kind of an equivalency going on here:

According to opensecrets the Top Five Superpacs:

Restore Our Future---------Conservative------$82,200,973
American Crossroads-------Conservative------$40,233,419
Winning Our Future---------Conservative------$23,921,115
Priorities USA Action--------Liberal------------$20,736,737
Club for Growth Action-----Conservative------$10,321,376

Super PACs | OpenSecrets

a puppet master is a puppet master Artie.......so the Republicans have a bunch of people who are worth 25-30 Billion controlling them....while the Democrats have people who are only worth 5-10 Billion.......am i supposed to feel better about them?....

I think it should make you feel worse about the right/far right, if anything.

I think the numbers I posted above, along with the fact that a handful of individuals are responsible for a large amount of the superpac spending, put a wet blanket on the "both sides are bad" angle of this issue.

Far Right Far Left.....same Bird Artie....just different Wings....different methods to fuck everyone....Conservative Rich People and Liberal Rich People have one thing in common....they only care about themselves and their wealth.....they can really give a shit if us regular folk have health ins or cheap gas.....not much affects their lifestyles....

 

[Harry Dresden]

Soros earned his money, the Koch's inherited theirs.

Soros? He didn't build that! Somebody else built that! If it weren't for government roads and bridges, Soros would be a pauper!

you got a point....

 

[Harry Dresden]

That's odd. I intend to vote for Romney and I have yet to receive a check in the mail for my future vote. I will concede they are buying ad time but that is the extent of it.

If they thought they had to pay you to vote for Romney, I'm sure they'd try.

hey they can pay me.....i will be like a Democrat....i will say i will vote for you.....and then when the time comes vote for someone else.....

 

[Harry Dresden]

That's odd. I intend to vote for Romney and I have yet to receive a check in the mail for my future vote. I will concede they are buying ad time but that is the extent of it.

If they thought they had to pay you to vote for Romney, I'm sure they'd try.

The GOP machine just uses propaganda with the "you may not be rich now, but keep voting republican, and one day you will be!" crap.

The GOP sheep seem to think one day there is going to be a knock on the door and ed mcmahon will be standing there with a giant check announcing "Congratulations! You are our newest millionaire from you obedience to the GOP machine by voting against your own self interests and america!"

you know what BL?.....you seem to be just as controlled as those you say are....your just on the left side of the herd is all.....but Baaaaaaaa...means the same no matter what your politics are....

 

[Peach]

Oh goody. Another conspiracy.

What, no Unions listed? They've been buying elections for decades. Of course they contribute mainly to Dems so they won't be on any list.

Certainly not on a list of billionaires, hence the thread title!

Bernie Sanders' (avowed socialist) biggest donors:

American Federation of Govt Employees

American Federation of Teachers

American Fedn of St/Cnty/Munic Employees

American Postal Workers Union

International Assn of Fire Fighters

National Assn of Letter Carriers

National Assn of Postal Supervisors

National Assn of Postmasters

National Education Assn

National League of Postmasters

National Postal Mail Handlers Union

National Rural Letter Carriers Assn

National Treasury Employees Union

Natl Active & Retired Fed Employees Assn

All American organizations, good. I would like to see what companies the billionaires own, and thus what interests OUTSIDE the US are involved.

 

[Jackson]

Oh goody. Another conspiracy.

What, no Unions listed? They've been buying elections for decades. Of course they contribute mainly to Dems so they won't be on any list.

Yep. I'll get all the billionaires mentioned donated to Republicans. George Soros wasn't on the list, so it's obvious Berny Sanders ignored all the Democrat donors.

If these billionaires can donate their money in secret, then how did Berny find out who they were?

He asked the IRS, who's auditing them all.

 

[bripat9643]

Citizens United is simply 1st Amendment protection

you are a fool and part of the problem.

Only liberal turds view the First Amendment as a problem.

 

[bripat9643]

Yep. I'll get all the billionaires mentioned donated to Republicans. George Soros wasn't on the list, so it's obvious Berny Sanders ignored all the Democrat donors.

If these billionaires can donate their money in secret, then how did Berny find out who they were?

not very bright are you? if you where smart you would know this was answered..

OK, Einstein, then you should have no trouble quoting the text where the answer was given.

 

[whitehall]

Radical lefties have been whining non-stop ever since the Supreme Court ruled that money equals speech. How do you buy an election? Pay for advertising? That isn't "buying an election". A political party buys an election by throwing taxpayer dollars around and that's what democrats and Barry Hussein do all the time. If you want to talk about advertising you might consider that Obama gets the equivalent of billions of dollars with the total support of the mainstream media. The A.P. might as well be a part of the DNC and Media Matters and Bridge America are tax exempt. Who contributes to socialist Bernie's campaign?

 

[francoHFW]

greedy corporations were giving 30-50x as much as unions and conservation groups to campaigns and lobbying efforts BEFORE CU. BUT WAY TO CUT YOUR OWN THROATS, DUPES! Pollution, screwing the workers and customers, and letting Wall St run wild is a great idea...

 

[buckeye45_73]

I guess he didnt go to jail to find all the billionaire demcrats like Madoff

 

[Harry Dresden]

Bernie Sanders' (avowed socialist) biggest donors:

American Federation of Govt Employees

American Federation of Teachers

American Fedn of St/Cnty/Munic Employees

American Postal Workers Union

International Assn of Fire Fighters

National Assn of Letter Carriers

National Assn of Postal Supervisors

National Assn of Postmasters

National Education Assn

National League of Postmasters

National Postal Mail Handlers Union

National Rural Letter Carriers Assn

National Treasury Employees Union

Natl Active & Retired Fed Employees Assn

so i think its safe to say the Post Office and Bernie are good friends....