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This article is about direct contributions from individuals. This is just a fraction of the donations to political campaigns. For example, you don't find any me

This article is about direct contributions from individuals. This is just a fraction of the donations to political campaigns. For example, you don't find any mention of labor unions which provide more money than individuals and donate almost exclusively to democrats. And we haven't mentioned corporations. Imagine a giant hammer and sickle and a McDonalds arch so large that you can't see the pile of monopoly pieces or even the White House behind them.

aaronbrethorst 11y ago
2012's biggest individual contributors: https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/list.php?cycle=2012 https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/list.php?cycle=2012 The first two items in the list are both Sheldon Adelson ActBlue is primarily individuals donating to democratic candidates they support. #4 backed republicans almost exclusively. Interestingly, their founder funded Oliver North's legal defense in the Iran-Contra scandal. More on his 2012 campaign funding: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Simmons#2012_presidential_election https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Simmons#2012_presidenti... Only when you get to #5 do you see union money. But, the interesting thing about that money is Most of the political work of the Service Employees International Union is funded by about 300,000 janitors, nurses' aides, child-care providers and other members who voluntarily contribute on average $7 per month to SEIU's Committee on Political Education (COPE). http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/20/AR2010102004912.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10... --- So, the top 5 list for 2012 literally consists of 2 people on the Republican side and hundreds of thousands or millions of people on the Democratic side.
greenyoda 11y ago
There's also no mention of Eric Schmidt, who has funded a company to help Clinton's campaign: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10359225 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10359225 "The Groundwork, according to Democratic campaign operatives and technologists, is part of efforts by Schmidt — the executive chairman of Google parent-company Alphabet — to ensure that Clinton has the engineering talent needed to win the election." Not all huge contributions to political campaigns are cash given directly to the candidate. Non-cash contributions, like Schmidt's, are much harder to track and regulate.

aaronbrethorst 11y ago

2012's biggest individual contributors: https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/list.php?cycle=2012 https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/list.php?cycle=2012 The first two items in the list are both Sheldon Adelson ActBlue is primarily individuals donating to democratic candidates they support. #4 backed republicans almost exclusively. Interestingly, their founder funded Oliver North's legal defense in the Iran-Contra scandal. More on his 2012 campaign funding: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Simmons#2012_presidential_election https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Simmons#2012_presidenti... Only when you get to #5 do you see union money. But, the interesting thing about that money is Most of the political work of the Service Employees International Union is funded by about 300,000 janitors, nurses' aides, child-care providers and other members who voluntarily contribute on average $7 per month to SEIU's Committee on Political Education (COPE). http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/20/AR2010102004912.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10... --- So, the top 5 list for 2012 literally consists of 2 people on the Republican side and hundreds of thousands or millions of people on the Democratic side.

greenyoda 11y ago

There's also no mention of Eric Schmidt, who has funded a company to help Clinton's campaign: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10359225 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10359225 "The Groundwork, according to Democratic campaign operatives and technologists, is part of efforts by Schmidt — the executive chairman of Google parent-company Alphabet — to ensure that Clinton has the engineering talent needed to win the election." Not all huge contributions to political campaigns are cash given directly to the candidate. Non-cash contributions, like Schmidt's, are much harder to track and regulate.