Consider this stolen. If I never use it, I still want to run into it on my hard drive.
Is that cute or what....
Posted on 06/16/2015 1:49:13 PM PDT by SoConPubbie
While it has been an open secret for several years that Donald Trump was once a heavy Democratic donor, a deeper analysis of campaign records shows that the real estate billionaire’s contributions skewed even further left during the 2006 mid-term election, the crucial contest that put Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi in power and arguably helped pave the way for Barack Obama’s political agenda.
Between 1989 and 2010, The Donald gave $314,300 to Democratic groups and candidates and $290,600 to Republicans, according to a Daily Caller analysis of records maintained by the Center for Responsive Politics.
But Trump’s donation gap was even larger during the mid-2000s, which saw the end of Republican congressional majorities and the ascendance of the Democratic party.
Overall in the 2006 election cycle, Trump and his son, Donald Trump Jr., donated $77,200 to Democrats versus only $24,250 on Republicans. Looking back to the 2004 cycle, the pair donated $40,500 to Democrats and only $17,250 to the GOP.
A large share of Trump’s donations to Democrats were given to congressional committees dedicated specifically to gaining majority control of Congress. And that they did. Democrats took control of both houses of Congress for the first time since 1994 by gaining 31 seats in the House and increasing the Democratic caucus in the Senate by six.
Records show that in June 2006, Trump donated $20,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. That was in addition to the $5,000 he sent in April 2005 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. At the same time, Trump Jr. gave the two Democratic committees a total of $22,500.
While the Trumps spent nearly $50,000 to elect congressional Democrats, they donated only $1,000 to the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRSC).
But perhaps the worst outcome that election for Republicans was that Pelosi and Reid became Speaker of the House and Senate Majority Leader, respectively. The pair made a formidable team and did heavy lifting to ensure that Obama was elected in 2008 and that much of his agenda — including Obamacare — was put in place.
If Trump does choose to run — a decision on which he will announce on June 16 — he’ll face a field of 15-plus Republican hopefuls. He’ll also be fighting almost immediately for the life of his campaign. The Republican National Committee has changed its rules this cycle by limiting party debates to the top 10 hopefuls in the polls. The party is taking the unprecedented move in order to limit exposure to dark horse candidates.
Trump finished eighth in a Quinnipiac poll released last week. The first debate will be held Aug. 6 and will be hosted by Fox News.
If Trump makes that debate stage and if he becomes a big enough threat to primary front-runners — former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker — his past support the GOP’s mortal political foes will almost certainly become the topic of debate.
Topping the flamboyant former TV celebrity’s roster of Democratic benefactors is scandal-plagued New York U.S. Rep. Charlie Rangel. Records show the Harlem-based Democrat has received $26,250 in Trump cash since 1989. Trump Jr., has given heavily to Rangel as well.
New York Sens. Kristen Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer have received $7,950 and $7,900, respectively, in Trump money. And two liberal lions, former Massachusetts Sens. John Kerry and Ted Kennedy, received $5,500 and $5,000.
Trump also arguably helped enable Obamacare in another way — albeit before the health law was a twinkle in any liberal’s eye. Trump supported two of its most ardent supporters in Reid and New York U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner. He donated $7,400 to the Nevada Democrat. Among those contributions is $2,400 Trump gave Reid ahead of his contentious 2010 run against Sharron Angle, a tea party favorite.
Trump also gave $4,300 to Weiner, a dogged supporter of Obamacare who was forced to resign his seat following a sexting scandal.
Since its passage, Trump has called Obamacare “a filthy lie” and said that it would shut down the country. Though Obamacare was not on the radar when Trump made his donations, Democrats have long sought centralized control of the American health care system.
But perhaps most damaging to Trump’s campaign — if he chooses to embark on one — is the money he’s given to Hillary Clinton and other Clinton family endeavors. Trump donated more than $4,100 to the likely Democratic nominee in 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2007, records show. Trump Jr. gave the former first lady $6,100 in 2006 and 2007.
Those donations pale in comparison to other support Trump has given the Clinton empire. It was recently revealed that he gifted the Clinton Foundation at least $100,000, according to the Clinton Foundation website. The always outspoken Trump defended the donation, saying that the Clintons “kissed [his] ass” for the dough.
Trump’s donations to high-profile Democrats isn’t limited to those on the national stage. Not included in the Center for Responsive Politics’ database is a $50,000 contribution Trump gave in December 2010 to former Bill Clinton and Obama White House official Rahm Emanuel for his successful Chicago mayoral bid.
Perhaps atoning for what many Republican primary voters will consider to be grave political sins — donating to Reid, Clinton, and Schumer, who has been tapped to lead Senate Democrats when Reid retires — Trump has contributed $358,700 exclusively to Republicans since 2011, mostly in large-dollar donations to political action committees.
It was around that time that Trump became a vocal critic of Obama’s and began seeking information about his birth certificate. The aggressive approach helped win Trump solid support among some conservatives.
Before 2011, Trump’s $290,600 in donations to Republicans went to a smattering of candidates, many of whom were from his home state of New York.
Records show Trump contributed $8,600 to Arizona Sen. John McCain, mostly for his 2008 presidential run. His second-biggest GOP benefactor wasn’t exactly a conservative stalwart. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter received $8,300 from Trump between 1989 and 2008 — the year before Specter switched parties.
In 2010, Trump, who was a registered Democrat between 2001 and 2008, gave $50,000 to the Karl Rove-backed super PAC, American Crossroads. In 2012 he gave $100,000 to the Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC aimed at getting Republicans elected to the House.
Ok, that's it. You TDSers have been spewing your Trump hatred enough. Trump is a patriot, he donated 6 weeks of his time to this country. That was a huge sacrifice for him. Do you know how much that cost him? Of course not, because he never made public his personal finances, but he would have if he run, which he would of if it wasn't for that popular TV show. We can guess it must be alot of money for him to do it.
Six weeks of Trump's time! He sacrificed by spending that time in front of MSM cameras talking about all his ‘solutions’, and how smart and gutsy he is (except for disclosing those financial records.)
On 4th of July think of Trump. Men like that made this country great!
Thanks for the ping!
Donald Trump has been playing people for fools for his entire career.
Now he’s decided to pretend to be a conservative. PT Barnum was right!
You got it!
Plus, he’s a CONTROL FREAK, who didn’t want Republicans in New York State to have a primary, if they wanted him to be their Republican candidate for governor.
GOP Chairman Cox basically told him he had to go through the process like everybody else.
Let's not paint with too broad of a brush. I agree with you if you're referring to the majority of the Washington establishment branch of the GOP. Maybe I'm too optimistic, but much of the grassroots, several of the state parties and even a few of the presidential candidates are showing hopeful signs.
Then there are candidates like Trump and Paul who lie outside both of these larger factions.
To me the one who continues to impress is Fiorina. She makes virtually no flubs or gaffes, has tremendous "opposition research" on the drive-by media who interview her and always has a masterful response to their "gotcha's." I know a lot here will think she's too soft on social issues, but that's not my concern about her. I just wonder if she is enough of a firebrand (like Palin was) to really gin up the crowds and voters. Policy wise, she's very skilled.
Actually I (believe) Trump had set the date for his announcement, before Bush did.
I could be wrong on that, but I don’t think so.
Obviously, Heidi Cruz's work for Goldman Sachs won't be a problem until the Fall of 2016.
But it's equally obvious that it's a huge, and in my opinion an insurmountable problem once the Democrats have a nominee who will make money center banks the centerpiece of his campaign.
I've mostly stopped posting about this, because of all the abuse I get over it, but it's still true.
The husband of a Goldman Sachs managing director, "on leave" or not, is not going to be elected President in 2016. That's a fact.
He's not going to be nominated in the new, populist Republican party either.
He's getting a pass right now on the issue, but the ads on the subject will be scathing.
"Senator Cruz, how much money does your wife and you stand to make if this (trade agreement, banking reform etc.) passes"?
I think the conflict of interest angle is more damaging than the jealousy angle.
The more who run the more opposition files the democrats must pay for research on each candidate. I’m for another dozen or so entering to waste more rat money. ;-)
That's because you model voters as if they all had IQs of 110.
If "conflict of interest" was a voter issue, you would not be hearing about the inevitability of Hillary!
Great point. I looked at it like, the more voices criticizing Obama and Clinton, the better. And from different angles.
Absolutely. That’s why the entire gambit should be involved as late into the nomination as possible. A friend and I are working on a list of where we would like each candidate/ party leader to serve if not president/VP
Example:
Cruz — expert in constitution — AG
Palin — energy
Perry — immigration/borders
Dr Ben — health and welfare
Krusic — IRS
We’d like to see them all run as a team with lots of well developed ideas The one who eventually wins includes the all on the team
Peddle your BS somewhere else, hack.
Republicans don't usually work that way. A conservative Republican elected official in an urban part of Texas or Georgia or some other red state will respect the right of a liberal businessman to run his business without interference. But to be fair to Trump, I think Republicans need to give him some credit for being able to survive in business in a city which is not just liberal but which has a long history of seriously corrupt government.
Yes, Donald Trump should be asked to explain those donations. If he says the Clintons kissed his you-know-what to get his money, make Trump explain what he got and what the Clintons got out of the bargain. The answers might prove fascinating.
If Trump were running for governor of New York or mayor of New York City I might think he'd be better than the alternatives. He's a NYC version of Mitt Romney who understands business but unlike Romney, likes to drink, womanize and swear.
Romney was probably about the best Republicans could get as a candidate in Massachusetts. But as conservative Republicans we can do better on the national level and don't need to get people like Romney or Trump.
Let's be honest; Trump wouldn't even be a possible contender at the national level with his views and his personal history if it weren't for his money and his showmanship. Somebody needs to explain to him that while he may be able to buy his way into power in NYC political life, Republicans don't work the way NYC liberals work. We actually care about what somebody believes, not just how big their checks are.
Consider this stolen. If I never use it, I still want to run into it on my hard drive.
Is that cute or what....
LOL....isn’t it hilarious? Perfect for the Spar Wars going on, around here ;-)
Yes it is. Thanks for the laugh.
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