Web Site Shows Neighbor Campaign Donations

AP ^ | 3/20/2004 | ANICK JESDANUN,

[I_saw_the_light]

Just type your address and ZIP code into the "Neighbor Search" tool at fundrace.org, and you'll get a list of what your neighbors gave to any of the presidential candidates last year — and how much.

Your nearest neighbors are listed first.

The tool uses technology called geocoding, which matches street addresses with longitude and latitude data. The match works about 70 percent of the time; in cases of failure, results are given based on ZIP code. Visitors can also search by name.

Candidates, by law, are required to disclose contributions of $200 or more, and the Federal Election Commission (news - web sites) makes databases available for download. Electronic filings are currently available through Dec. 31, and the site's developer, Michael Frumin, plans to add data as they become available.

Frumin said Friday the site has attracted some 100,000 searches, from an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 people, since the feature's launch Wednesday. He said the site benefited from mentions on prominent Web sites and Web journals.

Fundrace.org is a project of Eyebeam, a New York organization that explores the intersection of arts and sciences. Frumin, who is a research fellow there, said the Fundrace was set up to explore what it takes to reach a large audience online without advertising.

Other sites have more extensive databases and searching capabilities.

Opensecrets.org, run by the Center for Responsive Politics, lets you search by state, occupation or employer and has data going back to 1989. It also permits searching of so-called soft money to party organizations, in addition to direct contributions to candidates.

The FEC site, at www.fec.gov, also lets you do that using its "advanced search."

President Bush (news - web sites)'s campaign Web site, meanwhile, has more current data on its contributors — through March 10.

But Fundrace does let you sort by proximity to your home, rather than get listings only by ZIP code.

"The last thing I want to do is recreate the wheel," Frumin said. "If they have something that lets you search by state, I don't want to do that."

[I_saw_the_light]

I thought this was cool, I would not have beleived the amount of people around me that gave to Kucinich. But then again, I noted they were college professors. The doctors seem to like W. Web site was slow for me, maybe its getting some heavy traffic.

[HarryCaul]

Fec.gov has offered something very similar for years.

Most of my neighbors are Democrats, but some support weirdo fringe parties, and there's even some Republicans. About what you'd expect for Hollywood (I'm the guy at the bottom of my zip code income bell curve, by far).

[Gunrunner2]

DU nut-burgers are going nuts over this. Howling that they don't want their info posted. Weird and double standard.

[HarryCaul]

As I mentioned, this information has been online for years. I know for a fact I searched it several times in 2000, and I seem to recall doing so well before that.

And, of course, it's been a matter of public record long before it was put online.

There is no right to anonymous free speech. And you'd have to have little conviction in your political beliefs to want to hide them anyway.

[prion]

Hahaha...looks like the lawyers in my neck of the woods couldn't get their hands in their pockets fast enough to help out John Edwards. The bigwigs and politicos went for Kerry. And one lonesome self-employed guy for Bush.

[HarryCaul]

One thing I did notice, some of the entries in my zip are for name actors, with their home addresses. I can see where they might want to contribute via another address, but they should have to give their names.

I noticed too that a 'documentary filmmaker' contributed using a PO Box as an address. Obviously a man who knows how to do research, and thus how to hide his trail. Heh.

[RightWhale]

There is another thread on this topic.

[syriacus]

I entered my address and got no results, though there should be something.

Meanwhile, the search engine automatically delivered information on tons of people in my neighborhood.

I'm somewhat uncomfortable with the idea that everybody knows so much about other people's jobs and political persuasions.

I know we are not seeing their "secret ballots" but it seems danged close.

Maybe I'll get used to it.

[JimVT]

FR

[Incorrigible]

Ha! Ha!

So funny to see the professions of those that gave to Howard Dean. Professor, Rutgers Univ., teacher, writer. Ha! Ha! Suckers. Don't come looking to raise my property taxes if you have that kind of disposable income!

Although there's quite a few attorneys for Kerry, it was noce to see the execs in my area ponying up for GW!

[RIGHT IN LAS VEGAS]

Wayne Newton, $2000 Bush.

[csvset]

Huh. The CEO of The Dollar Tree chain donated 2k to W.

Many lawyers for Edwards.

[LisaMalia]

Try the Malibu area:
90263,90264,90265
Interesting!

[lizma]

Check out kerry's neighbors! LOL! 83340

[Green Knight]

Just looking at the first page of results that I got, this is how the donations break down from highest to lowest.

$37,350 Bob Graham
$34,480 George W. Bush
$9,950 John F. Kerry
$7,000 Dick Gephardt
$5,460 Howard Dean
$4,250 Wesley Clark
$2,250 Joe Lieberman
$1,000 John Edwards
$10 Al Sharpton
$0 Dennis Kucinich
$0 Carol Mosely-Braun

So Bush made $34,480 while the Democrats made $67,270, nearly double what Bush got. However, if you discount Bob Graham from their total, their total drops down to $29,920, a combined total less then what Bush collected. While I find it disturbing how much Bob Graham collected from this neighborhood, gotta remember he IS the Florida Senator, so he probably got a lot of campaign cash solely for that reason. And besides, I'd rather that $37 thousand get blown on a lost cause like Graham than Kerry.

I also think it's pretty amusing that Crazy Al collected a whopping $10 from my neighborhood. That must be one dedicated Al Sharpton supporter. :D

[mabelkitty]

They are ashamed.
It's easy to be a liberal anonymously on the internet, but it's quite another when you have to actually look someone in the eyes and explain your beliefs.

[Azzurri]

Hey, Bill Davidson - owner of the Detroit Pistons, gave $2000 to GW Bush. Whew! I would find it bittersweet to root for his team during this exciting season if he were a Democrat.

[satchmodog9]

now I can see see who the real rats I work with are.

[cricket]

Anyone know Hillary's address and how many she has?

[lizma]

My zip had $9000 to GW just from parents at my daughter's school. (and it's a public school.) I'm pleasantly shocked. I live in Montgomery Kounty, MD and it's ultra-liberal.