Campaign Finances (The Point)

News Central ^ | Sept 9, 2004 | Mark Hyman

[Angry Republican]

Republicans rake in campaign contributions from inside corporate suites while the little guy writes out his meager check to Democrats, right?

Actually, no. The Center for Responsive Politics conducted a study of the 2002 Federal election cycle, the most recent cycle with complete data.

The Center found that individuals giving $200 or less gave 64 percent of their money to the GOP and 35 percent to Democrats. However, very wealthy contributors who gave one million dollars or more gave 92 percent to Democrats and just eight percent to Republicans. Democrats also benefited from donors giving 100,000-dollars or more while Republicans held the edge with smaller contributors. Analysis of the 2004 cycle will be interesting as the infamous McCain-Feingold curtailed much of the so-called "soft money" that was given to the political parties.

With limits now placed on "soft money" donations, the Democrats' deep pocket donors are giving even more generously to groups referred to as 527s, named after the particular section of the U.S. tax code. Billionaire George Soros alone has given $17 million to a handful of radical groups such as MoveOn.Org and ACT.

The party which claims to represent the little people is actually funded by the special interests. And in 2004, the special interests contributors are smaller in number, but are wealthier and carry more weight in pushing their privileged agendas.

And that's the Point.

I'm Mark Hyman.

[Angry Republican]

So, the Democrats really aren't against the rich like they claim to be? Anybody else surprised by this one?

BTW, does anybody know of a website that is dedicated to righting the wrong that is "Move On"?

[sgtbono2002]

The party of the common man---My butt.

[MegaSilver]

Don't forget: once you inheret wealth, tax brackets mean nothing to you.

[politicalprisoner]

You'll never read that in the paper or see it on tv. Well, maybe on fox.

[lepton]

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