Posted on 04/11/2011 7:43:32 PM PDT by MNJohnnie
Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics:
REPUBLICAN DONALD TRUMP’S PAST AND CURRENT GENEROSITY TO DEMOCRATS: Billionaire real estate tycoon Donald Trump's recent speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference excited a number of Republicans, many of whom applauded his statement that Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) has "zero chance" of winning.
It also fueled speculation that the mogul would run for president. Cries of "you're hired!" to a Draft Trump 2012 website added to a growing sense of support among Republicans.
But that GOP support has not always been reciprocated by Trump.
According to a Center for Responsive Politics analysis of Trump's federal campaign contribution history, The Donald has been a prolific donor to both Democrats and Republicans during the past two decades.
In all, Trump has contributed to 96 candidates running for federal political office since the 1990 election cycle, the Center finds. Only 48 of the recipients -- exactly half -- were Republicans at the time they received their contribution, including ex-Gov. Charlie Crist (I-Fla.) and ex-Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.), who both of whom received their Trump contributions as Republicans.
Since the 1990 election cycle, the top 10 recipients of Trump's political contributions number six Democrats and four Republicans. Embattled Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.), who was censured last year by his U.S. House colleagues, has received the most Trump money, totaling $24,750. The most recent contribution from Trump to Rangel was a $10,000 gift during the 2006 election cycle.
In the most recent election cycle, Trump doled out $22,500 to political candidates, of which $16,200 benefited Democrats.
The top Republican recipient of Trump's money is Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) who has collected $13,600 from the billionaire magnate, the second most of any politician. Trump did not contribute to McCain during the 2010 election cycle, during which the former presidential candidate was facing re-election.
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) is the recipient of $12,000 in Trump contributions, including $10,000 for his 2006 re-election campaign.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has received the fourth-largest amount of Trump's contributions, including $4,800 in the successful 2010 campaign against Tea Party favorite Sharron Angle. In total Trump has contributed $10,400 to Reid.
In 2010, Trump also contributed $4,000 to Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who easily won re-election. Schumer has received $8,900 from Trump since the 1996 election cycle. Trump has also been generous to New York's other Democratic U.S. senator, Kirsten Gillibrand, who's received $5,850 in Trump money.
After McCain, the Republican with the largest amount of Trump's contributions is former Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.), who left office in disgrace in 2006 when his online solicitation of male House pages became known. Trump contributed $9,500 to Foley between the 1996 and 2006 election cycles.
Trump has also supported other notable politicians, including:
• $7,000 to former Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), the "liberal lion of the Senate" • $7,500 to former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (R) • $5,500 to Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) including $2,000 during his 2004 presidential run • $5,000 to former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) • $4,000 to former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) • $2,000 to former President George W. Bush (R) • $1,000 to then-Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.)
Trump's donations to various political action committees and 527 groups also demonstrate his bipartisan checkbook.
During the most recent election cycle, Trump contributed $170,000 to the Republican Governor's Association, $50,000 to the ultra-conservative American Crossroads PAC, $30,400 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee and $10,000 to the Democratic Party of New York.
However, of the nearly $420,000 Trump has donated to committees, the largest recipient has been the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee with $116,000 -- or more than one fourth of his total contributions to all party and political action committees.
The democratic party has gone from center liberal to left socialism (bordering communism) in 2011.
JFK would never have even won a mayoral race as a democrat today. He’d be unelectable as a democrat today.
” I’m starting to think that Trump is a plant. “ ========================
I just said the same thing! I love what Trump is doing, but if he is real the Obama team will soon remind us what a non-conservative Donald Trump has always been and we’ll begin to sober up. Trump won’t get past the primary.
Otherwise, wonder if the Obama campaign team got him out there to get all the controversies out, so when the time is right they can clean it up and all will be long forgotten by election Tuesday, Novermber, 2012. A commercial gain for Trump would be pretty easy for the WON. The rich stick together.
The Donald’s business interests require him to be able to work with Democrats and liberals in order to get things done. Political donations to incumbents in places like NY and Chicago are just a cost of doing business. Thinking his previous donations indicate anything about his personal political views is pretty much the same as judging Tiger Woods’ golf game by his performance on a putt-putt course. Trump’s done quite well on the putt-putt courses of NYC and Chicago and Palm Beach... looks like he wants to use his driver in the presidential election. Should be interesting.
Does business in NJ doesnt he? He has buildings in Las Vegas doesnt he?
The democrats control the places he does most of his business dont they?
Your probably right about that
Good for Trump to bring attention to Obama’s birth certificate, but he's no conservative by a long shot, and he should under no circumstance be the Republican nominee in 2012.
Not a Trump supporter myself, but I'd say the words you are looking for are: Las Vegas and Atlantic City.
mnehring, where on your chart does it show the imminent destruction of the United States and where do the candidates stand on that issue? You are caught up in crap that was 23 steps ago. We are standing at the edge of the abyss and need to yank this thing back now before it is too late. If Trump has the ability to open up the peoples eyes and help destroy obama and his ilk, then get out of his way.
I think I would rather vote for a questionable business man than the typically corrupt politician.
While I would like to see someone other than the Donald as the nominee, if it’s a choice between him or Mitt, Huck, Pawlenty,and a few others I’d take Donald.
The money is in taking back the Congress...the POTUS just needs to go along for the ride.
Trump has also donated to Republicans. Wealthy/successful business people and corporations are known for contributing to both parties in order to ensure that their interests are being looked out for regardless of shifting political winds. It’s as common as corruption. Trump is a professional businessman, not a professional politician. He has been playing a totally different game than your standard politicians and that is part of his appeal IMHO.
Wow-—interesting facts about his Dem contributions. Maybe The Donald voted for the Bam and now just hates what America has become under King BOZerO. WHat I don’t like about The Donald is he might be a little too arrogant and not much of a christian. On the other hand BOZerO is an unmitigated disaster. If Trump is on the ticket he gets my vote.
Pretty smart!!
Every RINO on capital hill could pass the campaign contribution purity test. But they are nothing more than a bunch of self serving lawyer turned politician seeking to become one of the elite. And then feather their nest with incumbency.
Donald Trump will never pass through the ideological purity test. But personally I don't care.
I think is a red blooded American who genuinely loves this country and is pissed off at what the Obama and the dems are doing. No way this guy is just looking to get elected to pad his resume and then play the game the way it has always been played.
I hope to God he keeps gaining momentum.
All of those issues are pieces of the destruction you cite and Trump leans far more toward the policies that result in said destruction.
What’s your Discredit Score?
We aren't talking 'purity' test here, but he doesn't even pass minimum standards. He is almost identical to Bill Clinton politically (see political charts above).
Yes the guy lives and works in NYC. Home of the Liberal Mother beast. Of course he has to spread the moola around to make sure his business deals get done. He gives to both parties. So do all the major corporations in America. I am more concerned about what Trump would do as President to get this country back on track. If he has good ideas then I would listen. Just busting Barry on the BC is a great donation to the conservative cause.
There is no guarantee that conservatives will be “in control” during a hypothetical Trump administration, and that could easily lead us down the path two disaster from just my two primary issues.
Putting another RINO in the White House is not the answer, which is why it is imperative to begin the vetting of potential candidates now, and Trump cannot be trusted, IMO.
I think Trump is his own man.
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