Posted on 04/04/2012 7:46:42 AM PDT by throwback
WASHINGTON — A few weeks before the Republican primary in Florida in January, the billionaire owner of the NFL's Miami Dolphins hosted a fundraiser for Mitt Romney at his oceanfront home in Palm Beach. The average voter wouldn't know about the event at the home of Stephen Ross because Romney's campaign doesn't follow the practice of other major presidential candidates who have willingly identified big-money fundraisers and the amounts they collect.
A review by The Associated Press of campaign records and other documents reveals hints about the vast national network of business leaders bringing in millions to elect Romney. The same month that Ross invited friends and colleagues to his home, for example, Romney's campaign received $317,000 from nearly 150 people who share Ross's exclusive ZIP code on Florida's east coast, according to Federal Election Commission records. That mysterious surge of donations outpaced all contributions to Romney during the previous year from the wealthy Palm Beach area, when the campaign collected $270,000 over nine months. Romney got $21,000 more from residents there in February.
Unlike President Barack Obama, Romney's campaign will not identify his major fundraisers, and federal law doesn't require him to. The AP identified several of Romney's "bundlers" through interviews, finance records, event invitations and other publicity about campaign events. The lack of transparency by the Romney campaign prevents voters from knowing who wields influence inside the GOP frontrunner's campaign and how their interests might benefit if he is elected. Romney is in California this week for at least five private fundraisers.
Bundlers are typically well-connected business and banking executives who tap their professional and social networks to steer individual contributions from others to the campaign in amounts that can range from $10,000 to well over $500,000.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Interesting story. It does seem like that at every level of government now you’re seeing this kind of feifdom mentality on the part of whatever official runs it. Near to where I live is a small town that I grew up in. As far as I know the people there are no wealthier than when I lived there. The houses are small 2-3 bedroom at most; worth about in the 100k’s at the most. Yet the mayor of the town has decided to build a huge new ice rink, and so it’s under construction. I don’t know where the money came from to fund it, but the town must have the same tax base it did 40 years ago. I see this all over, and I just don’t get it.
Here’s a radical idea: I’ll actually comment on the content of the article.
This election is shaping up as business vs. government, free enterprise vs. the public sector. Romney’s speech last night was a VERY pro-business speech. Most business people understand that the Obama administration is their mortal enemy. They know they’re going to have to write big checks to keep him from getting a second term. Sounds like they’re willing to do it.
Interesting story. It does seem like that at every level of government now you’re seeing this kind of feifdom mentality on the part of whatever official runs it. Near to where I live is a small town that I grew up in. As far as I know the people there are no wealthier than when I lived there. The houses are small 2-3 bedroom at most; worth about in the 100k’s at the most. Yet the mayor of the town has decided to build a huge new ice rink, and so it’s under construction. I don’t know where the money came from to fund it, but the town must have the same tax base it did 40 years ago. I see this all over, and I just don’t get it.
There is a “operation chaos” going on by Democrats to vote for Rick Santorum. The tallies have shown that liberal democrats that have voted in Republican primaries are going overwhelming in favor of Santorum.
Liberals are not giving us Romney. Liberals are trying their best to give us Santorum. Liberals believe that Mitt Romney would be a stronger candidate than Rick Santorum.
I see them starting to donate to Obama during the general, ESPECIALLY if Romney collapses.
Are you sure they're not Dems who are social conservatives? Until things "settled down" after Roe v. Wade, Democrat pols were more likely to be social conservatives than Republicans were. Lord knows, GOPe still has no use for social conservatives. There are lots of Dems who are socially conservative (I wouldn't hazard a guess as to numbers) who remain Dems -- partly because of historical reasons (like family tradition) and partly because the GOPe doesn't offer an attractive alternative.
Actually, the winner in WI will depend on the outcome of the voter ID lawsuits. ID required = Rep win. No ID = Dem win. The state is that close, that 10k votes makes the difference.
Yes, that’s why I said “most business people” and not “all business people”. An increasing number of business people are beholden to government hand-outs, or the health of their business is tied to government programs. Your real estate agent is a good example, and I could name a dozen more, in industries like healthcare, education, alternative energy, and on and on. And there are plenty of fat cats in Hollywood, Silicon Valley and on Wall Street that will be writing fat checks to Obama.
However, the average business owner and entrepreneur can see we’re at a tipping point, with the American free market economy in danger of becoming permanently overshadowed and overwhelmed by big government. If they want to reverse that trend, they’re going to have to keep Obama from getting a second term. My bet is they’re going to come through with whatever $ it takes to get it done.
“...Are you sure they’re not Dems who are social conservatives?...”
Nope, they’re not social conservative Democrats. The exit polling indicated they were Daily Kos Democrats trying to play games in a Republican primary.
The Democtat Party is now too clearly defined as extreme Liberal, Gay, Socialist, Marxist, Communist. There is absolutely nothing left in that party to support a Social Conservative, like there was during to Reagan years.
In 2008, Rush was wrong, giving the Democrats ideas when he tried to promote “Operation Chaos” and upset Hillary. Well, looks like he got his wish, we “upset” Hillary and got Obama instead.........Thanks Rush! And now they are using the same prank on us. I guess we deserve it.
There are in Boston, but I think many of them have pretty much given up on politics. The MA GOP is firmly opposed to social conservatism (how do you think we got Romney? And Weld? And Cellucci?).
Which is exactly why these voter ID laws are under attack...from the LEFT!
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