Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Miles Archer

(18,837 posts)
Fri Oct 17, 2014, 02:43 PM Oct 2014

Jim Hightower: Dark-money (GOP) donors unmasked (Coca-Cola, Comcast, WalMart, Aetna, others)

Dark-money donors unmasked
LowDown
By Jim Hightower

October 15, 2014

http://www.csindy.com/coloradosprings/dark-money-donors-unmasked/Content?oid=2952824

These are chieftains of brand-name corporate giants who have secretly funneled millions of their shareholders' dollars into the "dark money" vault of the Republican Governors Association. In turn, the RGA channels the political cash into the campaigns of assorted right-wing governors.

...

But — oops! — in September, the RGA made a coding error in its database of dark-money donors, exposing the names of a mess of the GOP's secret-money corporations.

Suddenly, the chieftains were buck-naked in front of customers, employees, stockholders and others who were startled and angered to learn that the companies they supported were working against their interests. Here are some of the corporate dreamers that were pulling the wool over our eyes: Aetna, Aflac, Blue Cross, Coca-Cola, Comcast, Exxon Mobil, Hewlett-Packard, Koch Industries, Microsoft, Novartis, Pfizer, Shell Oil, United Health, Verizon, Walgreens and Walmart.

Fred Wertheimer, a lifelong champion of political-money reform, noted that the RGA's boo-boo offers "a classic example of how corporations are trying to use secret money hidden from the American people, to buy influence, and how the Governors Association is selling it."
9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Jim Hightower: Dark-money (GOP) donors unmasked (Coca-Cola, Comcast, WalMart, Aetna, others) (Original Post) Miles Archer Oct 2014 OP
No big surprises Laf.La.Dem. Oct 2014 #1
So Robbins Oct 2014 #2
Mr Gates has pledged to give away his personal fortune to charitable groups before Tommymac Oct 2014 #6
They're not trying Fred ... GeorgeGist Oct 2014 #3
K & R for exposure. nt SunSeeker Oct 2014 #4
I'm sure you won't hear anything about this ... aggiesal Oct 2014 #5
Ain't that the truth! SoapBox Oct 2014 #7
kick! eShirl Oct 2014 #8
Does ""SECRET MONEY** = SPEECH??? Martin Eden Oct 2014 #9

Robbins

(5,066 posts)
2. So
Fri Oct 17, 2014, 02:51 PM
Oct 2014

Microsoft gives lots of money to GOP yet some claim Bill Gates does same for democrats as the Koch brothers?

Tommymac

(7,263 posts)
6. Mr Gates has pledged to give away his personal fortune to charitable groups before
Fri Oct 17, 2014, 05:27 PM
Oct 2014

he dies. Along with Warren Buffett and a few others in the .01%.

That sets them worlds apart from the sociopathic Kochs and Waltons.

And I'm not sure how much practical day to day influence Bill has over Microsoft's fiduciary affairs anymore. That baby has grown up.

Martin Eden

(12,864 posts)
9. Does ""SECRET MONEY** = SPEECH???
Sat Oct 18, 2014, 02:34 PM
Oct 2014

Seems to me that SPEECH is something that is heard in the light of day -- not dark money from sources which prefer to remain hidden.

What is the Constitutional basis for equating dark money with freedom of speech?

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Jim Hightower: Dark-money...