California's Special Election, Paul Ryan's Wine Pal and More in Capital Eye Opener: July 12

Open Secrets.org ^ | July 12, 2011 | Michael Beckel

[Kaslin]

FINE WINE, BEST ENJOYED AMONG FRIENDS AND DONORS?: Cliff Asness, the founding and managing partner of hedge fund AQR Capital, and Rutgers University professor Susan Feinberg may have irreconcilable differences about two $350 bottles of wine at Washington D.C.'s Bistro Bis, but they once found common ground in the campaign of President Barack Obama. Cliff Asness, and his wife Laurel, each gave Obama $2,300 during his 2008 campaign, according to research by the Center for Responsive Politics. Feinberg, too, was a 2008 Obama campaign donor, giving $1,700 in support of his presidential bid.

Obama was just the second federal-level candidate to earn Feinberg's cash, according to the Center's research. (She also gave a similar amount -- $2,000 -- to Democrat John Kerry during his 2004 presidential bid.) Asness, meanwhile, has donated to scores of politicians and political committees -- including Obama's 2008 rivals then-Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), then-Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), former Republican New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

In all, Asness, along with his wife, Laurel, has contributed about $436,000 to federal candidates and committees over the past two decades, according to the Center's research. Of that sum, 80 percent has benefited Republicans, including $114,500 to the Republican National Committee and $72,100 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee. The pair has also donated $33,500 to the Libertarian National Committee since 2008.

Furthermore, during the 2010 election cycle, Cliff and Laurel Asness also donated $7,666 to the leadership PAC of Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), with whom he was spotted sharing two $350 bottles of wine and an expensive meal by Feinberg.

To see all of the campaign contributions of Cliff and Laurel Asness since the 1990 election cycle, download this Excel spreadsheet:  Asness_Donations_071211.xls

Feel free to use these data, but if you do, please credit the Center for Responsive Politics:

DCCC AGAINST CITIZENS UNITED: Democratic leaders hope to regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives in November of 2012, and one of the issues they are fund-raising on now to help them raise early cash to do so is the U.S. Supreme Court ruling from last year that gave corporations the power to spend directly on political advertisements: Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.

In a fund-raising missive and survey obtained by OpenSecrets Blog, see below, one question asks DCCC donors: "How important is it for Congress to undo the damage of the Supreme Court's decision to allow large corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money to influence the outcome of national elections?" The choices respondents are given: "very important," "somewhat important," "not very important" and "not important at all."

"Democrats are working hard to secure the funds necessary to support Democratic House members and candidates … [sic] and the insights and opinions of committed Democrats like you to help shape our agenda," the fund-raising appeal, penned by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi

(D-Calif.) continues. "With just 24 Republican held seats standing between us and a Democratic Majority, I'm confident we can succeed… But the only way we can continue delivering the change America needs is with your help."

DCCC July 2011 Survey

[PieterCasparzen]

Nice to hear that Mr. Ryan can appreciate a noble wine.

And that there are a few folks of means that don’t give practically all their political donations to left-wing anarchists / democrats.

I was beginning to really think conservatism was mostly the outlook only of poor folks who want to work.

[ElkGroveDan]

Nice to hear that Mr. Ryan can appreciate a noble wine.

It's also against the law for Members of Congress and staff to accept gifts of that amount.

[PieterCasparzen]

Was it a gift ? Did they have dinner together ? I don’t know the rules.

I know for pharma reps romancing doctors to push pills, there are very specific rules about all such things.

I’m curious, if I invite him to Wendy’s is it ok ? /half-joke

I just keep picturing people looking at the bill asking who ordered tax. /full-joke

I’m sure politicians always pay when they go out to dinner out of their own after-tax earnings.../real-joke...

Now I have to look for those rules, I’m curious.

[ElkGroveDan]

It’s all related to the value of the meal. I used to have to live by that crap.

[PieterCasparzen]

Man, why don’t they get wives that can cook !

[newzjunkey]

Uh... it was NOT a gift. He had one glass and yet paid for an entire bottle himself.

Facts matter.

[ElkGroveDan]

He had one glass and yet paid for an entire bottle himself. Facts matter.

Yes they do. Which is why you should go read the exact wording of my post. The discussion was about a $350 bottle of wine and I pointed out the rules for members accepting gifts. Had I said "Paul Ryan has clearly committed a crime by accepting an entire $350 bottle of wine which he proceeded to guzzle by himself with both feet on the table, and so he should be hauled in on ethics charges." Then you would have a point. But I didn't.

Now please go crawl back into your big tent.