http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/donors/ en-us Fri, 11 Dec 2009 03:52:17 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2405138/posts The Man Who Quietly Bankrolled the ACLUOne man's annual donation apparently made up 25% of the operating budget of the American Civil Liberties Union. And that guy, David Gelbaum, had a bad year. So... hope you didn't need to sue the government in 2010. Gelbaum gave the ACLU $20 million, anonymously, every year. But he will be unable to make that donation this year, forcing the organization to scramble to solicit donations that they'll have to share with state chapters. Gelbaum is an ex-hedge funder who retired a couple years ago to become a reclusive investor in green technology and... Gawker http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2405138/posts#comment Fri, 11 Dec 2009 03:52:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2404537/posts NEW YORK (AP) - The American Civil Liberties Union has lost a quarter of its yearly donations after a major donor cut off $19 million in annual donations because of economic difficulties. David Gelbaum, a wealthy California conservationist, said he was indefinitely stopping the donations that had made him the New York-based group's largest anonymous donor AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2404537/posts#comment Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:20:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2401834/posts Executives at Comcast, the media behemoth looking to buy a 51 percent stake in NBC Universal, have given large sums of money to presidential candidate Barack Obama and Democrats in recent years The Hill reported Saturday: Comcast chief executive Brian Roberts made more than $76,000 in political contributions to Democrats since 2006, compared to $13,500 in contributions to Republicans. Comcast vice president and top lobbyist David Cohen made about $180,000 to Democrats in the same period, compared to $12,000 to Republicans, according to OpenSecrets.org. Newsbusters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2401834/posts#comment Mon, 7 Dec 2009 04:19:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2401283/posts The proposed merger of Comcast and NBC Universal will be the first big test of the Obama administration’s stance on the hot-button issue of media consolidation. It could also put the Obama administration and Democrats in Congress at odds with a few of their largest supporters. The Hill http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2401283/posts#comment Sun, 6 Dec 2009 01:43:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2394693/posts WASHINGTON — The Obama administration on Wednesday released a second installment from its logs of White House visitors in the first seven months of Mr. Obama’s term, revealing a roster of business executives, Democratic strategists and lobbyists showing up for meetings, events or tours. The latest list — some 1,600 names — includes Thomas Donohue, the head of the Chamber of Commerce who has been embroiled in a fight over climate change with the Obama administration. It also includes T. Boone Pickens, the energy investor and author of the best-selling book “The First Billion Is the Hardest.” A three-time visitor... nytimes.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2394693/posts#comment Thu, 26 Nov 2009 02:43:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2389849/posts He may have promised to change Washington, but President Barack Obama is continuing one of its most renowned patronage traditions: bestowing prized ambassadorships on big donors. Of the nearly 80 ambassadorship nominations or confirmations since Obama’s Inauguration, 56 percent were given to political appointees and 44 percent have gone to career diplomats, according to records kept by the American Foreign Service Association. The latest nomination came this week, when Beatrice Wilkinson Welters was nominated to serve as ambassador to the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean. Welters, a longtime advocate for underprivileged children, and her husband, Anthony,... politico.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2389849/posts#comment Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:01:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2388584/posts A big chunk of the money that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger collected last year to finance a political reform ballot measure came from a man now being accused of running a massive Ponzi-style fraud in Florida. When federal investigators raided the offices of Fort Lauderdale, FL, attorney Scott Rothstein, looking for evidence to bolster civil and potentially criminal charges of running a huge Ponzi-style fraud, they found many pictures of Rothstein with prominent politicians. The Wall Street Journal reported that Rothstein appeared to be particularly close to Florida Gov. Charlie Crist but among other political figures in the photos were former... Sac Bee http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2388584/posts#comment Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:57:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2381593/posts Bill O'Reily reports on the Top Visitors to the White House. The head of a union with ties to ACORN head tops the list: THE White House released last week a partial list of visitors since Jan. 20. It is fascinating and highlights what kind of house the Obamas are running. Topping the visitor chart is Andy Stern, president of the Service Employees International Union, who has been received there 22 times... Kim Gandy, president of the National Organization for Women, clocks in with 14 visits. This has to be a Michelle Obama play. I know the president is a... Economic Policy Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2381593/posts#comment Sun, 8 Nov 2009 18:18:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2377079/posts The Rev. Reginald Jackson, who last week announced he was throwing his coveted support to incumbent Gov. Jon Corzine, received $87,000 in donations from the multimillionaire governor last year, Jackson confirmed yesterday. According to Corzine's 2008 tax returns, the governor made a $50,000 donation to Jackson's congregation, St. Matthew AME Church in Orange. Corzine gave another $37,000 to St. Matthew from his philanthropic foundation, Jackson said. He explained the smaller sum was contributed early in 2008 and the $50,000 was donated in July last year, shortly after the governor began raising money for his re-election campaign. The contributions were the... star ledger http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2377079/posts#comment Tue, 3 Nov 2009 02:28:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2375198/posts Like Capt. Renault in "Casablanca," I am shocked, shocked to discover that access-peddling is going on in the Obama White House. Perks for deep-pocketed donors? Presidential meetings for sale? The stale Chicago odor of pay-for-play wafting from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue? Knock me over with a feather. Despite the president's claimed distaste for the campaign-finance practice known as "bundling" (rounding up contributions from friends, business associates and employees), the House of Obama has been a bundlers' paradise from Day One. A new Washington Times report just confirms the obvious: It's business as usual in the era of Hope and Change. O's... NY Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2375198/posts#comment Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:35:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2375197/posts WASHINGTON --- President Obama has been rolling out the red carpet at the White House during his first term -- playing host to a who's who of business-world bigs and A-list celebs including George Clooney and Oprah Winfrey, newly released records reveal. Also among the Tinseltown drop-ins were megastars Brad Pitt and Denzel Washington, who paid a visit in May, according to visitors logs, which cover January to July. The administration posted the records on its Web site yesterday, two days after a report revealed that some of Obama's top financial backers had gotten White House tours and even use... NY Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2375197/posts#comment Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:31:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2375042/posts October 30, 2009 President Obama Alleged To Have Given White House Perks To Top Donors Tim Reid Senior Republicans demanded an investigation yesterday into reports that President Obama has given financial donors perks such as use of the White House cinema, golf games with the Commander-in-Chief and even the chance to shape policy. The allegations that Mr Obama may have carried on the practice of rewarding top donors — Bill Clinton and George Bush were criticised for it — was also condemned by campaignfinance watchdogs. They said that the President appeared to have reneged on his promise to change the... London Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2375042/posts#comment Sat, 31 Oct 2009 01:35:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2375036/posts http://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/disclosures/visitor-records Drudge WH http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2375036/posts#comment Sat, 31 Oct 2009 01:21:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2374198/posts Just how far is the Obama administration willing to go to reward big donors? In the wake of yesterday’s explosive report regarding “scores of top Democratic donors” being rewarded with “VIP access to the White House, private briefings with administration advisers and invitations to important speeches and town-hall meetings,” it’s a question that’s on the minds of many politically-engaged Americans, and one likely to grab yet more attention, thanks to this article in today’s USA Today. It notes that: “More than 40% of President Obama’s top-level fundraisers have secured posts in his administration, from key executive branch jobs to diplomatic... Big Government http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2374198/posts#comment Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:35:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2373000/posts I don't know if anyone has brought this up yet, but it certainly raises some questions about her in my mind - especially since she is taking such a prominent role in the "birther" movement. It appears that Orly Taitz is a very recent convert to the Republican Party. Prior to 2008, her donation history was Democrat including a very hefty check to the DSCC in 2006. From the FEC database... TAITZ, ORLY LAGUNA NIGUEL,CA 92677 SELF/DENTIST AND ATTORNEY 10/22/08 $500 Republican National Cmte (R) TAITZ, ORLY DR Laguna Niguel,CA 92677 SELF-EMPLOYED 9/17/08 $2,000 Republican Party of California (R) TAITZ,... opensecrets.org http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2373000/posts#comment Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:44:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2372832/posts Donors got access to bowling alley, WH movies, Messina It turns out that the White House-complex bowling alley might be the new Lincoln Bedroom. [Getting Dem pushback on the lede -- the argument being that the perks weren't part of a formal fundraising program like the Clintons' Lincoln bedroom arrangement.] Matthew Mosk of the Washington Times sifts the records and finds that President Obama's high-rolling donors got access to a ten-pin alley, the White House movie theater and the Oval. The big shots were also treated to an in-person West Coast briefing on health care reform by Jim Messina, one... POLITICO http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2372832/posts#comment Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:31:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2372669/posts High-dollar fundraisers have been promised access to senior officials and use of White House facilities in exchange for thousands of dollars in donations, documents reveal. During his first nine months in office, President Obama has quietly rewarded scores of top Democratic donors with VIP access to the White House, private briefings with administration advisers and invitations to important speeches and town-hall meetings. High-dollar fundraisers have been promised access to senior White House officials in exchange for pledges to donate $30,400 personally or to bundle $300,000 in contributions ahead of the 2010 midterm elections, according to internal Democratic National Committee documents... The Washington Times via FOX http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2372669/posts#comment Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:10:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2372472/posts During his first nine months in office, President Obama has quietly rewarded scores of top Democratic donors with VIP access to the White House, private briefings with administration advisers and invitations to important speeches and town-hall meetings. High-dollar fundraisers have been promised access to senior White House officials in exchange for pledges to donate $30,400 personally or to bundle $300,000 in contributions ahead of the 2010 midterm elections, according to internal Democratic National Committee documents obtained by The Washington Times. Top donors described in interviews with The Times how they were given a birthday visit to the Oval Office and... The Washington Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2372472/posts#comment Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:35:29 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2364927/posts OCTOBER 17, 2009 Rajaratnam Surfaced in U.S. Terrorism Probe By EVAN PEREZ and MATTHEW ROSENBERG WASHINGTON—The hedge-fund billionaire charged as part of a vast insider-trading case surfaced in an earlier, separate probe into U.S. fundraising by a Sri Lankan terrorist group, people familiar with the probe said. As part of that investigation, federal agents said they uncovered documents showing that Raj Rajaratnam, founder of the Galleon Group, was among several wealthy Sri Lankans in the U.S. whose donations to a Maryland-based charity made their way to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, according to people familiar with the probe. Raj... Wall St. Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2364927/posts#comment Sun, 18 Oct 2009 03:11:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2362319/posts According to OpenSecrets.org, DeMaurice Smith contributed $2,300 to Barack Obama on Election Day, November 4, 2008. Why would someone give money to a candidate on election day? Isn't it a little late to campaign at that point? Curious, indeed. THE FREEDOM POST http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2362319/posts#comment Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:20:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2356256/posts Not only did the four doctors who flanked President Obama at his White House press event on Monday recommend his plan; three out of four of them donated to his presidential campaign. It could be an ad slogan to put the toothpaste marketers who like to brag that nine out of ten doctors recommend their brand to shame. The four doctors who stood and clapped along with Mr. Obama’s plans were Dr. Mona Mangat of St. Petersburg, Florida, Dr. Hershey Garner of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Dr. Richard A. Evans of Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, and Dr. Amanda McKinney of Beatrice, Nebraska. Campaign finance... The Washington Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2356256/posts#comment Tue, 6 Oct 2009 22:20:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2355528/posts October 05, 2009 Categories: Florida Rove donated to Rubio NBC News’ Chuck Todd has the scoop that Karl Rove is supporting Marco Rubio, the conservative challenger to Gov. Charlie Crist, in the Republican primary for the Senate in Florida – at least with his money. Rove donated $1,000 to Rubio's campaign -- a sign of support for the underdog as he goes up against the governor, who holds a significant fundraising advantage. NBC's First Read also concludes that the donation as a sign of where former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush's true loyalties lie: Many believe this is Jeb's way of... Politico http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2355528/posts#comment Mon, 5 Oct 2009 22:39:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2354780/posts The Democratic National Committee is sending an additional $1 million to aid Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds’ campaign, POLITICO has learned. The money comes in addition to the $5 million the party committee has already committed to the Virginia race, one of two governors races in the country this fall. “We’re thrilled with the additional commitment from Governor Kaine and the DNC,” said Deeds senior adviser Mo Elleithee. “The fact that they are digging so deep shows that they’re fully committed to Creigh and to this race, and we’re appreciative of their continued support.” In addition to the cash,... POLITICO http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2354780/posts#comment Sun, 4 Oct 2009 21:03:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2354326/posts The liberal political organizing group ACORN, battered by the release of embarrassing videos and allegations of financial mismanagement and fraud, has also been losing support from several major foundations. The Ford Foundation, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the Marguerite Casey Foundation and Bank of America have stopped funding the group and its affiliates over the past year and a half. The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, a network that helps low-income families with housing, voter registration and other issues, receives about 10 percent of its $25 million annual budget from federal grants, according... Washington Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2354326/posts#comment Sat, 3 Oct 2009 22:30:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2353653/posts Two Iowa lesbian activists who donated approximately $150,000 in the 2006 and 2008 federal election cycles, all (but one) to Democratic candidates, are caught up in a reported $5.9 million embezzlement scheme.Phyllis Stevens was arrested in Las Vegas last Friday on charges of money laundering and wire fraud after the exposure of the scheme by her employer, insurance giant Aviva USA .Her partner, Marla Stevens, has been sued by Aviva for benefiting from the embezzlement because the money was alledgedly deposited in an account shared by both women. Marla Stevens has not been criminally charged, however. According to CampaignMoney.com, Phyllis... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2353653/posts#comment Fri, 2 Oct 2009 19:22:41 GMT