So Corporations are starting to send their donations to the GOP in larger numbers. This should be a blessing in disguise for many who want real change to our corporate structure. After all, currently many liberals are beholding to the same corporate masters as the GOP and the weakness of necessary legislation illustrates this.
When the House and Senate is maintained irrespective of the new onslaught of corporate dollars to the GOP in November, Democrats will have no excuse to legislate for the average American as opposed to their corporate puppeteers.
Corporate PACs betting on Republicans to regain control of Congress
By T.W. Farnam and Carol D. Leonnig
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, May 22, 2010Corporate America is gambling on the minority in its political giving this year, assuming that Republicans will win big in the November midterm elections, an analysis of campaign finance reports shows.
The pattern represents a distinct change from a year ago, when President Obama was sworn into office. Back then, corporate political action committees made a shift to the Democrats, giving 58 percent of their donations to the party. So far this year, 48 percent of the contributions from big business are going to the Democrats.
The shift in political giving represents a calculated gamble by lobbyists and executives overseeing corporate largesse that the Republican Party may regain control of Congress, say GOP fundraisers and political consultants.
Many other political winds have shifted behind Republicans in recent months, but the swing in money from corporate PACs is unusual. Corporations often give campaign contributions while seeking access and favor with incumbent lawmakers in position to shape legislation — meaning they gravitate to the party in power.
The last time corporate PACs made such a dramatic shift to the Republicans was in 1995, after the GOP’s rout of the Democrats in the 1994 midterms. This time, corporations have switched sides before the election.
The change comes as top Republican lawmakers appeal more directly to business leaders, putting them on notice that the GOP is keeping track of the corporate donations ledger and will remember who stood by the party.
As part of an effort dubbed "Sell the Fight," House Republican leaders have met privately with corporate executives and lobbyists to argue that their giving has tilted too far toward Democrats and that they need to steer more money to industry-friendly GOP candidates in key races in 2010.
"These corporate leaders and lobbyists have got interests and clients they need to look out for, and they are reading the tea leaves just like everyone else," said Rep. Greg Walden (Ore.), the deputy chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, who has made several private pitches to corporate PAC leaders. "They see what’s happening . . . and they don’t want to get cut short."
Corporate PACs betting on Republicans to regain control of Congress
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