Hey, Big Spender! Fred Eshelman Donates Over $3M to Conservative Group

Fred Eshelman, CEO of Phamaceutical Product Development, has described himself in simple words as "Father, Philanthropist and Entrepreneur." As of the past few months, he's also established himself as one of the top individual funders attempting to influence the outcome of the midterm elections.

Newly-filed financial reports show that last month, Eshleman has contributed a total of $3.38 million to a conservative group called RightChange.com. According to "Open Secrets," the 527 political group has "made a flurry of negative independent expenditures in some of the country's hottest U.S. Senate races." Records indicate Ehsleman gave $1.85 million last month and $1.5 million more this month. All told, his contributions account for most of the RightChange.com funds raised this year.

Eshelman started his company, PPD, in Maryland in 1985 as a single-person consulting firm. It grew to 10,000 employees and operations in 38 countries and has major operations in North Carolina. Analysts consider it  "one of the world's top life science contract research organizations." During the economic downturn, PPD shares fell dramatically. Eshelman has donated millions to charitable causes. That includes a $20 million+ gift to the school from which he graduated in 1972: UNC-Chapel Hill School of Pharmacy.

According to Open Secrets, in the past two weeks, RightChange.com has spent over $1.9 million assisting its candidates of choice. This includes opposition to Senate Candidate Charlie Crist in Florida and incumbent Senators Patty Murray of Washington, Sen. Maj. Leader Harry Reid in Nevada and Sen. Michael Bennet in Colorado.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Election 2010

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Sharyl Attkisson is a CBS News Investigative Correspondent based in Washington. You can read more of her posts in Hotsheet here.

[truth-b-toll]

corps. have taken over and we get 8 comments?
Tea party IS a grass roots movement!
America you will be bent over for corp./gop demands...

[cbsglucas]

The web site should more appropriately be called RIGHT CHANGE FOR ME.COM

[cbsglucas]

Just as our sports and entertainment arenas have taken on the names of big corporations, we should soon see the same on the White House and Capitol. Big corporations have bought our government and politicians. They deserve to have their names proudly displayed. They worked hard and paid well for the privilege.

And we stupid Americans have been convinced that this is freedom, patriotism, democracy, less government. While the large corporations earn record profits, and the rehiring is in India and China, not here, our middle class gets pushed lower and lower into the ground.

[simpleconservative]

If you really are a stupid American, then you may well be on the government dole. If so, then you should realize the government has no money. The only cash they have is that which they can legally steal from productive class members like Fred. Besides the 10,000 people he provides with jobs, he is probably supporting another 2,000 folks on the dole! You should thank your lucky stars that such people exist in America, otherwise the most vulnerable among us would be SOL!!!

[RobAla]

If Soros can fund liberals, then this guy can fund conservatives.

[jimbom121]

Wonder what he expects to get in return.

[hhandyman]

If Limbaw is still hooked on pain killers must be a connection to this and the anti Health Republcans those that think only the Rich should have health care. forget the common man for the wealthy.
See them try and take control and kick out any that are not of thier stripe Thats the Rich Right for Rights sake Ripoff artists called Republican ehtics

[noloyalisti]

Well yeah, the Republican Tea Bag Party is all about completing the takeover of government by giant corporations and the filthy rich.

Then why should they let us have our social security and medicare, jobs here in America and our freedoms? They don't give a darn about any of that. We will be like a bunch of poor Wal-Mart employees dividing up the crumbs that drop from the fat cats tables.

[simpleconservative]

If ignorance is bliss, you are on cloud nine!

[rightbehind]

This guy is looking out for his pharmaceutical interest. If we ever get a single payer system in this country it will bring big pharma into check. Ironically less donations will probably be needed for the poor. I hope the republicans loose big time and will be licking their wounds for years to come.

[Cattzen]

Why are these people unable(unwilling) to pay their taxes?