Billionaire Adelson donates $5 million to help Gingrich but does not want publicity

Sheldon Adelson, CEO Las Vegas Sands Corp

/ Getty Images

With a $5 million donation to a group backing former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, billionaire casino owner Sheldon Adelson has just given the largest single donation that could directly aid a candidate in American history. But he does not want to talk about it.

Adelson has declined interview requests from CBS News and other major media outlets who want to ask him about his donation to a super PAC called "Winning Our Future," which has already spent more than half of the money to run ads slamming front-runner Mitt Romney in South Carolina, which holds its primary January 21.

The 78-year-old casino magnate is not concerned about a possible backlash he might get for the donation and is only interested in using the money to help Gingrich.

"It doesn't register to him what other people think about it...or what people write about it," a source close to Adelson told CBS News.

While Adelson is the largest donor this cycle to date, more large donors are expected to be revealed this month as Super PAC filings are released before a January 31 Federal Election Commission deadline.

In South Carolina alone, more than $7 million has already been spent on television ads supporting the various candidates, including the $3.4 million ad buy made possible by Adelson.

South Carolina Republican party chair Chad Connelly expects an additional $15-$20 million worth of advertising to be purchased in the coming days as the candidates duke it out on the Palmetto state airwaves.

Campaign finance watchdog Fred Wertheimer objected to the landmark 2010 Supreme Court decision, Citizens United vs. FEC, that has allowed for donations like Adelson's $5 million check.

"Money doesn't guarantee anything but it certainly can make a huge difference," said Wertheimer, the founder and President of Democracy 21, a Washington-based nonprofit which works to eliminate the undue influence of big money in American politics.

Wertheimer fears donations today can turn into favors in a future administration.

"Think about what influence the donor gains in the future," he said.

When asked what Adelson might want in return for the contribution, the source close to the casino owner said "Adelson doesn't want anything in return," noting that he gave generously to former President George W. Bush and never called in any favors.

Other sources close to Adelson confirm that if Gingrich is not the nominee, Adelson will continue to contribute to whoever gets the GOP nomination.

Adelson is close personal friends with Gingrich and he attended a Gingrich fundraiser in mid-October sitting at the same table as the former speaker according to George Harris, the host and owner of the Las Vegas restaurant where the fundraiser was held.

According to Adelson's staff, the casino owner met Gingrich in the US Capitol in October,1995 through former Georgia Republican Congressman John Linder. Adelson was in the Capitol with his wife as the House was debating the Jerusalem Embassy Act which required the U.S. embassy to move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Gingrich and his second wife Marianne Gingrich and Adelson and his wife were heavily involved in Israeli issues. Adelson is a strong supporter of Israel.

[Tired_of_liars]

by economicterror January 12, 2012 6:59 AM EST
You can thank the anti American GOP economic terrorist pimps for the 1% on the Supreme Court for their Citizens United decision that gave corporations the same political rights as individual Americans.
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Says the anti American Democrat on the site

[gep1955]

He knows better than to allow CBS the leftist press to put together a hit piece on him. We still have the freedom of speech and he has the freedom of silence so take a hike.

[RobAla]

This billionaire funds a Republican, and billionaire Soros funds liberal Democrats. Unfortunately, big money is part of today;s politics - regardless of political party. I would love to take groups (unions and corporations) totally out of the donation business, and limit political funding to individual citizens(and maybe limit it to $1,000 donation per individual donation to any candidate). But that is just me. Politicians love the money, so there is little chance of this happening.

[ajvw]

You mean the Supreme Court who gave corporations the same rights as labor unions?

[gockwang]

AH..... SO HE IS SUPPORTING A DIRTY OLD MAN JOHN... NO WONDER HE DOES NOT WANT PUBLICTY.... IS HE AND DIRTTY NWET HIDING SOMETHING... OR HAS A DIRTY SMOKING GUN THAT HE IS AFRAID TO SHOW AND HARM HIS GAMBLING BUSINESS...

[you_MAY_be_right]

"With a $5 million donation... But he does not want to talk about it."


Guess the cat's out of the bag on this one.

[kansas1946]

Hmmm. Rick Perry being such a loud Christian, you would think he wouldn't be fond of receiving money from a sinful enterprise such as gambling.

[AOCGUY]

What does Rick Perry have to do with this?

[retiredgustav]

If a front runner is not determined soon, that will guarantee a brokered convention for the republicans in August. Good news for our President bad news for the republicans.