Tracking "The Bundlers"

CBS News Investigates What Motivates Powerful Campaign Donors

(CBS)  Funding is the lifeblood of every campaign, but with federal law limiting donations to just $2,300 per person, raising the staggering amounts of money needed is an all consuming quest.

So candidates count on elite fund-raisers - about 2,000 in all - who package together small donations from family, friends and associates, delivering big bundles of cash.

That’s why they’re called bundlers, CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian reports.

“Bundlers are industry titans, CEOs, lobbyists, hedge fund managers,” said Laura MacCleery, director of Congress Watch for the group Public Citizen. “Much more likely to be John K. Millionaire than Jane Q. Public.”

Bundlers often do their business behind the scenes, hosting small, private fundraising events, like one for the Republican candidate Fred Thompson in the Virginia home of a telecommunications executive.

So beyond their belief in the candidates, what do they get?

“Many of them do want access to government,” said Craig McDonald, the director of Texans for Public Justice.

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Primary Source Blog: A Package Deal?

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McDonald has followed the money raised by bundlers tied to President Bush.

“You can just track the bundlers and see that there is a link between bundlers, influence, access, the White House and to government," he said.

A look at the list of Bush "bundlers" reveals more than 170 received government appointments, including four cabinet posts. Twenty-seven were named ambassadors.

Charles Swindells became Ambassador to New Zealand; John Palmer, the ambassador to Portugal. Charles Cobb's wife, Susan got the post for Jamaica. All raised at least $100,000.

In addition, dozens more - including six energy executives - were named to transition teams critical in shaping administration policy.

We called 40 Bundlers. The only one who would talk to us was Ken Langone, co-founder of Home Depot. He's raised millions of dollars for Rudy Guiliani and other candidates.

What does Ken Langone want for all those checks?

“What do I want?” Lagone said. “I don’t want anything,” Lagone told Keteyian. “Well, I would consider it one of the most disrespectful things for me to do to take the money from my friends to get something for me."

Keteyian asked, “I mean, I have names here that raised a lot of money that ended up ... ambassador to the European Union, on the Amtrak Board, Assistant Secretary of labor, the ambassador to Austria, Belgium, Belize, Canada."

“Wonderful. Look, they shouldn’t get the edge if they raise money, but they shouldn’t be punished if they raise money either,” Lagone said.

Can he assure people that all of those who are raising money for Giuliani and other candidates aren’t getting anything in return?

“Not one person has ever come to me and said, ‘okay, I helped you, now I need this’ or ‘if I help you, I want that,’” Lagone said.

That may well be true, but when you un-bundle the names behind all these events, you may well see the faces of the next administration.

[telltruth99]

Who Is Paying For Your Vote To Keep Control Of You And To Keep This War Going? Remember The Bankers Hold The Stock In Companies That Are Getting Billions In War Contracts, And The President Keeps Their Profit Going!

Obama''s Contributers: bankers / Special interest!
http://tinyurl.com/2nd4f8

Hillary Clinton''s Contributers Lawyers / RealEstate:
http://tinyurl.com/2ontpq

Rudy GIULIANI Contributors: Bankers / Hedge Funds!
http://tinyurl.com/2m2c4n

Ron Pauls Money Is From the People! We have someone who is NOT Paid Off By Special Interest or Bankers Money!!!
http://tinyurl.com/2q8vr3

If you ever want this War to End Vote Ron Paul 2008, No OneElse Is Going To End It!
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/issues

[likeitis5050]

The only one who would talk to us was Ken Langone, co-founder of Home Depot. He''s raised millions of dollars for Rudy Guiliani and other candidates.
%u201CWhat do I want?%u201D Lagone said. %u201CI don%u2019t want anything.%u201D
What does Ken Langone want for all those checks?
%u201CWell, I would consider it one of the most disrespectful things for me to do to take the money from my friends to get something for me,%u201D Lagone told Keteyian.
Keteyian asked, %u201CI mean, I have names here that raised a lot of money that ended up ... ambassador to the European Union, on the Amtrak Board, Assistant Secretary of labor, the ambassador to Austria, Belgium, Belize, Canada." ********

LIARS!!!
Why would anyone try to deny that people who work tirelessly on a campagin don''t benefit nicely if the candidate wins? Why would anyone want to attempt to insult our intelligence by dodging the truth on this one? It''s obvious they don''t do it for nothing...please. Your guy wins...you win...IF YOU PUT IN THE HOURS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN! A guaranteed 3 years to s..c..r..e..w the voters over ...and then it''s back to campaign trail...baby needs a new pair of shoes.

[sftodd]

It''''s obvious they don''''t do it for nothing...please. Your guy wins...you win...IF YOU PUT IN THE HOURS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN! A guaranteed 3 years to s..c..r..e..w the voters over ...and then it''''s back to campaign trail...baby needs a new pair of shoes.
Posted by likeitis5050 at 09:35 PM : Oct 01, 2007

ummm, I searching, but I can''t find your point anywhere in this rant, can you help me out?

[antoniof123]

So what do they think we don''t know this that is capitalism at its best. Of course if you are not careful it can turn in to fascism at its worst.

[radiob-2009]

June 15, 2007
Dogpile Gazette






Dogpile Missouri: We caught up with Drew our hometown champion on the steps of the state capital yesterday and inquired to his campaign for president. He stated that all was going well and that momentum was gathering in his favor. When pressed on issues such as Iraq he replied that he had a concrete plan to end the war inside of six months of his presidency. Asked about the immigration issue he again reiterated that he had the only viable plan. Asked about his plan and details of Drew was quick to respond to our questions with great insight and knowledge of the subject. He spoke fluently to the mixed audience outside the steps of the capitol, which was followed by applause. He promised his plan would indeed provide better security at home and abroad. He then went on to state that he would not only finish the war in Iraq inside of six months but he would also put an end to the war on terror bringing it also to a end inside of two years. Dogpile residents and America will indeed be watching this candiate.

[wogerwabbit]

We need to get the foxes out of the henhouse or the system will never get fixed. Years ago, I thought public financimg of campaigns was a crummy idea... I''m not so sure about that now after seeing how corrupt our government has become.

[whispyseas]

'' ... what multi trillion dollar nuclear biological chemical stealth raype get sick tax world machine screaming ''i dare you to stay off drugs'' and ''i shock and awe you to stay off terror'' and forclosing on each farm, school, hospital in the world ... ''



'' ... most folk most time dance get well feed world, that little girl is evil, lurks among normal, but really get sick tax world, cuff collar mug rape, swear, not hike naked dance dressed porn songs or off backs of dragons to break bones for fun, most behave, but not her, or me till she''s gone ... ''



'' ... can''t give less than free food free medicine 4ever ... nah, to feed the world i must tax all & deny to begging .. soo laughing .. if avg county 577 sq miles, 90,000 folk, 300 16 acre trail crossings,300 (90,000) folk in 300 weeks turn out 90,000 (billions)(little eco friendly non resource depleting) museums of medical you are here map song dance skit kit for small tips, avg home 340 sq ft + 2500 sq ft garden at $2400 - $60,000; then, on cosmic scale: avg cosmic county makeup? how many naked folk dance get well feed world songs rallyd round the sick beds drifting the spore bloom weed dragon trail fickle first aid lunch farm cottage studio trail groups at each crossing? ... ''



'' ... eternal storyboards swimming infinite oceans of eternal storyboards ... ''

[lieslies99]

***** Stop The War & Corporate Corruption *****

Why Don''t You Know Ron Paul??????

The corporate media will not give Ron Paul any Exposure. Because, NBC is owned by GE. GE is one of the world''s largest war-makers. They make things that go boom. They make $Billions on war. A Ron Paul administration would be bad for business. CNN is owned by AOL. Majority share holder is Saudi Royal Talal who is also partners with GHWBush in The Carlyle Group. Another major warmaker. And on and on. You get the picture. This is why they are doing a Media Blackout on him. Because they don''t WANT YOU TO KNOW THE TRUTH!!!!!

Who is Ron Paul?
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/about

Join A ReVoLuTiOn Group In Your City:
http://ronpaul.meetup.com/cities/

Who 0wns The Media? http://www.mediaowners.com

Ron Paul Has WON 10 Straw-Polls!:
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/straw-poll-results/

RESTORE YOUR LIBERTY & FREEDOM
SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT RON PAUL 2008!

He Will:

** Stop Iraq War Immediately
** Eliminate IRS
** Eliminate Federal Reserve
** Eliminate Government Wasteful Spending
** Restore America''s Work Force & Values
** Restore America''s Freedom!

GET UP AND GET ACTIVE TODAY!!!
Paul Is America''s Last Hope!

[srtuttle]

Business as usual...
I know several former democrats who are voting for Ron Paul just because he will END this war.