Corporate America Finances Conventions

Neither Party Will Share Level Of Corporate Donations

(CBS)  CBS News Investigative Producer Laura Strickler wrote this story for CBSNews.com.

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Political conventions brought to you by corporate America.

Both presidential candidates tout their work to curb the influence of corporate America's lobbyists.

But when the two Senators make their way to the podium to accept their party’s nominations, much of what viewers see at home will be financed by millions in corporate cash.

In exchange, donors are treated with VIP perks such as skyboxes, special access to decision makers, and “corporate hospitality". And if the candidates forget who the corporate supporters are, they need not look beyond corporate logos on everything from water bottles, volunteer uniforms and city wide banners.

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) does not put any limits on donations to the convention host committees. “They are not really contributions under the law,” says Bob Biersack, spokesperson for the FEC who says the agency has decided the donations are “to promote the cities not to influence the elections.”

“What the donations clearly do buy is access to lawmakers and opportunities to influence them,” says David Arkush of Public Citizen. Sponsors can also mingle with key members of a potential administration. Arkush says, “The people who give these donations get their phone calls returned and have an easier time having their voices heard and that must have an influence on policy at the end of the day.”

The Democratic Host Committee Web site boasts 176 corporate and individual sponsors and spokesperson Chris Lopez says he expects the list to ultimately top 300. Lopez says some companies are not listed because they do not want their donations to be known, “They have their own specific reasons," he told CBS News.

Host committees for both conventions say they will not reveal the exact amounts or levels of donations until they have to, which is when they file with the FEC on October 15, 2008. Lopez says for the Democrats, it's because the fundraising is ongoing, “We run through all the rules and regulations that govern non-profit, non-partisan host committees” he said.

“It is transparent, it comes out eventually,” says Theresa McFarland, spokesperson for the Minneapolis St. Paul Host Committee for the GOP. She says the Committee abides by all regulations and says, “Our policy all along has been not to release specifics about fundraising overall.”

The public list of GOP sponsors includes 87 corporations. At the top level are companies that pay $5 million or more to be “Finance Co-Chairs”. This guarantees luxury seats for convention activities, participation on host committee leadership conference calls and “special invitations and access to all [convention] Host Committee Leadership events.”

The Denver Host Committee for the Democrats did not make their sponsorship packet available.

Corporate sponsor participation may go beyond financial contributions.

(Union of Concerned Scientists)

Northwest Airlines who is a sponsor of the GOP convention asked that an “anti-McCain” advertisement in the Minneapolis airport concourse be removed after some complaints. The ad, paid for by the advocacy group Union of Concerned Scientists states, "Senator McCain: It's time to get serious about reducing the nuclear threat” and has a target placed on a picture of Minneapolis. The group says the same advertisement is running in Denver and is addressed to Senator Obama.

[misha128-2009]

I wonder what Corporate America thinks about the Iraqis canceling the US no-bid contracts to sell oil to China and others. Republican policies now have us borrowing money from China to defend Chinese National Interests in Iraq!! The Republicans have downgraded the status of the US to a Chinese satellite as are now acting as Chinese proxies to protect their interests in Iraq.

[babooph]

The govt represents them thru their lobbyists-they get off on their taxes ,let them pay for their farsical govornment.

[davide73-2009]

Two things wrong with the USA are the expansion of overly large and influential corporations and the mega rich.....both have far too much influence over our government.

Both need to be broken and stripped of their undue power and wealth and the excess wealth taxed and used to rebuild the country and its infrastructure.

I completely agree with the statements above. The people need to take back our country.

[cbsblogger]

Two things majorly wrong with the USA are the expansion of overly large and influential corporations and the mega rich.....both have far too much influence over our government.

Both need broken and stripped of their undue power and wealth and the excess wealth taxed and used to rebuild the country and its infrastructure.

[cbsblogger]

The problem with America is that corporations need to be seriously taxed to help run our country as in non-discretionary income. They should never have discretionary influence over our government as in "we will pay if you do this or that".

These "US Corporations" is a misnomer. They use our country, collect taxpayer pork and economic incentives, pay very little in taxes, they hire few Americans and they do nothing for the country except corrupt it. So what benefit are they to the USA?

Every corporation in America should be independently rated as to what benefits they actually do for the greater good of the USA and its citizens. Corporations are not citizens and deserve no rights.

[my2centss]

176(D) to 87(R) corporations. Oil, pharmaceutical, banks...etc. What is different between the two? Its time for a 3rd party president.

[deacon20081]

Gripe about corporations paying to have their people heard all you like, it won''t change a thing. Both Parties who claim to be avoiding special interests and the lobbyists are guilty of the same tactics.
The problem I hace with McCain is that he was once respected as a voice of reason amid republican insanity, now however he has sold his soul to the Oil Companies and Big Business entirely.

[wellhell3]

The Denver Host Committee for the Democrats did not make their sponsorship packet available.

Corporate sponsor participation may go beyond financial contributions.

Of COURSE the democrats aren''t going to reveal the cash from corporations, just like their SCAM artist candidate hasn''t revealed his either.

[demwatcher]

"EXACTLY! This is how a fascist country operates. When are WE the People going to figure it our. Corporations they way they operate are bad for human and other life on the planet. Time to boycott and general strike. Time to bring the fascists to their knees.

Posted by noloyalisti at 04:58 PM : Aug 20, 2008"

Educate yourself on Fascism, idiot, because you OBVIOUSLY do not know what Fascism really is. You are as stupid a McVet with his tossing that word around.

[noloyalisti]

When are we going to admit that this is a fascist country where big corporations run the media, the government and the military? Why do we hold these people like the GOP, who value dollars above human life in such high esteem? Look at Wal-Mart who runs sweat shops in China, a COMMUNIST country. They have ruined so many small businesses, the lifeblood of the economy and of free and progressive thinking.

[credibility2]

Gee, I guess the Dems are just as "corrupt" as the Repubs for opening the doors to influence peddling by the corporate sponsors. I wonder if T. Boone Pickens will be the guest of Nancy Pelosi? She''s very cozy with him and presumably invested in the purchase of $50k+ in shares of Pickens'' company, which makes sense why she''s opposed to off-shore exploration and drilling, just like the old gas bag is. Isn''t this illegal?

[mostly_slick]

corporations will spare no expense to keep the republicons in power.

after all, when there''s war and despair there''s money to be made.

corportations will make a bundle if they can get mc cain into the white house.

that''s those republicons for you, folks.

war, hate & arrogance.

mc cain''s type of folks!

[greeneyes222]

Let''s define "US Corporations." Foreign owned, but registered here. Big whoop. Both parties have sold out.

[sistatee-2009]

U.S. corporations? That''s funny. They''re American owned, but make their products in Chinese, Indian, Mexican, and Central American slave-labor camps, called factories. The money going to McCain AND Obama comes from American slave-owners who work children 16 hours a day and pay them nothing.

[jackmayoff2]

WE SHOULD EXILE ALL PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR BUSH

[noloyalisti]

EXACTLY! This is how a fascist country operates. When are WE the People going to figure it our. Corporations they way they operate are bad for human and other life on the planet. Time to boycott and general strike. Time to bring the fascists to their knees.

[antoniof123]

Ah the best money can buy and yet what happened to my America sold to the GOD of money.

Well, I hope all you fools out there are ready because its coming once again history will repeat it self as always.

Guess it makes the world go round and round and round again.

[xyno-2009]

Obama''s newly named senior adviser and Jewish outreach coordinator, who joined Obama on his trip to Israel, lobbied on behalf of the American Petroleum Institute, according to the Senate Office of Public Records Lobbying Disclosure Act database.

[dubya_luvr]

Nader''''s right about corporate control of both the Republican and Democratic parties. Poor liberals! Now, just who''''s the hypocrite, huh, liberals?
Posted by denn034 at 03:04 PM : Aug 20, 2008

Yet another pointless post. Corporations have always contributed to parties and conventions, this is nothing new.

What''s new, and disgusting, is 7 years of unprecedented Republican pandering to corporations resulting in laws which are against the public interest, regulatory boards which ignore science and reduction of oversight, threatening the population in general.

Try to get it right for once.

[robstrck]

I thought the Dems hated big business?? I sure hope there isn''''''''t any of that tainted Exxon money going to the DNC. LOL


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Posted by Xyno

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No, they just like trial lawyers and unions better.