The Top 20 industry recipients in this cycle
posted at 10:10 am on October 2, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Every political donation of over $200 has to have certain information attached, including the employer of the person making the donation. Open Secrets takes that information from the FEC filings to determine which industries contribute the most to each party and the various candidates. The results may surprise people, especially those who buy into the notion of “grassroots” support from small donors. Listed below are the top twenty industries contributing to incumbent members of Congress, their total contributions, party split, and their top recipient:
Note the interesting revelations here. While one would expect Barack Obama to lead in some areas after his massive fundraising efforts, he winds up as the biggest beneficiary of most of the top 20 — and most of the top 50, which can be seen at the Open Secrets link above. No one will be shocked to see Obama lead in the Education or TV/Music/Films industries, and the only surprise of the latter is that Republicans get as much as 23% of their contributions. Likewise for hospitals and nursing homes and health professionals.
However, Obama also leads in what Al Franken calls “Wall Street” money — Securities/Investments and Commercial Banks. In the former, Democrats enjoy almost a 2-1 advantage over Republicans. Oil & Gas favor Republicans and John McCain, but Electrical Utilities favor Democrats and Obama — despite Obama’s demand for a 15% cut in electrical production. In fact, it’s instructive to see how few industries support McCain over Obama; most of them have to do with manufacturing, such as Oil & Gas, Automotive, Building Materials, and ag sectors like Crop Production, Agricultural Services, and Food Process/Sales. Lawyers and unions like Obama, to no one’s great shock.
Who gets the lobbyists? Despite Obama’s claim that “his party” won’t accept lobbyist money, they prefer Democrats, 56%-44%, and Hillary Clinton gets top honors.
What does this mean? One can make any number of arguments from it:
- Democrats get most of the money because there are more Democratic incumbents. This is probably at least mostly true. It’s also important to remember that this table only applies to incumbents and not challengers.
- Barack Obama is more in the pocket of these industries. Obviously, he’s more in their pockets than other candidates, almost literally. The counter argument to this is Obama’s policies appeal to these industries the most, and this is the free political market at work. The two are not mutually exclusive, and there are elements of both at work.
- John McCain doesn’t do as good at fundraising. This was true until recently, when he started doing much better — but this is for the entire 2007-8 cycle and the improvement won’t make much of a dent.
Which lesson any one person takes will have more to do with their own biases than with an objective reality. However, we should celebrate the transparency that we now have on these contributions. This is the best manner of keeping elections honest, and it’s incumbent on us to use the tools provided to us by the FEC and Open Secrets.
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You forgot foreigners and pseudonymous donors; those are pretty big for Obama too.
Vashta.Nerada on October 2, 2008 at 10:16 AM
Barak Hussein Obama…our beloved president…bought and paid for….
Puritan1648 on October 2, 2008 at 10:16 AM
Two people in black hats sitting back to back, eating ice cream cones. It’s a hot day because ice cream is dripping from the cones.
Do I pass?
Bob's Kid on October 2, 2008 at 10:16 AM
so according to Rasmussen, Party ID in Sept. shifted towards GOP some, yet Obama has his biggest lead yet. I don’t get it, but I blame the media mostly.
jp on October 2, 2008 at 10:17 AM
I guess this explains last nights Senate vote. Something for everybody.
It has been said that this is a “throw the bums out” election, I am more convinced than ever that we can’t do any worse than the bums we have.
Angry Dumbo on October 2, 2008 at 10:20 AM
…I looked at that blot, too…told my wife what I saw…she looked at the blot….
…I’m scheduled for therapy…I’m promised meds….
Puritan1648 on October 2, 2008 at 10:20 AM
“Follow the money” was so 1970’s.
These days, it’s “Don’t believe your own eyes! I am not a toady to the money people!”
Doug on October 2, 2008 at 10:21 AM
Where did Mr. Good Will rank?
BuckeyeSam on October 2, 2008 at 10:23 AM
I thought the same, except they were china-men with little chinese hats, drinking from jugs.
Don’t know how to explain the wolf under the bench looking directly at me though :/
cntrlfrk on October 2, 2008 at 10:23 AM
Maybe people have more faith in Obama?
That is the elephant in the room, and that is what his campaign would say. It shows he appeals to more areas of industries then McCain.
And why is Democrat/Liberal listed and not Republican/Liberal
right2bright on October 2, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Everybody wants a bailout now …
tarpon on October 2, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Lawyers, Securities and Health Professionals all got their PORKY PIG SPOTS loaded onto the Senate’s Wooden Arrow amended Bail-Out bill.
Obama comes out on top his pork balloon.
McCain insists piloting this Hindenburg Zeppelin AS IF it were “Country First” AS IF we don’t know better than to support this LOSE/LOSE sacrificial offering to socialism’s altar. McCain holds the flame to balloon legislation containing bail-out gas hydrogen and helium.
STOP the madness.
“No” vote for more pork.
“No” vote for more socialism
“No” vote for empowerment of legislated corruption.
maverick muse on October 2, 2008 at 10:28 AM
…wait a second….
…businesses contributing heavily to Barak “Loophole” Obama and the Democratic Party….
…that’s like “Jews for Arafat”….
…that’s like a daycare center funding abortions….
…that’s like telling your Dad that you want a football bat for Christmas….
…like Larry says…”that’s like wipin’ before you poop…it just don’t make no sense!”
…but it does explain the whole GE/Immelt thing….
Puritan1648 on October 2, 2008 at 10:29 AM
I love this game:
Okay, it’s the two faces of Obambi, talking to himself while he drops a rat turd on the USA.
AubieJon on October 2, 2008 at 10:30 AM
BREAKING
THEY FOUND FOSSETTS PLANE
pseudonominus on October 2, 2008 at 10:31 AM
Our politicians are getting so much love from industry, perhaps it is time for some “tough love” from the voters.
Angry Dumbo on October 2, 2008 at 10:35 AM
No, it’s these groups bribing the Whun to destroy them last.
thekingtut on October 2, 2008 at 10:36 AM
I think this is industry “feeding the crocodile.”
Dkshideler on October 2, 2008 at 10:43 AM
I thought it was a blue crab with a bushy mustache wearing mittens.
What was this post about?
saint kansas on October 2, 2008 at 10:45 AM
Wow, lawyers are as bad as Hollywood in liberalism? I’m never gonna get a job next year…
Meric1837 on October 2, 2008 at 10:47 AM
That sneaky Susan Collins.
Abby Adams on October 2, 2008 at 10:51 AM
I saw the wolf too! Phew. Maybe it’s not a bad sign now, knowing someone else saw it.
tru2tx on October 2, 2008 at 10:54 AM
Politicians being bought for personal gain of corporate fat cats. Politicians filling their campaign coffers with donations from corporate fat cats. The same politicians re-elected year after year after year.
Nope. No surprise there Ed.
Situation Normal. We’re still all getting screwed.
fogw on October 2, 2008 at 10:56 AM
That Rorschach test, to me, must be a typical lefty moonbat. Physical appearance of an alien crab doing a double “flip the bird” at anything and anyone that disagrees with them.
CC
CapedConservative on October 2, 2008 at 10:57 AM
Third possibility. Employees don’t necessarily put their bets on the things which are good for either their job or their employers. They will tend to donate in their own self-interest — the things they consider important, and sometimes job security is pretty far down the list.
Fourth possibility. Look at the Union numbers: 99% democrat, 0% republican for the Communication Workers of America? My guess is that this list is not by employee, but is by industry, and includes organizations affiliated with the industry.
The more interesting breakdown would be by income level. It would be interesting to see who the “middle class” or “Main Street” (depending on who says it) supports after taking out the rich guys.
unclesmrgol on October 2, 2008 at 10:59 AM
I swear I must be the only MT around that is voting Republican this year – which is stupid, because a lot of MTs are also small business owners, and they’ll do themselves in by electing Obama. I don’t know if we fall into health care or not, though.
I’ve resorted to buying my supplies online, rather than enter the Obama love-fest at the local holistic store (that carries legit massage supplies).
Anna on October 2, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Barack Obama’s “New Kind of Politics” strikes again.
crazy_legs on October 2, 2008 at 11:00 AM
As a NEA member I am not surprised by their support of Democraps.
I am ONLY a member bcs if I get sued by a crazy parent, I know the school will dump me.
I NEVER give to their political fund, but I know they use my dues anyway. Their magazine is full of crap every month about how great the O is. They never talk much about McCain or any others when the primaries were up.
They are against anything that makes sense. As a science teacher, I tend to stand alone in my political leanings (many other science teachers I know are very different from other teachers of other subjects).
Maybe it’s bcs we know we should be paid more than the PE teacher etc.
So again, I’m not surprised they like Obama. More mediocrity. They like that in public education.
Badger40 on October 2, 2008 at 11:10 AM
Lawyers number 1 … ugh. I suppose at one time law practice was an honorable profession, and there are good honest lawyers out there … but the rest are like a mutating virus. All ethics have been cleansed from the lawyer genetic code.
darwin on October 2, 2008 at 11:18 AM
19 Electric Utilities $12,002,662 51% 49% Barack Obama (D)
I believe this is under represented. For instance, Frank Clark, CEO of Commonwealth Edison, is a registered lobbyist for ComEd. However, when he appears on Obama’s list of bundlers, he is listed as “University of Chicago” (yes, where Michelle works) where he is a trustee or board member. He “bundled” more than $50k for Obama’s campaign.
I imagine that there are many more on obama’s list just like that and that discovering who these people are would be even more interesting.
Kat_Mo on October 2, 2008 at 11:20 AM
What sort of Industry is Democrat/Liberal, anyway?
I’m glad to find myself in the 23% of my industry, Movies,TV,Music. That’s right. I’m a pron star.
pistolero on October 2, 2008 at 11:22 AM
Hmmm
New Jersey, Rhode Island Conn and New York are what color states?
EricPWJohnson on October 2, 2008 at 11:28 AM
Is there such a thing as the Education “Industry”? I’m pretty sure government agencies are prohibited from contributing to any political campaign, and I find it at least a little bit impossible to believe that private schools are supporting the Democrat candidate.
To be accurate, this should read “Teacher’s Unions.” Trying to equate that with the concept of education itself is somewhere between idiotic and fraudulent.
logis on October 2, 2008 at 11:46 AM
IBD editorial finally argues that we Americans of average intelligence simply are not smart enough to understand the ramifications of not passing the bailout bill. Specifically, we don’t understand that a credit crisis will bring out economy to its knees.
Okay, so the people who can’t control their own spending are berating those of us who can. Those folks in Congress who always berate the average American about saving for retirement are now berating us for not spending money we don’t have? Talk of disconnect. There is an old distinctively American value that our frontiersmen and pioneers understood, it was called thrift. A defining characteristic of the rugged individuals who founded this country was spending no more than you have. Thrift keeps people strong and independent. Shakespeare wrote, “neither borrower nor lender be” and he could have been speaking of the U.S. government.
The credit crunch does not impact small business nearly as much as it impacts lenders. Yet not lenders are impacted, most small regional banks are doing just fine, it is the big mega banks who leveraged themselves to the hilt which are getting pinched. More too big to fail. I say let them fail. At worst, people can spend their own money and live within their means for a few years until the credit markets clear out the dead wood. I repeat, a lack of credit is not such a bad thing for consumers, and the only banks impacted are huge mega banks which are over leveraged anyhow.
A little sanity. Kick this six months or even six years down the road. After we authorize the feds to cut a check for 700 billion to bail out irresponsible mortgage lenders, what stands in the way of cutting a check for 70 billion to the airlines, automobile, agribusiness who btw employ far, far more potential voters than our Wall Street banks. The precedent here is awful and the situation is not nearly as dire as it is painted.
At times like these it makes sense to reflect on the words of the greatest U.S. president of all.
“You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.”
Abraham Lincoln
Angry Dumbo on October 2, 2008 at 11:55 AM
Sorry for the re-post, I screwed up the link. : )
http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=307753423875983
This IBD editorial finally argues that we Americans of average intelligence simply are not smart enough to understand the ramifications of not passing the bailout bill. Specifically, we don’t understand that a credit crisis will bring out economy to its knees.
Okay, so the people who can’t control their own spending are berating those of us who can. Those folks in Congress who always berate the average American about saving for retirement are now berating us for not spending money we don’t have? Talk of disconnect. There is an old distinctively American value that our frontiersmen and pioneers understood, it was called thrift. A defining characteristic of the rugged individuals who founded this country was spending no more than you have. Thrift keeps people strong and independent. Shakespeare wrote, “neither borrower nor lender be” and he could have been speaking of the U.S. government.
The credit crunch does not impact small business nearly as much as it impacts lenders. Yet not lenders are impacted, most small regional banks are doing just fine, it is the big mega banks who leveraged themselves to the hilt which are getting pinched. More too big to fail. I say let them fail. At worst, people can spend their own money and live within their means for a few years until the credit markets clear out the dead wood. I repeat, a lack of credit is not such a bad thing for consumers, and the only banks impacted are huge mega banks which are over leveraged anyhow.
A little sanity. Kick this six months or even six years down the road. After we authorize the feds to cut a check for 700 billion to bail out irresponsible mortgage lenders, what stands in the way of cutting a check for 70 billion to the airlines, automobile, agribusiness who btw employ far, far more potential voters than our Wall Street banks. The precedent here is awful and the situation is not nearly as dire as it is painted.
At times like these it makes sense to reflect on the words of the greatest U.S. president of all.
“You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.”
Abraham Lincoln
Angry Dumbo on October 2, 2008 at 12:02 PM
The smoke-and-mirrors surrounding the creation of the mess we’re in is a impenetrable Byzantine labyrinthe. (As it was purposely designed to be.)
But the basis of the so-called “solution” to the mess could not be more simple: The government wants to take three quarters of a trillion dollars away from people who made GOOD investments, and give their profits to people who made insanely BAD investments.
And there is no way that anything good can possibly come out of that.
logis on October 2, 2008 at 12:43 PM
IMO, who gets what money is only interesting as far as it highlights the hypocrisy and lies of Obama or any other candidate. In my world, lobbying is not a sin, nor is taking a campaign contribution as long as there is no obvious quid-pro-quo. In other words, I don’t subscribe to McCain-Feingold thinking that if we just got the money out of politics, everything would be okay. Indeed, I believe I have the right to lobby my government.
The revealing part of this is that it confirms Obama’s hypocrisy and that of the Democrats generally, who rail against “special interest” and preach a populist message while taking all the money under the table. McCain says the same thing, but this data shows that he’s basically living up to his rhetoric. Obama? Not so much.
PersonalLiberty on October 2, 2008 at 4:11 PM
Gee Ed, you’re post was remiss by forgetting to include the categories of foreign and ficticious domestic donations.
moxie_neanderthal on October 2, 2008 at 4:30 PM
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