The Party of Wall Street and Big Mouths

Only two [click!] of the top 20 corporate donors in the 2008 election cycle lean Republican . Of the top 100, only 15 lean Republican.

None of the top 15 industry sectors leans Republican . Only three of the top 20 do.

We knew that Democrats draw money from Lawyers (ranked #2, 75% to Democrats), Education (ranked #9, 79%) and TV/Movies/Music (ranked #10, 75%). But did you know that Securities/Investment firms ranked #3 and gave 56% to Democrats?

I notice a couple of things here. One is that the industries that produce or build real things give to Republicans. Democrats, on the other hand, receive their money from people who make money with their mouths: lawyers, actors, advertisers, etc.

The other thing to notice is the ranking. Teachers, those poor, underpaid souls, give more than the dreaded "Big Oil" industry. As does the entertainment industry. And lawyers give more than almost anyone (coming in second only to "retired", listed as "on the fence" in political donations). Lawyers give more than seven times as much as Big Oil. Securities and Investment firms give over five times as much.

It should be obvious that the "branding" of the parties is exactly backwards. The GOP is branded as the party of Wall Street and big money. In fact, it is the Democrats who get most of Wall Street's money and who raise more money, especially from the biggest special interest groups.


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