Several New York newspapers have reported that much of the money that New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg contributed to the statewide Independence Party was really intended for a Republican Party official in Queens. So the Mayor contributed $1,200,000 to the Independence Party statewide office, but then the state office of the Independence Party gave $750,000 to the Republican and his group. See this story. Thanks to Bill Van Allen for the link.
OMG!!!
Shocking! Just shocking! Well, it is isn’t it?
What clever sleuthing. Imagine, a contribution made to one candidate/party being funneled to another. In America!
Anyone who wants more of this exhilarating feeling of astonishment by this should take a peek at the FEC website and do a query on the campaign committee for any entrenched Congressman or Senator on either side of the aisle. Try both Barney Frank and John Boehner, for bops and grins. Go to:
http://www.fec.gov/finance/disclosure/norcomsea.shtml
Put in either last name and click “Get Listing”. Then choose their committee, and then click “Committees and Candidates Supported/Opposed.”
Welcome to the fetid world of American campaign finance.
So…next time you contribute money to a campaign thinking your money is actually going to support that candidate, just print the word “sucker” on a yellow sticky and slap it on your forehead.
Or, on the other hand, if you’re “dispassionate” and “well-reasoned” (thanks again, Richard) about this, you could also just send the money to Haliburton or Exxon to help them defray the costs of their newly USSC-sanctioned political advocacy advert campaigns.
C’mon people – dig deep. Buying and selling free speech in this country has become a pricey business, and despite their multi-billion dollar coffers, corporate America can still use all the help you can give them, especially in these troubled economic times.
Just ask Richard.