Flipping Dems Pocket Extra Telco Money
Democrats who switched their votes to support the telco immunity bill have pocketed an average 40 percent more in telco PAC money than their party colleagues who did not. After voting in March against granting telephone companies immunity for their roles in the White House's domestic spying program, 94 Democrats changed their minds June 20 and voted to do just that. According to the splendid political contributions mashup at maplight.org, the 94 Dems who flipped and backed immunity received an average contribution from telephone companies of $8,359 since 2005. Democrats who didn't switch their positions received an average telco contribution of $4,987 over the same time period. "Why did these 94 House members have a change of heart?" asked Daniel Newman, executive director of MAPLight.org. "Their constituents deserve answers." The time period covered by maplight.org extends over last the two congresses, the Republican-controlled 109th Congress and the Democrat-led 110th. Every member of Congress that voted yes for telco immunity on June 20 received an average contribution of $9,659 from either AT&T, Verizon or Spring. Of all lawmakers who voted against the bill, the average telco contribution was $4,810. |
Comments (6)
Hypocrites. With one face, they stick it to the man. With the other, they accept bribes from him.
Posted by Nobody | June 25, 2008 12:01 PM
and voters keep sending them back to Washington. Why is that?
Posted by Roy Mark | June 25, 2008 6:14 PM
Roy Mark says "and voters keep sending them back to Washington. Why is that?"
because it's better than the alternative nightmare we've been living through
Posted by Counter Bias | June 26, 2008 7:44 AM
You really think that our votes actually matter? Keep dreaming. I vote every election, but when elections are decided by partisan courts, who's kidding who, really.
Posted by Nosey | June 26, 2008 11:43 AM
in a day and age when political races run into the multi-million dollar price range, I'm not sure that $4,000 dollars one way or the other would be enough to swing my vote, if I was to allow the money to influence my vote.
More than likely, the numbers indicate who generally looks on the telco industry more favorably (otherwise why contribute your large dollars).
The vote change, without more context, probably indicates these representatives were already leaning towards the telco's, but maybe made a stand against the President the first time around.
this time around, prehaps they don't think the political posturing is as important as getting the bill passed with whatever provisions they support or didn't support that have been made or taken out.
Posted by stormworld | June 26, 2008 12:00 PM
Stormworld, I think you would be surprised at how little it takes to influence our elected representatives. The former Speaker of the House in NC just went to prision for a bribe less than $25,000. I lived in New Orleans for over 20 years and you would be amazed at the number of politicans that sold out for a few hundred to a few thousand dollars for deals worth in the millions. Louisiana holds down third place for the most number of elected officials convicted of crimes per capita (Mississippi holds down first). You would think it would take $100's of thousands or more to sell out their positions, but most politicans are really just petty thieves...local, state or national level. They operate on the theory of skim a little here, skim a little there and sooner or later it adds up to big bucks. There will be well over $500 million spent between now and November on this Presidential election to get elected to a job that pays $400,000 a year...regardless who wins, do you really think all those donors are providing that kind of money just for truth, justice and the American way as it relates to their candidate? Did these guys rollover for about $4,000...sad to say, more than likely. Unlike the price of oil, the price of a politican is still very reasonable.
Posted by Zebhead47 | June 30, 2008 9:03 AM