Fw: more about unions outspending Republicans

Yup, the best little old government money can buy. 

Curious Carl

--NYT 1-col. lead, "Large Donations Aid U.S. Chamber In Election Drive – Democrats Top Targets: Group Doesn't Disclose Names of Companies Giving Millions," by Eric Lipton in Washington, and Mike McIntire and Don Van Natta Jr. in New York: "Prudential Financial sent in a $2 million donation … Dow Chemical delivered $1.7 million … And Goldman Sachs, Chevron Texaco, and Aegon, a multinational insurance company based in the Netherlands, donated more than $8 million … They suggest that the recent allegations from President Obama and others that foreign money has ended up in the chamber's coffers miss a larger point: The chamber has had little trouble finding American companies eager to enlist it, anonymously, to fight their political battles … And these contributions, some of which can be pieced together through tax filings of corporate foundations and other public records, also show how the chamber has increasingly relied on a relatively small collection of big corporate donors to finance much of its legislative and political agenda. … Business interests also give to the chamber's foundation. Its tax filings show that seven donors gave the foundation at least $17 million between 2004 and 2008, about two-thirds of the total raised. These donors include Goldman Sachs, Edward Jones, Alpha Technologies, Chevron Texaco and Aegon … Another large foundation donor is a charity run by Maurice R. Greenberg, the former chairman of the insurance giant A.I.G." http://nyti.ms/cN9LHj  

--A1 graphic: "74% of chamber money spent in federal races this cycle has gone to attacks on Democrats." http://nyti.ms/aZtsTw  

--The graphic calls the Chamber "The Top Non-Party Spender: Top 10 groups by campaign spending this election cycle, from Jan. 1, 2009 through Oct. 18, 2010. Figures in millions (includes both electioneering and other expenditures): 1) National Republican Congressional Committee $34.3 2) Democratic Congressional Campaign Comm. $26.3 3) Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee $22.0 4) U.S. Chamber of Commerce $21.1 5) American Action Network $15.3 6) American Crossroads $12.9 7) Service Employees Intl. Union $10.6 8) American Future Fund $8.7 9) Nat'l Republican Senatorial Comm. $8.5 10) Americans for Job Security $8.0."

--WSJ graphic on A4, "Top spenders in the 2009-10 election": 1) AFSCME, $87.5 million; 2) U.S. Chamber of Commerce, $75 million; 3) American Crossroads and Crossroads GPS, $65 million; 4) SEIU, $44 million; 5) NEA, $40 million.

--The Chamber responds with "Another Day, Another Distraction," a ChamberPost blog post by Thomas J. Collamore, Senior Vice President, Communications and Strategy and Counselor to the President: "The latest shot across the bow comes from the Gray Lady, who is obviously trying to get back in the DNC's good graces … This story reports breathlessly that The Chamber!!! Is Raising and Spending !!! A lot!!! of Money!!!! To Further its Agenda!!!!! You're forgiven if you yawn." http://bit.ly/9r1eHL