Kerry and Special Interest Money - How he ranks vs ALL other Senators

[Hoppin_Mad]

John Kerry is a top Senate recipient from the following industries for the 2003-2004 election cycle:

Accountants (#2)
Advertising & public relations services (#1)
Alternate energy production & services (#1)
Architectural services (#2)
Auto dealers, Japanese imports (#2)
Automotive (#3)
Beer, Wine & Liquor (#2)
Book, newspaper & periodical publishing (#1)
Business Assns (#5)
Business Services (#1)
Candidate Cmtes (#2)
Chemicals (#5)
Civil Servants (#1)
Clergy/Religious (#2)
Commercial Banks (#2)
Commercial TV & radio stations (#2)
Computer software (#1)
Computers/Internet (#1)
Construction Svcs (#2)
Democratic Candidate Committees (#2)
Democratic/Liberal (#4)
Dentists (#4)
Education (#1)
Environment (#1)
Finance/Credit (#2)
Food & Beverage (#1)
Foreign Policy (#5)
Funeral services (#1)
Gay & lesbian rights & issues (#4)
General Contractors (#1)
Health Professionals (#2)
Health Services (#2)
Home Builders (#4)
Hospitals/Nurs Homes (#1)
Insurance (#3)
Lawyers/Law Firms (#2)
Lobbyists (#1)
Lodging/Tourism (#2)
Medical supplies manufacturing & sales (#3)
Misc Defense (#4)
Misc Mfg/Distrib (#2)
Misc Services (#1)
Mortgage bankers and brokers (#2)
Motion Picture production & distribution (#1)
Non-Profits (#1)
Nurses (#2)
Nutritional & dietary supplements (#2)
Pro-Choice (#4)
Publishing (#1)
Real Estate (#2)
Recorded Music & music production (#1)
Recreation (#3)
Restaurants & drinking establishments (#1)
Retail Sales (#2)
Retired (#1)
Securities/Invest (#1)
Steel Production (#2)
Subcontractors (#1)
Telecom Svcs/Equip (#2)
Textiles (#3)
TV production & distribution (#1)
TV/Movies/Music (#1)
Venture capital (#1)
Women's Issues (#4)

http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/indus.asp?CID=N00000245&cycle=2004

[blm]

1. There are only 3 senators running for president

Do you have Dean's figures for HIS donations grouped by their workplace, too?

[texastoast]

15. Corruption in our midst

Yes, that's how this country has chosen to allow its "leaders" to come to office. And until campaign finance reform really means reform, our nation is as corrupt as any third-world nation whose leaders come to power by the most guns, most dope, most bullies, etc. We are no different.

And every single candidate wishes they had more money. I heard that Kerry at least mortgaged his home to get his campaign off the ground.

We don't have a democracy--we have an auction. Until we change this, the participant who pays the leader the most will get the most benefit.

And ANYONE in office who denies this is a liar (IMHO).

[Mile Hi]

2. Somethings never change

Career politicians will ALWAYS be career politicians.

Kerry WILL NOT take this country in a different direction, just a different path to the same destination!!!!!!!

[MAlibdem]

3. I noticed

a Democratic/Liberal ranking but no Republican/Conservative ranking...seems like you may have picked and chose which categories fit your Kerry bashing best?

PS-most of those aren't bad at all/ Women's Issues? Alt energy? Retired? Nurses? Gay and Lesbian? Seem good people to take money from to me.

[bigtree]

5. That's the point

The broad catagories without specifics is designed to obscure the donors who don't deserve to be labeled as 'special interests' and scorned.

Here is a list of donors.

John Kerry Releases Fundraiser Names in Effort to Improve Transparency
Challenges Democratic Rivals to Follow His Lead
October 21, 2003
http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2003_1021b.html

Democratic Presidential Candidate John Kerry today released the names of supporters who raised over $50,000 for his presidential campaign. The list has been posted for the public on his web-site at www.johnkerry.com

John Kerry said, “Throughout my career I have fought for reform in the campaign finance system and I believe strongly that voters should know who is funding campaigns. There is no better reason for transparency than the Bush Administration’s blatant reward of campaign contributors with tax breaks and special favors at every turn.”

“I hope that every Presidential candidate will show their commitment to transparency by releasing the same information from their campaigns.”

The Washington Post said, “Mr. Kerry's release of the names puts him in the forefront of meaningful disclosure



John Kerry's donor list:
http://www.johnkerry.com/pdf/donors.pdf

[Hoppin_Mad]

7. I didn't 'pick and choose' ANYTHING - I posted the list

Exactly as it appeared. Perhaps you should have followed the link at looked at the information there before making such an absurd charge

[Raya]

10. How Idiotic. This is a tactic for the dumb. Just employment category

list for individual donors. Kerry is bound to be near the top as one who rejects all PAC money and only gets individual $1000 donations (now $2000 is the limit).

[KFC]

4. I like the #1 for Alternate energy production & services

Right in line with his top environmental ranking.

[leyton]

6. Yikes! He might pander to all those people!

He will pander to those who hold a job in one of those fields. The only field that didn't show up on there in my ultra-cursory check was the oil industry, so I guess that portion of America will just be left behind.

Perhaps this is just an indication that Kerry can successfully raise money from various parts of society. Not to diss Edwards, but he's a great example of the opposite: his money comes primarily from trial lawyers.

So really, I think it's a good thing that Kerry has raised so much money from such a diverse selection of groups.

[DebJ]

8. So who is Dean going to pander to?

[NewYorkerfromMass]

9. confederate flag wavers?

:shrug:

[leyton]

13. Delete post...

Oops. I guess when the poster I reply to says Dean, I shouldn't read it Kerry. :)

[cindyw]

11. You do understand that the Kerry is running for president right?

Fundraising for most senators haven't even swung into gear. This is laughable.

[Raya]

12. Look like Kerry supporters in every category of employment. Great!

[Caution]

14. gee a presidential candidate is getting more money

than senate candidates who haven't even begun the campaigning season yet. What a shock. Come on. How about selling me on Dean? I live in Kerry's home state. I KNOW he's a good candidate. I supported Dean when he was actually capable of raising awareness and support. Now all he seems to do is rant, and divide.

[papau]

16. Opensecrets says all money is "special interest", so test of fund raising?

sure as hell does not mean much else - but opensecrets tells it as it is and truthfully tells one what you can use these numbers for.

These numbers do not mean "evil" since as opensecrets says that most members of Congress get the bulk of their campaign contributions from two main sources: the industries that make up the economic base of their home district and the Washington-based interest groups that pay more attention to the member's committee assignments in Congress. In addition, most Democrats receive substantial sums from labor unions.

Even Dean's money if organized by opensecrets by workplace would be "special interests money by industry - and we know it is not special interest money to begin with!!! :-)

If threat as a guide to special interest influence we havepointless information - as opensecrets says -It is like saying that a 95% farming state Senator gets 95% of his money from folks in farming-
Like Duh - so what?

Opensecrets says this is useful if you are trying to get a flavor of which are the top industries giving to this member of Congress. Do the industries match your local economy, or are they more Washington-based? If the latter, your representative may have divided loyalties on issues where the interests of their cash constituents conflict with those of the voters who elected them.

But let the games continue - the 122 "special interests" to choose from are:

Abortion Policy/Pro-Choice
Abortion Policy/Pro-Life
Accountants
Advertising/Public Relations
Aerospace, Defense Contractors
Agribusiness
Agricultural Services & Products
Agriculture
Air Transport
Air Transport Unions
Airlines
Alcoholic Beverages
Alternative Enegy Production & Services
Architectural Services
Attorneys/Law Firms
Auto Dealers
Auto Dealers, Japanese
Auto Manufacturers
Automotive

Banking, Mortgage
Banks, Commercial
Banks, Savings & Loans
Bars & Restaurants
Beer, Wine & Liquor
Books, Magazines & Newspapers
Broadcasters, Radio/TV
Builders/General Contractors
Builders/Residential
Building Materials & Equipment
Building Trade Unions
Business Associations
Business Services


Cable & Satellite TV Production & Distribution
Candidate Committees
Candidate Committees, Democratic
Candidate Committees, Republican
Car Dealers
Car Dealers, Japanese
Car Manufacturers
Casinos / Gambling
Cattle Ranchers/Livestock
Chemical & Related Manufacturing
Chiropractors
Civil Servants/Public Officials
Clergy & Religious Organizations
Clothing Manufacturing
Coal Mining
Colleges, Universities & Schools
Commercial Banks
Commercial TV & Radio Stations
Communications/Electronics
Computer Software
Computers/Internet
Conservative/Republican
Construction
Construction Services
Construction Unions
Credit Unions
Crop Production & Basic Processing


Dairy
Defense
Defense Aerospace
Defense Electronics
Defense/Foreign Policy Advocates
Democratic Candidate Committees
Democratic Leadership PACs
Democratic/Liberal
Dentists
Doctors & Other Health Professionals
Drug Manufacturers


Education
Electric Utilities
Electronics, Defense Contractors
Energy & Natural Resources
Entertainment Industry
Environment


Farming
Finance / Credit Companies
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate
Food Processing & Sales
Food Products Manufacturing
Food Stores
Food* & Beverage
Foreign & Defense Policy
Forestry & Forest Products
Foundations, Philanthropists & Non-Profits
Funeral Services


Gambling & Casinos
Gambling, Indian Casinos
Garbage Collection/Waste Management
Gas & Oil
Gay & Lesbian Rights & Issues
General Contractors
Government Employee Unions
Government Employees
Gun Control
Gun Rights


Health
Health Professionals
Health Services/HMOs
HMOs & Health Care Services
Home Builders
Hospitals & Nursing Homes
Hotels, Motels & Tourism
Human Rights


Ideological/Single-Issue
Indian Gaming
Industrial Unions
Insurance
Israel Policy


Labor
Lawyers & Lobbyists
Lawyers / Law Firms
Leadership PACs
Liberal/Democratic
Liquor, Wine & Beer
Livestock
Lobbyists
Lodging / Tourism
Logging, Timber & Paper Mills


Manufacturing, Misc
Marine Transport
Meat processing & products
Medical Supplies
Mining
Misc Business
Misc Manufacturing & Distributing
Misc Unions
Miscellaneous Defense
Miscellaneous Services
Mortgage Bankers & Brokers
Motion Picture Production & Distribution
Music Production


Natural Gas Pipelines
Newspaper, Magazine & Book Publishing
Non-profits, Foundations & Philanthropists
Nurses
Nursing Homes/Hospitals
Nutritional & Dietary Supplements


Oil & Gas
Other


Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Pharmaceuticals / Health Products
Phone Companies
Physicians & Other Health Professionals
Postal Unions
Poultry & Eggs
Power Utilities
Printing & Publishing
Pro-Israel
Professional Sports, Sports Arenas & Related Equipment & Services
Progressive/Democratic
Public Employees
Public Sector Unions
Publishing & Printing


Radio/TV Stations
Railroads
Real Estate
Record Companies/Singers
Recorded Music & Music Production
Recreation / Live Entertainment
Religious Organizations/Clergy
Republican Candidate Committees
Republican Leadership PACs
Republican/Conservative
Residential Construction
Restaurants & Drinking Establishments
Retail Sales
Retired


Savings & Loans
Schools/Education
Sea Transport
Securities & Investment
Special Trade Contractors
Sports, Professional
Steel Production
Stock Brokers/Investment Industry
Sugar Cane & Sugar Beets


Teachers Unions
Teachers/Education
Telecom Services & Equipment
Telephone Utilities
Textiles
Timber, Logging & Paper Mills
Tobacco
Transportation
Transportation Unions
Trash Collection/Waste Management
Trucking
TV / Movies / Music
TV Production & Distribution


Unions
Unions, Airline
Unions, Building Trades
Unions, Industrial
Unions, Misc
Unions, Public Sector
Unions, Teacher
Unions, Transportation
Universities, Colleges & Schools


Vegetables & Fruits
Venture Capital


Waste Management
Wine, Beer & Liquor
Women's Issues