Why did the big money move to Democratic nominees and away from the Republicans?

[awaysidetraveler]

Last night, after taking some time to analyze the money in opensecrets.org, two major pieces of information began glaring out of the finances of the Democratic Presidential Primaries. The first is that the big money moved from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party about two years ago. The second is that the largest financiers of this election are all of the same guys that run Wall Street.

It dawned upon me then, that this election is about oil. It is not about the Iraq war, not about health care, not about poverty, not about the environment and not about the candidates–Hillary’s experience, Edward’s populism and Obama’s message of hope and change. It is about the conflict between oil money and Wall Street’s money.

Republicans love to talk about how taxes slow down the economy, and how capitalism thrives in low-tax situations. When one considers it, their economic theory makes sense to a point. What republicans don’t like to mention is that oil prices have the exact same effect on our economy as regressive taxes: high oil prices slow down our economy much like the "head taxes" of Adam Smith’s time once did.

So why is most of the big money going to the democratic candidates this year? I've got a hunch: Wall Street now understands that the future of our economy is riding on our ability to create cheap energy sources. Who knows? Maybe they’ve even figured out that global warming is no joke. So that’s why we’re seeing Obama’s getting big money from major investment firms. Meanwhile, the oil guys are still betting on McCain, and placing hedge bets on Hillary Clinton. The defense contractors and the Zionist money is behind Hillary Clinton, because they think she’ll stay the longest in Iraq, which she’s stated that she will.

Individual contributions are now also being injected into the race. Candidates like Obama and Edwards get a majority of their money from individuals, which should mean that we get more than a little say in their policies. Only are our motives any different for wanting change? No! Most democrats have long known what even some republicans like Huckabee or Ron Paul are figuring out: our oil dependence must change now, because we don’t want Iraq, and we don’t want Saudi Arabia, and we don’t want Iran, and we don’t even want Afghanistan.

We want out of the oil game, and we want out of the Iraq War. Right?

So I'll pose the question again: Is this Democratic Primary a referendum on oil abuse and the Iraq war?

And if not, then why is the big money moving to the Democratic Party?

[Hydra]

1. Nope

any other country in the world, and that would be accurate.

All the money moved to the dems so that the big money owns the winner. The chance of a Repub winning this time around without another 9/11 is laughable if diebold were not still involved.

This is all Kabuki. All of this fighting, and what will change on 1/21/2009? My guess is, very little.

[awaysidetraveler]

3. I'm not so sure, most of the money is coming from individuals now--not big money.

I'm not sure what all they own, anyway, other than an audience.

[Hydra]

5. $300 million + is coming from individuals????

We're in the middle of an economic crisis. I find it highly unlikely that 1/4 of that is coming from normal donors. I've heard one practice of getting around maximum donations is to give money as "bonuses" to people within the donating company with orders to donate to specific candidate.

Like the economy, look at the hard numbers, and tell me why you are so optimistic. I see our top-tiers as being bought off- after all, without their help, you don't get to be President in America.

[awaysidetraveler]

7. 300$ million is only one dollar a person in America, and I'm only talking about Obama and Edwards

When I say that the majority of their money is coming from individuals. Obama's at more like 70 million, right now,
and journalists who interview him can't seem to get over it.

Check opensecrets.org for details.

[Hydra]

13. You're counting underage and non-workers in that number

I don't have enough to donate, and I've seen some of the numbers in the 10's of millions per company.

I've read various theses regarding a fight between oil vs wall street, and the indicators don't support that POV. There is a large group of people MASSIVELY profiting from Bushco policies, and they are trying to get the most likely candidates to win on a leash. That was the policy, and I don't see them changing it until it stops working.

When was the last time the corps got majorly spanked for bad behavior?

[melody]

16. I don't know about that, I had previously only given $100, this time I gave $500 overtime

And we're hardly rolling in dough.

I'm thinking a lot of people have stepped up contributions, seeing that Bush was destroying our country.

[Hydra]

18. No money here

And the number of people cramming into housing in my area (8-14 per condo in some cases) tells me that I'm not the only one feeling a squeeze.

Hell, I can't even cough up $15 for DU, and considering how helpful it is...

[whosinpower]

9. Agreed.nt

[awaysidetraveler]

11. Okay, who's in power. What's your take on the money shift?

[Fresh_Start]

2. because money wants to continue its hold on power

this is their deposit on their future ownership of the Presidency

[awaysidetraveler]

4. I don't think it's that simple. They're fighting one another for control of the presidency, I think

I think it's a battle between oil and money.

[CJCRANE]

8. Yes, the Republicans' constant warmongering

keeps the oil price high which benefits Bush-Cheney's buddies but drags the economy down (as you mentioned earlier).

[awaysidetraveler]

15. Wow, it's such a relief to hear someone else acknowledge that.

Thanks, it's hard to find people who look through to the money.

[CJCRANE]

21. Chinese workers save their money

and their govt lends it to American banks who in turn lend it to American consumers to spend, spend, spend. This is a big part of how the global economy works (from my limited understanding).

As long as American consumers are borrowing and spending more and more then everyone's happy. But Bush-Cheney have systematically depleted the middle-class - the goose that lays the golden egg of continued growth. It's time for the Democrats to build up middle-class spending power again.

After 8 years of prosperity the Republicans can come back in and siphon the surplus off to their MIC buddies again.

[CJCRANE]

6. Because the Democrats are funnier?

:shrug:

More likely because Bush-Cheney have pumped the treasury into the MIC leaving the rest of the economy to tank.

[awaysidetraveler]

10. MIC? I haven't heard that one.

[CJCRANE]

12. Military-Industrial Complex.

Halliburton and Blackwater are the tip of that iceberg.

[awaysidetraveler]

20. Don't forget to include General Electric, and the other regional oil interests.

[OzarkDem]

14. GOP depleted, they're buying Dem candidates instead

The agenda will be the same. Corporations know that GOP is too unpopular, so they went to the DLC and said "we'll give you all the money we would have given to the GOP candidate, but you have to get candidates for us who will do what we say."

Hence, Hillary and Obama.

Note: They're also buying Dem congresscritters, too. They started that program in 2006, that's why our Dem-led Congress is acting like a GOP one.

[awaysidetraveler]

17. I agree with your support of Edwards, but wouldn't put Obama in the Hillary category.

Obama is taking money from Wall Street, but he's not taking it from defense contractors. Also, most of his money comes
from individuals and not Wall Street. Check opensecrets.org for details.

The Rezko trial actually looks like an Obama setup to me. The "victim" in that fraud trial is General Electric, which owns billions in oil and NBC, and MSNBC. They've got billions to lose if Obama begins his "Green Revolution."

[RC]

22. Finally someone get it.

This is exactly what is going on.

Obama is the backup for Hillary. He also fulfills the need to make the Dem primary look like some kind of contest.

[lisainmilo]

19. GWB! N/T