Obama has quickly moved up in show business donations, cutting into Clinton’s dominance
By Alex Ben Block
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 2/4/08 – Senator Barack Obama has cut into Senator Hillary Clinton’s lead in fundraising from the entertainment community in recent months. Out of $5,977,899 spent on candidates from both parties, Obama and Clinton took the lions share. Senator Clinton’s contributions through Feb. 1 totaled $2,641,724 while Senator Obama during the same period received $2,526,326, according to data collected by opensecrets.org.
The next closest among those with donations form the TV, movie and music industries were former candidates John Edwards, with $525,416 and Rudy Guiliani, the leading Republican among the show biz set, who pulled in $482,151. Republican front runner John McCain was next with $442,366. He was followed by New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson with $396,055, Senator Chris Dodd with $256,020; and GOP contender Mitt Romney with $227,495.
Going into the political season, it appeared Sen. Clinton would be able to tap into her husband and her own past connections in Hollywood to get the lion’s share of donations. Instead, Sen. Clinton has had to struggle to keep the faithful in line, while Sen. Obama has come from nowhere to almost equal her total donations.
It was somewhat surprising that “Law & Order” actor and former Senator Fred Thompson was a weak ninth in the fund raising race in Hollywood, with only $110,200; showing that his peers in Hollywood were as disenchanted with him as voters turned out to be in the rest of the country.
As usual Democrats got most of the donations from Hollywood with 86.5 percent compared to 13.5 percent for Republicans.
Open Secrets.Org stated methodology: The totals for the 2998 election cycle are calculated from PAC contributions and contributions from individuals giving more than $200, as reported to the Federal Election Commission.
Our methodology at HT (and the Washington Post): Follow the money.
1 response so far ↓
1 jacksmith // Feb 4, 2008 at 8:43 am
Bottom Line:
Like all of you. I know that health care is the most critical, and important issue facing the American people. Now, and in the coming elections. And like the vast majority of the American people, I want HR 676 (Medicare For All) passed into law NOW! “Single payer, Tax Supported, Not For Profit, True Universal Health Care” free for all as a right. Like every other developed country in the world has. See: http://www.house.gov/conyers/news_hr676.htm
“HR 676:
For church goers: less money to insur. companies and more to the church- lots more.
Srs on Medicare: save way over $100/wk. Because no more medigap, long term care & dental insur. needed. No more drug bills.”
But if we the American people fail to bring enough pressure on our current politicians to get HR 676 passed into law before the elections. We will have to identify, and replace all the politicians standing in the way of passage of HR 676. And, I think the best first place to start is with the politicians that blocked the bipartisan SCHIP bills for the kids. Passed by congress twice.
But what about the President. It was Bush after all that blocked the bipartisan SCHIP bill passed by congress to assure more health coverage for Americas kids. So which of the presidential hopefuls do I think will be most supportive of implementing the demand of the majority of the American people to have HR 676 (Medicare For All) passed into law immediately!
We have some very fine presidential candidates who would make good presidents. But none of the top Presidential candidates directly support HR 676, the only true Universal Health Care plan. So I am supporting Hillary Clinton. She is the only top candidate that has ever actually fought for universal health care before.
I have enormous admiration, and respect for Hillary Clinton. She fought a pitched battle against overwhelming odds back in 1993. To prevent this disastrous health care crisis that is now devastating the American people, and America. She fought so hard for the American people that she risk almost completely destroying her husbands presidency. I haven’t forgotten her heroic effort. If any Presidential hopeful for universal health care deserves my support, it’s her.
Also, if we the American people fail to bring enough pressure on our government to give us HR 676 which we all so desperately need NOW! Then we will need the most skilled politician we can get on our side to broker the best health care plan for the American people that we can get. Though it will be less than we need, and less than we deserve. The politician I think to best do this is Hillary Clinton. The Clinton’s are probably the most skilled politicians in American history.
The insurance industry, and medical industry that has been ripping you off, and killing you has given Hillary Clinton so much money because they fear her. They have also given Barack Obama so much money because they fear Hillary Clinton. They think they can manipulate Barack Obama against the best interest of the American people better than they can manipulate Hillary Clinton. There is no race issue with Hillary Clinton. The Clinton’s are the poster family for how African Americans want white people to be towards African Americans.
As always, African Americans are suffering, and dieing in this health care crisis at a much higher rate than any other group in America. The last time there was any significant drop in the African American death rate was when Bill Clinton was president.
My fellow Americans, you are dieing needlessly at an astounding rate. In higher numbers than any other people in the developed world. Rich, and poor a like. Insured, and uninsured. Men, women, children, and babies. And we the American people must stop it. And fix it NOW! Keep Fighting!!! Never! give up hope. There are millions of lives at stake. Bless you all… You are doing great!
Leave a Comment