Who is being bought by Wall Street now?
For decades now I have listened to my family, almost all Democrats, as they sang the normal Democrat chorous of claims that all Republicans were bought by big business. Nothing could sway their opinion. And during the Bush Administration(s) they were even worse with their cries about Big Oil.
But something I’ve noticed since President Obama was elected, is that not one Democrat I know has raised the same fuss about a Democrat. Not one liberal leaning news media organization has commented on this. And liberal blogs avoid the subject.
When it was learned that Speaker Nancy Pelosi owned $250,000 of Wind Power Generation company stock in her portfolio, silence. When Rep. Rangel got sweet deals on housing (and “forgot” about $2.4 million on his taxes), silence. When Sen. Dodd got a sweetheart deal on mortgages, the whole issue was avoided, similar to how his guarantee of AIG bonuses suddenly stopped being an a Bill with his name on it and someone else’s problem.
Then there is my favorites, Sen. Schumer and Sen. Gillibrand. Senator Charles Schumer is the single largest recipient of donations from Wall Street. You know, the people that President Obama and Democrats have labeled as greedy and money hungry. Sen. Schumer, who agreed with President Obama, still had no problem accepting over $1.5 million – just in 2009 alone.
In fact, no other Democrat received as much money from Wall Street as Sen. Schumer. Though there were 10 other Democrats that topped the list of politicians gaining contributions from Wall Street. Which also includes Dodd, isn’t that odd. And newbie junior NY Senator Gillibrand was not left out.
Sen. Gillibrand has been more than happy to piggyback on Sen. Schumer on virtually every vote. Her reward has been almost $1 million in donations steered to her by Sen. Schumer. He has even gone out and appeared with the junior Senator at $4,800 a plate dinners to help ensure she has enough money to battle any re-election competition. Can you imagine how much of that money came from big Wall Street business? Over $850,000 (And I’m not counting the endorsement of ACORN that Sen. Gillibrand got on June 16th 2009).
I realize that all politicians get money from businesses. Many would say they are all bought, no matter the party affiliation. But my point is that if receiving corporate donations was such a terrible thing, that it was the root of evil in past Administrations, what has suddenly made it ok? Why is the fact that some of the same companies that were bad guys just months and a year ago for giving Republicans money are now angels as they give money to Democrats?
