9.21.2004
Bush Draws Record Contributions
President George Bush, took in a record $259 million in donations during the primaries, a time when he didn't even have an opponent:
...Mr. Bush began this month with $75 million of his own public financing, while Mr. Kerry had about $62 million left in his account, according to a report filed by the Kerry campaign with the Federal Election Commission.
Mr. Bush's report is among the final documentation of fund-raising in the primary season by the two candidates. The two campaigns and the party committees that support them collected more than $1 billion and set myriad fund-raising records, even as they operated under the new McCain-Feingold campaign finance law, which gets its first test this year.
While the new law banned candidates and political parties from collecting the unlimited "soft money" contributions that were once a cornerstone of presidential election financing, it also doubled to $2,000 the amount that an individual can contribute to a presidential campaign.
I have always found it ironic that Shrub complains about campaign finance reform, 527s, etc, yet he is the one setting all the records that prove we need reform. I can hear him right now, "Somebody stop me, please, I just can't stop making money!" Indeed, this type of money can buy you a lot of things. For instance, it could buy you billions in medicare dollars if you're insurance or drug companies. Or, let's say you're a multi-national corporation who deals in war-time services? Perhaps you'd like a little something as well? Dick Cheney has it covered. Big ups to GeorgeWBuy, blog of Campaign Money Watch for the clips and for keeping it truthful.
...Mr. Bush began this month with $75 million of his own public financing, while Mr. Kerry had about $62 million left in his account, according to a report filed by the Kerry campaign with the Federal Election Commission.
Mr. Bush's report is among the final documentation of fund-raising in the primary season by the two candidates. The two campaigns and the party committees that support them collected more than $1 billion and set myriad fund-raising records, even as they operated under the new McCain-Feingold campaign finance law, which gets its first test this year.
While the new law banned candidates and political parties from collecting the unlimited "soft money" contributions that were once a cornerstone of presidential election financing, it also doubled to $2,000 the amount that an individual can contribute to a presidential campaign.
I have always found it ironic that Shrub complains about campaign finance reform, 527s, etc, yet he is the one setting all the records that prove we need reform. I can hear him right now, "Somebody stop me, please, I just can't stop making money!" Indeed, this type of money can buy you a lot of things. For instance, it could buy you billions in medicare dollars if you're insurance or drug companies. Or, let's say you're a multi-national corporation who deals in war-time services? Perhaps you'd like a little something as well? Dick Cheney has it covered. Big ups to GeorgeWBuy, blog of Campaign Money Watch for the clips and for keeping it truthful.
