What do both parties have in common? Wall Street donations, David Lightman | McClatchy Newspapers
WASHINGTON — Although painting Republicans as pawns of Wall Street is a cornerstone of the Democratic strategy to overhaul financial regulation, financial interests have given campaign money generously to both political parties for years.
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In the past two election cycles, when Democrats controlled Congress, the Democrats benefited most. So far in the 2010 cycle, the finance/insurance/real estate sector has given $65.2 million, or 56 percent of its contributions, to Democrats. Republicans have received $51.7 million.
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According to the Sunlight Foundation, an independent research group, lobbyists with connections to the financial sector have hosted 10 fundraisers this year for members of the Senate Banking and Agriculture committees — six for Democrats and four for Republicans. The two panels wrote different parts of the financial overhaul bill.
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"I refute it," said Scott Talbott, the chief lobbyist for the Financial Services Roundtable, which represents the nation's largest finance companies, about charges that contributions buy access to lawmakers. "It's not that contributors want anything. :puke: You're supporting candidates who understand the industry."
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"This is our system," Cornyn said. "I think the system needs more transparency, so people can more easily reach their own conclusions. But if you didn't have this system, the alternative would be to have taxpayers fund elections, and I'm not in favor of that."
Corporatists finance key politicians from both parties so they can push bills supporting their agenda including eliminating taxes on their income, corporate income, estates, and bills that shift their business costs, e.g. pollution, to We the People.
When such bills are passed, a president can sign it flanked with prominent senators and congresspersons from both parties in a PR laden setting proving bipartisan support for corporations.
The result will be a corporate state to which We the People will pledge allegiance.