2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumWhat sets Bernie apart from Hillary
Want to know what sets Bernie Sanders apart from Hillary Clinton? Look at their donors.The differences could hardly be more striking. Out of Clinton's top 20 organizational donors, only two aren't corporate. There are seven mega-banks, five corporate law/lobbying firms, and three big entertainment companies.
By contrast, 19 of Sanders's top 20 donors are unions. The one non-labor group on the list is the American Association for Justice, an interest group for plaintiff's attorneys, perhaps the most reliable non-union Democratic constituency.
stevenleser
(32,886 posts)individuals. Looking at the top 20 of Hillary, those are individual folks who happen to work for those firms. Very little is from the PACs of those firms.
On Bernie's side, you see the opposite. Almost all of that money in his top 20 list is from PACs.
FBaggins
(26,775 posts)And of course the corporate donors are listed as individuals. That's how corporate donations show up.
Very little is from the PACs of those firms.
Corporate PACs are limited in how much they can donate.
stevenleser
(32,886 posts)Compiling them this way and saying "X firm supports Z candidate!!!!11!11!!!" is what is dishonest. When that organization or firm's PAC supports someone, then that organization or firm is supporting them.
FBaggins
(26,775 posts)It's how Democrats had refered to it when Republicans are the recipients for quite some time.
You're not new to the party, are you?
left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)Isn't that the GOP mantra? Corporations are people too.
left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)I prefer labor union PACs to right wing wacko PACs (or Hillary Clinton's Wall Street buddies).
stevenleser
(32,886 posts)Rosa Luxemburg
(28,627 posts)leveymg
(36,418 posts)Actually, as we see, one can raise more money for a candidate as a bundler of the individual contributions of coworkers than PACs themselves can contribute. See, http://pac.org/news/pac/fec-raises-contribution-limits-2015-2016 Super-PACs that raise money for issues groups are essentially unlimited as is giving to Foundations and other nonprofit 501c4 institutions.
stevenleser
(32,886 posts)leveymg
(36,418 posts)Bundlers (ad hoc groups of corporate executives) often contribute more money than the official corporate PAC in the same company.
libdem4life
(13,877 posts)Bernie's supporters influence real people...members, etc. If they can tap that market and get them to the polls, he stands a chance. Maybe it means a half day paid work to go and vote. Maybe it means showing this type of detail to the workers.
GOTV...sounds repetitive, but somehow he has to visit and connect with the leaders and those potential voters. Many have lost hope and don't vote. It's the formerly non-voter, turned voter or Independent that could possibly wreak havoc with the Conventional Wisdom and the Status Quo. Bernie may be just the guy to do this.
BrotherIvan
(9,126 posts)They've been beaten up too much by the current administration. They're smart to support Bernie.
Rosa Luxemburg
(28,627 posts)We don't get any support otherwise. We have to jump through hoops and evaluated to death.
BrotherIvan
(9,126 posts)You can't beat that. He couldn't fix everything over night, but he certainly wouldn't appoint an Arne Duncan, ugh.
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)We have no idea who any of the unions will support at this point as it's too early. My guess is there will be a lot of pressure on them to support Hillary Clinton.
BrotherIvan
(9,126 posts)And I don't think they're naive anymore. They got burned by Obama big time. Why wouldn't they support someone with a long history of being a pro-labor champion?
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)BrotherIvan
(9,126 posts)left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)There will be those who will attack anyone who opposes Queen Hillary's coronation. Sad. Really sad. Even ---> bummer dude.
AtomicKitten
(46,585 posts)Bernie is the only candidate not owned by corporate America.
left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)I think Bernie can ignite and lead a revolution of the lower 99% against that upper 1%
LordGlenconner
(1,348 posts)left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)merrily
(45,251 posts)woo me with science
(32,139 posts)merrily
(45,251 posts)The 1% gets what they pay for. Who/what is the 99% willing to pay for?