Ah, the turn of that wheel:
Democrats under Rep. Rahm Emanuel and Sen. Schumer have quietly erected their own K Street Project, and employ some of the same strong-arm tactics they once deplored. "I've never felt the squeeze that we're under now to give to Democrats and to hire them," says one telecom industry representative. "They've put out the word that if you have an issue on trade, taxes, or regulation, you'd better be a donor and you'd better not be part of any effort to run ads against our freshmen incumbents."Why does corporate America go along? The standard excuse is that this is the way the game is played. They've made a calculated decision that Democrats are going to sweep in 2008. Republicans rightly object that corporate interests are making this a self-fulfilling prophecy.
When Republicans took over Congress, the labor bosses didn't climb into bed with them. Unions like the Communications Workers of America and Service Employees International Union have a long track record of giving more than 90% of their dollars to Democrats and have spent millions more on independent campaigns to pound Republicans. Labor seems to understand what corporate America doesn't: It's a policy war, stupid.
So why won't business groups go to the mat for their friends and spend whatever it takes to defeat their enemies? Former Republican House majority leader Dick Armey explains that "the business groups are simply not ideological givers. They give to buy access and to minimize risk."(emphasis added)
As we told you Democrats back in 2006; money flows to power because the power in America has injected itself into everything, and if you want to do major business in America, you'd better have your foot in the door of the powerful. Right now, the GOP is out and the conventional wisdom (which most of the senior business community - a risk-averse group - slavishly follows) is that the Democrats will win it all next year, so we're seeing corporate money flow to the Democrats (and this largely explains the Democrats' early fundraising advantage...an advantage, I'll add, which is whittling away as small donors start opening up their checkbooks for the GOP; small donors have long been the backbone of GOP funding, after all...but they don't give this far out from the election). What this is, utimately, is a return to 1992 - back then, corporate donations went about 60% to Democrats, 40% to Republicans (what's that you say? Corporations are the GOP's stronghold...yeah, right: I've got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you if you believe that). Money flows to power - always has, always will.
There is, however, another aspect to this - fear. If you don't donate to a GOPer, he might not return your phone calls when your special interest comes up for a vote. If you don't donate to a Democrat, he'll find ways to make your life miserable. This is especially true of corrupt and cruel Democrats like Rahm Emanuel - he isn't nicknamed "Rahmbo" because of a reputation for niceness (cruel? Yep - once upon a time, he sent a fish head to someone who annoyed him with a note reading, "I hate you very much" attached. corrupt? You betcha - come on, he's a Chicago politician...neck deep in Chicago's corrupt politics...and if any of this is surprising you, then it is because you haven't bought your copy of Caucus of Corruption).
This is what you get when you vote in corrupt Democrats just because you're mad at Republicans. Now, don't get me wrong, we all had all sorts of reasons to be mad at Republicans last year...but the Democrat leadership, as Matt and I have extensively chronicled with named, highly respected sources, is corrupt to the bone...as well as being incredibly mean spirited and hate filled. You give these Democrats increased majorites in the House and Senate and the White House next year, and this country is in for it quite badly. Everything will be for sale - with the only thing we can rely on is Democrats aggressively purusing pro-abortion policies (for some reason, increasing abortion has become almost a sacred ritual in the Democratic party)...if you liberals out there think you're going to get all the liberalism you can stand, think again: you'll get whatever someone pays the Democrats to provide. This might be liberalism, but only if you're not outbid.
Think carefully as we head into 2008 - and make your decision only after you've become fully informed.
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