The Grand Lake Theater in Oakland has been known to post political and social commenatary, including anti-Iraq War messages, on its marquee. Before the March primary, it had one that said (quoting from memory here), "Take out the middleman. Write in the name of your favorite corporation."
I thought of that when I saw this article: Governor's evolving rules on donors San Jose Mercury News 04/05/04 .
In the eight months since he declared his candidacy on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno," Schwarzenegger has raised a record-breaking $27 million for himself and his political causes, with nearly one-third of the money coming from 37 individuals or companies that have written six-figure checks.
State records show that money is flowing in from businessmen embroiled in protracted development disputes with the state, insurance companies working to water down consumer-protection laws, a major health maintenance organization regulated by the Schwarzenegger administration and the world's largest pharmaceutical company as it battles proposed laws that would eat into its profits. ...
They are people with a keen interest in pushing their agenda in Sacramento. The top six-figure Schwarzenegger contributors spent $6.9 million last year on lobbying in the capital -- almost as much as their $7.9 million backing the governor and his causes.
The quiet and growing influence of Schwarzenegger's donors has begun to undermine the governor's image as a principled outsider who has created an impenetrable financial fire wall between himself and the powerful forces looking to steer state policy. (my emphasis)
The emphasized portion means that the favored press corps script on Schwarzenegger is being undermined. Maybe someday the press will treat him as a governor and politician instead of a Hollywood star.
Schwarzenegger rejects funding from groups he calls "special interests." The article notes, "By the governor's definition, union firefighters are a special interest, but the world's largest pharmeceutical company [Pfizer] is not.The Los Angeles County deputy sheriffs are a special interest, but not ChevronTexaco, America's second-largest oil company."
3 comments:
Due to the 2500-character limit (due to disappear tomorrow! Hooray!!!), I didn't get to add that the article details the non-"special interest" interests of some of the donors. Or that Schwarzenegger's reliance on initiatives and the threat of initiatives puts even more emphasis on the need to raise money - and thus the initiative process winds up encouraging the influence of of big-money donors in government. - Bruce
Jim Hightower had a great idea in one of his books: Let's make the politicians wear those NASCAR-type jackets with all their sponsors' logos patched on there. It would certainly make things a lot less confusing.
Yeah, that would be a helpful guide. Especially since our trivia-obsessed press corps loves to do fashion reports on the candidates anyway! That would add some substance to those articles. - Bruce
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