Exxon, Chevron, Southern Among $250K Donors For Bush Inauguration - NYT

[hatrack]

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 - "Drawing support from the energy industry and other longtime backers of President Bush, the Presidential Inaugural Committee has raised almost $8 million since it began gathering money this month, according to a list it released Thursday.

ExxonMobil, the Occidental Petroleum Corporation, ChevronTexaco and the Southern Company were among more than 20 donors to give the maximum $250,000, which entitles executives to attend the ceremonies, black-tie balls and events with the president. Many others gave smaller amounts in return for fewer perks, like the $100,000 contributed by the military contractors Boeing and Northrop Grumman. The Presidential Inaugural Committee is seeking to raise as much as $40 million to kick off Mr. Bush's second term, with multiple events leading up to the Jan. 20 swearing-in, and has spent much of December soliciting donors across the country, despite the holidays and the exhaustion brought by an election that raised record amounts.

"There is some donor fatigue," said Brad Freeman, a longtime Bush supporter and fund-raiser who is a co-chairman of the committee. (Ed. - all together now - "Awwwwwwwwwww!!!!!) "But they have had a nice rest."

EDIT

Several donors are individuals who also played a major role in this year's election. For example, T. Boone Pickens, a Texas oilman who contributed $250,000 for the inauguration, had given a total of about $5.5 million to the Progress for America Voter Fund and Swift Vets and P.O.W.'s for Truth, two groups that supported Mr. Bush."

EDIT

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/24/politics/24donate.html?oref=login&pagewanted=all

[Osamasux]

1. Damn, and I used to respect Pickens

Read his autobiography, 'Boone', a few years back, then donated it to a group library. Guess I'll send it on permanent loan to the circular file, now.

[Kolesar]

2. The oil companies sponsored an inaugural ball for our soldiers

How obvious is that? "Thanks for fighting our wars."