The 53 Corporations Hosting the GOP Convention in Minneapolis

[Ichingcarpenter]

The Minneapolis-St. Paul 2008 Host Committee is a nonprofit organization charged with raising millions of dollars to produce an eye-popping, Republican party extravaganza in September. Under a contract signed with the Republican National Committee (RNC), the group is on the hook for roughly $40 million. The actual fund-raising target, however, according to the host committee, is $58 million -- a goal that the organization is reportedly on pace to meet.

The host committee -- and its Democratic counterpart in Denver -- are the chief beneficiaries of the biggest loophole in U.S. campaign finance law: the absence of any limits on what corporations and individuals can give in support of presidential conventions. The Republican get-together may be celebrated on broadcast television as an exercise in democracy but it will serve as a unique opportunity for special interests to buy access to influential people without the public much the wiser. Ditto for Denver. The delegates will vote on floors paved with money.

The host committee's Web site currently lists 53 companies that have contributed to the cause. They range from small, local outfits like M Design Interactive, which worked on the host committee's web site, to international corporations such as agribusiness giant Cargill and drug manufacturer Pfizer. Nearly all of them are for-profit companies. (The Service Employees International Union and the National Association of Home Builders are two notable exceptions).

The Minnesota Independent contacted all 53 organizations to inquire if they would voluntarily disclose the amount of their contributions. Less than half, 23, responded to the request for information. Only eight were willing to disclose how much money they have donated to the Republican convention.

At the top of the corporate heap is Qwest, which stated that it is providing $6 million in cash and in-kind services. The Denver-based telecommunications company also pointed out that it is contributing an equal amount to the Democratic convention slated for September in its hometown.>>>>snip

http://minnesotaindependent.com/view/the-biggest-loophole


This is the list of the donors

http://www.msp2008.com/donors

[blondeatlast]

1. K&R! Yuck, Medtronic--they make my insulin pump, I can't stop using their products.

Get this to the Greatest Page, ASAP!

[MnFats]

3. i think you get a pass on the insulin pump. just the same...

...send them a letter of reprimand for their irresponsible behavior.

[blondeatlast]

7. Not a bad idea; they are making a fortune off of me! nt

[Sheets of Easter]

2. Good to know, but to play devil's advocate,

how many of those same corporations will offer equal contributions to the Dem convention (I see you brushed on that in your post)? That's what I would like to know. It helps to sort out which groups have a vested interest in a single party.

edit for spelling & puncuation

[Ichingcarpenter]

6. Good Point but That would be your job wouldn't it?

I would want to know that about Denver.
I know that some of the buisneess in Minnesota
would want to support the convention, only because
of the amount of money it might bring into the state.


The problem as I see it is that only 8 disclosed how much they gave
and it is only a volunteer effort on their part according to law. I want
open government and honesty on who is really supporting who.

I

[Sheets of Easter]

9. Precisely.

[onenote]

13. Corporate sponsorships are being aggressively pursued for the Democratic convention too

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site36/2007/0819/20070819_010733_Denver%202008%20Sponsorship%20Packet.pdf


A partial list of corporations that are providing support for the Democratic convention contains a lot of the same names as on the list supporting the rebub convention:

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/may/12/list-democratic-national-convention-sponsors/

[Sheets of Easter]

16. Thanks for the link.

It's the corporations that give money exclusively to the repubs that I am wary of.

[cliffordu]

4. Why do I find this hilarious but not surprising...?

[dflprincess]

5. And the host committee was whining last month because the state legislature

refused them a letter of credit to cover any expenses they couldn't meet. Yup, bridges are falling down, the schools and social programs are suffering thanks to the "no new taxes" governor and the Republicans want to borrow money from the taxpayers. Whatever happened to personal responsibility?

[Symarip]

8. I'd boycott those companies

But I hardly use any of them to begin with, minus Visa. Can't really boycott my debit card.

[leveymg]

10. Astonished to see SEIU on that list. WTF?

:wtf:

[Ichingcarpenter]

11. Yes, I know and the Denver Convention is lacking in money

by $15 million. Why are they giving money to the GOP convention when
the Denver convention needs money?

[onenote]

12. Do you know that they aren't giving to the Dem convention?

In fact, SEIU is a sponsor of the Democratic convention:
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/may/12/list-democratic-national-convention-sponsors/

[leveymg]

14. They probably are. But still . . . seems SEIU is trying to build bridges in both directions

Perhaps, the strategy is to pave the way for an immigration legalization bill that will need some Republican support.

[Ichingcarpenter]

15. Don't disagree but we still don't know how much they give to each

That is my complaint, not that they are giving, but are not required to
say how much.

[SoxFan]

17. Our team isn't much better

New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch recently held a fundraiser. The invitation listed "Graniteers" who gave more than $5,000 to his campaign. Some of these concerned citizens were Waste Management, Hewlett-Packard, Florida Power & Light, Wheelabrator Technologies, Comcast, US Cellular, and the Gallagher Callahan Gartrell lobbying firm.

Other sponsors include GlaxoSmithKline, CVS Caremark Corporation, Continental Paving, and something called Intralot.