The short answer? Of course not. I can sense your astonishment. See below the fold for some shocking revelations!
[Will be cross-posted to my blog Forged Demon when it starts working]
I visited the Web site
PoliticalMoneyLine today. I was curious about something. Conservative pundits bombard us daily with shrill cries of how liberals are destroying America and how W. is our savior, blah, blah, blah. They were particularly shrill about the evils of a John Kerry presidency.
Now, its no secret that punditry is big business. Rush has a huge mansion in my home state of Florida. Malkin could probably build internment camps out her stacks of cash. And Coulter makes more than enough to keep up with "her" hormonal treatments and plastic surgery. So, being that a second term of the Bush presidency was crucial to keeping America out of the hands of godless, commie, pinko, terrorist-loving libruls and maniacal islamo-fascists, surely they would have put their money where their exceptionally large mouths are and donate to GOP causes during the 2004 election, right? I mean, they wouldn't just be spewing vile opinions and divisive rhetoric simply to garner fame and forture for themselves, would they?
So I decided to do some (really) amateur sleuthing. Here's what I came up with on my little investigative hunt into the campaign finances of America's beloved conservative pundocracy and other elites. There are some extra treats at the end, so be sure to read all the way through. I don't claim that these results are 100% accurate. Some donations might not be present in PoliticalMoneyLine's database, and many conservative pundits seem to use fake names. Take these with a grain of salt. But they are interesting. Remember, these are only donations for the 2004 election cycle.
Malkin, Michelle (real name Michelle Maglalang) - None
Coulter, Ann (is that her/his real name?) - None.
Hannity, Sean - None
Limbaugh, Rush (real name Rush Hudson) - None
Kristol, William - None
Brooks, David - None
Goldberg, Jonah - None
Eastland, Terry - None
Hitchens, Christopher - None
Finkelstein, Arthur - None
Guckert, James (aka Jeff Gannon) - None
Hewitt, Hugh
2/24/2004 $2,000.00
IRVINE, CA 92612
HEWITT & O'NEIL LLP
BILL JONES FOR US SENATE
3/19/2004 $2,000.00
IRVINE, CA 92616
HEWITT & ONEILL
JOHN THUNE FOR US SENATE
6/30/2003 $2,000.00
IRVINE, CA 92616
SELF-EMPLOYED/LAWYER
BUSH-CHENEY '04 (PRIMARY) INC
O'Reilly, William (aka Bill) - I suspect Bill hasn't donated anything, but these could be him. Strategic Communications seems to be some sort of PR/Marketing Firm for politicians. I doubt this is actually him, though. Even if it is, they are pretty paltry amounts.
5/6/2003 $250.00
NEW YORK, NY 10021
O'REILLY STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS L
BENJAMIN FOR U S SENATE
9/24/2004 $250.00
New York, NY 10021
Strategic Communications/Self Emplo
FRIENDS OF ANTON SRDANOVIC
Buckley, William
3/26/2004 $250.00
Stamford, CT 06902
National Review/Editor
CHRISTOPHER SHAYS FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE
6/29/2004 $500.00
Stamford, CT 06902
National Review
CHRISTOPHER SHAYS FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE
10/9/2004 $250.00
Stamford, CT 06902
National Review/Editor
SIMMONS FOR CONGRESS
8/18/2004 $200.00
Stamford, CT 06902
National Review/Editor at Large
CLUB FOR GROWTH INC PAC
8/2/2004 $1,000.00
Stamford, CT 06902
National Review/Editor at Large
CHRISTOPHER SHAYS FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE
So here are our loudest and most obnoxious conservative pundits. Virtually none have made any donations to the causes they champion so loudly in every facet of the media. Judge for yourself what that says about the strength of their convictions. Buckley and Hewitt are the only ones that seem to really believe in what they preach. (But notice how most of Buckley's donations went to moderate Christopher Shays - and look how he put "Editor at Large" for one donation. What a prick.)
Next up, the religious freakos:
Robertson, Pat - None
Dobson, James
9/3/2004 $250.00
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80920
RETIRED
KEYES 2004 INC
Retired indeed. Maybe this isn't THE Dobson, but the address is right. Apparently our self-appointed guardians of morality feel its fine to urge their flocks to donate until it hurts without feeling obliged to do the same. Who would ever expect such hypocrisy from a televagelist? I didn't bother to look up any more of them. You know that none of them donated any money personally.
So how about those "strict constructionist" judges the televangelists love so much:
Scalia, Antonin - None
Alito, Samuel - None
Roberts, John - None
[These, however, could be some donations from Roberts' wife. Note the address:
Roberts, John Mrs.
9/29/2003 $200.00
Easton, MD 21601
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE
1/9/2004 $600.00
Easton, MD 21601
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE]
Surprising? Yeah, a little. You'd think you'd have to give Bush something in order to get on the Supreme Court.
Next up, the special bonus donors, the conservative "elite":
Libby, I. Lewis (aka "Scooter", aka "Sweet Cheeks") - None
Rice, Condaleeza - None
Ashcroft, John - None
DeLay, Thomas - None
Rove, Karl C Mr.
9/30/2003 $2,000.00
WASHINGTON, DC 20032
THE WHITE HOUSE/GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE
BUSH-CHENEY '04 (PRIMARY) INC
Norquist, Grover
12/17/2003 $347.00
WASHINGTON, DC 20002
ATR INC./EXECUTIVE
MCHENRY FOR CONGRESS
NOTE: McHenry is a sleazy little git and Norquist protege. There's an article about him on www.prospect.org.
1/21/2004 $500.00
WASHINGTON, DC 20002
AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM/PRESIDENT
BUSH-CHENEY '04 (PRIMARY) INC
2/24/2004 $200.00
WASHINGTON, DC 20002
AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM/PRESIDENT
COMMITTEE TO RE-ELECT CONGRESSMAN DANA ROHRABACHER
Honorable James Baker, The III
10/15/2004 $2,000.00
Houston, TX 77002
Baker Botts LLP/Attorney
GOLI AMERI FOR CONGRESS 2004
Bush, George H.W.
10/5/2004 $1,000.00
Houston, TX 77024
Retired/Retired
CHARLIE SUMMERS FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE
6/10/2003 $2,000.00
HOUSTON, TX 77024
RETIRED
BUSH-CHENEY '04 (PRIMARY) INC
10/21/2004 $1,000.00
HOUSTON, TX 77024
RETIRED
MICHELS FOR U S SENATE
Who knew Karl Rove was so generous! And what's up with Grover? Mister big money, wheeler and dealer, could only donate a thousand bucks? Greedy little bastard. Most be more of his "starve the beast" philosophy at work. Meanwhile, I guess Libby was too busy committing treason to give any money to his bosses. But what's DeLay's excuse? Too busy laundering everyone else's money, I suppose.
Now, just for comparison, look how much of his own money Kerry donated to his campaign:
Kerry, John F
12/12/2003 $500,000.00
Boston, MA 02108
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC
12/15/2003 $350,000.00
Boston, MA 02108
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC
12/19/2003 $250,000.00
Boston, MA 02108
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC
12/24/2003 $1,787,965.00
Boston, MA 02108
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC
6/27/2003 $25,000.00
Washington, DC 20510
United States Senate/Senator
DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE
Wow. But how much did millionaire George W. Bush donate to his campaign? You guessed it, $0. (Why bother when the financial/insurance and energy industries already have you bought and paid for?)
Finally, a double super secret background bonus donor, just for fun:
Abramoff, Jack
2/17/2004 -$5,000.00
Washington, DC 20006
[contribution refunded to individual]
AMERICANS FOR A REPUBLICAN MAJORITY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
5/21/2003 $1,000.00
Washington, DC 20006
Greenberg Traurig/Attorney
WELDON VICTORY COMMITTEE
2/7/2003 $1,000.00
WASHINGTON, DC 20006
GREENBERG TRAURIG
SHELBY FOR U S SENATE
3/17/2003 $1,500.00
WASHINGTON, DC 20006
PRESTON GATES AND ELLIS
MISSOURIANS FOR KIT BOND
4/11/2003 $2,000.00
Washington, DC 20006
self employed/Attorney
CHARLES TAYLOR FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE
3/29/2003 $1,000.00
WASHINGTON, DC 20006
GREENBERG ATTORNEYS AT LAW
GRASSLEY COMMITTEE
3/29/2003 $1,000.00
WASHINGTON, DC 20006
GREENBERG ATTORNEYS AT LAW
GRASSLEY COMMITTEE
2/3/2003 $1,000.00
Washington, DC 20006
Greenberg Traurig/Attorney
FRIENDS OF ERNEST ISTOOK
3/14/2003 $1,000.00
WASHINGTON, DC 20006
GREENBERG TRAURIG
ENSIGN FOR SENATE
2/6/2003 $1,000.00
WASHINGTON, DC 20006
GREENBERG TRAURIG
ENSIGN FOR SENATE
11/20/2003 $5,000.00
Washington, DC 20006
Greenberg Traurig LLP/Attorney
AMERICANS FOR A REPUBLICAN MAJORITY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
2/27/2003 $5,000.00
Washington, DC 20006
Greenberg Traurig LLP/Attorney
AMERICANS FOR A REPUBLICAN MAJORITY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
6/16/2003 $2,500.00
Washington, DC 20006
Greenberg Traurig/Attorney
KEEP OUR MAJORITY PAC
3/19/2003 $2,000.00
Washington, DC 20006
Greenberg Taurig LLP/Govt. Relation
CANTOR FOR CONGRESS
10/18/2003 $2,000.00
WASHINGTON, DC 20006
GREENBERG TAAURIG
GEORGIANS FOR ISAKSON
3/14/2003 $2,000.00
WASHINGTON, DC 20006
GREENBERG TRAURIG
ENSIGN FOR SENATE
9/29/2003 $5,000.00
Washington, DC 20006
Greenberg Traurig LLP/Attorney
RICH POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
4/23/2003 $2,000.00
Washington, DC 20006
Greenberg Traurig LLP/Sr. Director
LEADERSHIP PAC 2004
3/19/2003 $2,000.00
Washington, DC 20006
Greenberg Taurig LLP/Govt. Relation
CANTOR FOR CONGRESS
7/18/2003 $5,000.00
Washington, DC 20006
Greenberg Traurig LLP/Senior Dir of
HAWKEYE PAC, THE
12/2/2003 $1,000.00
Washington, DC 20006
Greenberg Traurig Attorneys At Law
CANNON FOR CONGRESS
3/13/2003 $1,000.00
Washington, DC 20006
Greenberg Traurig Attorneys At Law
CANNON FOR CONGRESS
3/18/2003 $1,000.00
Washington, DC 20006
Greenberg Traurig LLP/Attorney
RELY ON YOUR BELIEFS FUND
6/16/2003 $5,000.00
Washington, DC 20006
Greenberg Traurig LLP/Senior Direct
FIRST FREEDOMS FUND
4/30/2003 $1,000.00
Washington, DC 20006
Smith Dawson & Andrews/Lobbyist
DOUG OSE FOR CONGRESS
3/6/2003 $1,000.00
Silver Spring, MD 20901
Greenberg Traurig LLP/Government Af
TOM DELAY CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE
11/3/2003 $1,000.00
SILVER SPRING, MD 20901
GREENBERG TRAURIG
CITIZENS FOR BUNNING
3/13/2003 $1,000.00
WASHINGTON, DC 20006
GREENBERG TRAURIG LLP/SR DIR OF GOV
COMMITTEE TO RE-ELECT CONGRESSMAN DANA ROHRABACHER
9/30/2003 $1,000.00
WASHINGTON, DC 20006
PRESTON GATES & ELLIS
NETHERCUTT FOR SENATE
3/29/2003 $2,000.00
WASHINGTON, DC 20006
GREENBERG TRAURIG ET AL
CITIZENS FOR ARLEN SPECTER
6/23/2003 $2,000.00
WASHINGTON, DC 20006
GREENBERG TRAWRIG L.L.P./SENIOR DIR
BUSH-CHENEY '04 (PRIMARY) INC
5/2/2003 $2,000.00
WASHINGTON, DC 20006
GREENBERG TRAURIG/SENIOR DIR GOVT A
SENATE VICTORY FUND PAC, THE
1/22/2003 $2,000.00
Washington, DC 20006
Greenberg Traurig LLP/attorney
RICHARD POMBO FOR CONGRESS
3/5/2003 $1,000.00
Washington, DC 20006
Greenberg Traurig LLP/govt. affairs
TOM FEENEY FOR CONGRESS
12/7/2004 -$1,000.00
Silver Spring, MD 20901
[contribution refunded to individual]
FRIENDS OF JIM SAXTON
10/24/2003 $1,000.00
Silver Spring, MD 20901
Greenberg Traurig/Attorney
FRIENDS OF JIM SAXTON
1/31/2003 $5,000.00
Washington, DC 20006
Preston Gates Ellis et al/Governmen
REPUBLICAN MAJORITY FUND
Looks like a few of those contributions were refunded. I wonder why? Want to take bets on when the rest will be refunded? Didn't think so.