With Republicans hoping to recapture a number of statehouses in November, the media conglomerate headed by Rupert Murdoch is inserting itself into the races in bold fashion with a $1 million donation to the Republican Governors Association.
From today's NYT.
Think November is about Obama, or spineless Democrats, or the economy, or Afghanistan, or the climate?
Think again.
It's about 1 Million Dollars from Australian Rupert Murdoch's nationless Newscorp.
Officials at the governors’ association did not respond to requests for comment. The contribution, first reported by Bloomberg News, was made in June and is included in the Republican group’s most recent second-quarter filings.
Over all, the group received $19 million in donations during the quarter, far outpacing the Democratic Governors Association in a campaign when 37 governors’ seats are up for grabs, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a private research group.
The News Corporation’s contribution was one of three donations of $1 million or more that the Republican group received in the last quarter, with the Michigan Chamber of Commerce donating $1.48 million and David Koch, executive vice president of Koch Industries, giving $1 million.
The biggest donation to the Democratic governors’ group was $500,000 from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
I have nothing profound to say here. Citizens United has destroyed the most fundamental of all democratic institutions: free and fair elections.
So from my perch, it's over. The Age of Fascism has begun, with government becoming just another lever of private wealth's power.
At least there's hope for legalized dope. Too much money to be made for the pigs not to take a bite. Cheery thoughts.