James Warren reports on Rahm Emanuel's warchest for Chicago mayor. 23 checks for over $100,000. Note Haim Saban, the big Israel lobbyist, gives nearly a quarter million. How can you go against this guy in the Democratic Party, without some reckoning? You can't. This is why Obama folded on Netanyahu. He needs Saban. Perelman too. I wonder how many other Israel-right-or-wrong folks gave money. When are we going to have the conversation?
the real story is the head-turning sums for a Midwest mayoral election from very far away.
Israeli-born Hollywood producer Haim Saban and his wife contributed two checks of $110,000 each. Those alone would constitute a sizeable percentage of the total raised by two of Emanuel's three leading opponents for the nonpartisan election set for Feb. 22. If one doesn't receive more than 50 percent of that vote, the top two finishers wind up in a runoff.
David Geffen ($100,000), Stephen Spielberg ($75,000) and Eli Broad ($25,000) are among the L.A. notables contributing and doing so just before a Jan. 1 change in Illinois law limiting individual contributions to $5,000 each for primary and general elections. Others giving to Emanuel included Apple boss Steve Jobs and wife ($100,000), Facebook founding partner Sean Parker and entertainment industry figures Jeff Katzenberg ($25,000), Terry Semel, Garth Ancier and agent John Fogelman.
23 individuals wrote checks of $100,000 or more, with eight coming from out of state. Among the 75 donors who gave at least $50,000 are two prominent business figures from the "Right Coast," namely New Yorkers Donald Trump and Ronald Perelman.
What conversation?
All the guys you mention are giving legally and transparently.
If “Israel supporters” can raise more money, it just means there are more of them, or there are more dedicated. If you don’t like that, find rich people that are willing to donate to other candidates. Or create an internet drive to raise money. Don’t blame your inability to raise money on lack of discussion.
some people like to make money, some people like to write about em
Write about them is fine, but you are complaining about them which is fine also but begs the question why? Just go and make money and donate it wherever you like.
Yeah, Phil, be more like a Mafia don. What else could possibly be the meaning of life?
Rahm is certainly going to win the Chicago mayoral election, and I think it’s great. In Chicago, he won’t be in so much of a position to influence US foreign policy enabling Isreali war crimes as he was whispering into the ear of Obama.
Let him concern himself with snow removal and the unions at McCormick Place.
I am very curious as to why he wants this role. What is the long-term political value of it? Anyone have any ideas?
Being major of a major US metropolis…stuff happens. Think Giuliani and what that did for his career. Or potentially did….after all, he was a candidate for the US Presidency.
He is now trying to keep his relevance alive for himself and his terror consulting company, Giuliani and partners.
Rahm is a bit slicker and smoother, but the game plan is the same.
Boeing corporate hdqt — Chicago
Board of Options Exchange – Chicago
home of Pritzker, Crown – Chicago
intellectual property law is becoming a very big deal — it was on the agenda w/ Hu Jianto. Some of the most important Intellectual Property law firms in the nation are headquartered in Chicago (with satellite offices in DC/Virginia, near the US Patent Office).
University of Chicago, founded by Rockefeller, claimed by Friedmanomics, Straussian poli sci — Chicago
Interesting that Axelrad left the White House but only to go back to Chicago to set up Obama’s 2012 campaign headquarters — maybe Pritzker-Crown don’t trust email.
If I were guessing, I’d say he wants to use it as a stepping stone to the governor’s house.
The “conversation” I would like to see take place concerns the effect of campaign contributions generally upon the democratic process. Large campaign contributions by individuals permit disproportionate influence. Phil’s point that some of these contributors don’t even reside in Chicago is yet another way that the democratic process is subverted, in my opinion. Yes, eee, I know it’s all legal, but I contend it’s anti-democratic and invites the purchase of special favors which serve limited and selfish objectives, such as those favored by the Israel Lobby.
The American Bar Association has proposed some lobby reform measures to attempt to provide at least transparency to the business of lobbying. That’s a start, but probably too little, too late.
RE: “Israeli-born Hollywood producer Haim Saban” – Warren
FROM WIKIPEDIA: Haim Saban (Hebrew: חיים סבן, born 15 October 1944 in Alexandria, Egypt[1]) is an Israeli-American television and media proprietor. With an estimated current net worth of $3.3 billion…
1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Shavit, Ari (2006-09-12). “‘You made it big, you jerk!’”. Israel: Haaretz. Retrieved 2008-05-07.
Philip do you ever get the feeling they’re like the mafia and these big spenders are just paying their dues?