I feel a little bad picking on Bernie so much lately, but it’s really convenient that there’s one blog reliably churning out perfect examples of all the horrible intellectual habits we aim to correct here.
Here’s the Money In Politics edition:
When the politician in question is beloved Golden Boy Charlie Dent, Bernie says money just bounces off the dude. He can’t be bought!
I’m having a tough time figuring out all the special interests who have LV Congressman Charlie Dent in their pocket. Whomever the latest public bogeyman, whether it’s “Big Pharma” or “Wall Street” or “Big Insurance,” Dent is their boy.We’re back to “Big Oil,” one of my favorites, again
According to Open Secrets, in the 2010 cycle Charlie Dent accepted $48,950 in campaign contributions from the Oil and Gas industries. He accepted $162,000 from Health Professionals and $48,250 from the Insurance industry, and $63,100 from the Pharmaceutical industry.
Now, maybe you think that money didn’t buy any influence with Dent and he just happened to vote the industry line on every single issue in the 2009-2010 legislative session.
But if $273,350 can’t influence Dent, why should we believe that a $2000 contribution from Abe Atiyeh is all it takes to buy off John Callahan? Bernie again:
Abe Atiyeh, who’d really, really, really, really like to build an apartment building instead of an assisted living facility at Dewberry Center in Bethlehem, has just give Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan $2,000, according to a 24-hour report filed in the elections office on Monday. I’m sure Abe is just giving to Callahan because he likes city governments that finish in the red.
Dude isn’t even running for Mayor again, and $2000 would be tiddlywinks for a Congressional campaign. It’s hard to see how this buys Atiyeh any favors from Callahan, especially if exponentially larger donations don’t buy the health care industry any favors from Dent.
Either money buys votes or it doesn’t.
What you don't get, despite my mentioning it a gazillion times, is that it is nearly impossible to buy a candidate for statewide or federal office. The reason is that so much money has to be raised and spent that even thousand dollar contributions are drops in the bucket.
But when you are dealing with locals, where much less money is needed, a little bit goes a long way. The money given to Callahan was given to his local campaign, not his federal campaign. That is unusual in and of itself, bc he was drawing it down.
I suspect that Callahan wanted money to buy some good will in his quest for a TIF at Martin Tower, and cut a deal w/ Atiyeh.
In local races, smaller sums are far more significant, and there is no double standard, just an unwillingness by you to see anythng unusual in Callahan or anything right with Dent.
What else is new?
Thousand dollar contributions are a drop in the bucket. But 273 thousand dollar contributions in one year is a lot of spit.
I am from india." I hope it is better to give minimam fundding to youngstars from banks and other financial servise is good when comparied this present method of money flowing,
Callahan cannot run for mayor again his term is up so i dont see what $2000 does for him at this point. It is rumored he will make another go at congress in 2012. Now with that being said let me state the obvious. Who cares if the guy wants to build an apartment unit ? I thought you fellows on the right were all about the free market.