| Money and U.S. Politics: A Case Study from the N.Y. Times |
| Saturday, 25 June 2011 15:40 |
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The $39B AT&T/T-Mobile deal is rich enough to support literally $1B in influence expense, about what it cost Obama to win the Presidency. I've been close enough the last few years to see how D.C. is overwhelmed by interested funding. This story from the Times has nothing to do with DSL Prime's subject, but is a direct insider's account of how things often go down. I am sure most supporters thought it appropriate to win this vote by buying it if necessary. From Michael Barbaro at NY Times
In the 35th-floor conference room of a Manhattan high-rise, two of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s most trusted advisers held a secret meeting a few weeks ago with a group of super-rich Republican donors.Over tuna and turkey sandwiches, the advisers explained that New York’s Democratic governor was determined to legalize same-sex marriage and would deliver every possible Senate vote from his own party.
Would the donors win over the deciding Senate Republicans? It sounded improbable: top Republican moneymen helping a Democratic rival with one of his biggest legislative goals. But the donors in the room — the billionaire Paul Singer, whose son is gay, joined by the hedge fund managers Cliff Asness and Daniel Loeb — had the influence and the money to insulate nervous senators from conservative backlash if they supported the marriage measure. And they were inclined to see the issue as one of personal freedom, consistent with their more libertarian views. Within days, the wealthy Republicans sent back word: They were on board. Each of them cut six-figure checks to the lobbying campaign that eventually totaled more than $1 million. Steve Cohen, the No. 2 in Mr. Cuomo’s office and a participant in the meeting, began to see a path to victory, telling a colleague, “This might actually happen.” ... |