Yesterday’s Midday open thread hailed the “good news” that Sherrod Brown had amassed “$1.3 million for his re-election bid in the first quarter of this year.”
While I think Brown is one of the better senators in the Democratic Party, Goldman Sachs — one of his top-five contributors — is funding him to the tune of $44,700. I don’t think this is “good news” for 99% of Americans, and certainly not good news for progressives with one iota of common sense. Indeed, it is horrible news.
So I posted my comment:
It might be good news if Sherrod Brown raised $1.3 million for his re-election bid from working Americans. However, Goldman Sachs, one of his top-five contributors, gave him $44,700.
To me, this signals that one of our ostensibly most progressive Senators is also on the take (albeit legally) from the pirates that have looted and burned the ship of state.
It's a disaster ... not good news.
To which one well-intentioned Kossak responded …
So how are progressive candiates supposed to compete against big-money grubbing GOPers?
So, I looked at the contributors of my favorite Senator, Bernie Sanders. I think his list of contributors, overwhelmingly unions representing working Americans, should serve as a template for truly progressive politicians.
Rank ↓ Contributor ↓ Total ↓ Indivs ↓ PACs ↓
1 eScription Inc $25,200 $25,200 $0
2 Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers $18,500 $0 $18,500
3 Baron & Budd $18,000 $18,000 $0
4 Plumbers/Pipefitters Union $17,000 $0 $17,000
5 Communications Workers of America $16,250 $1,250 $15,000
6 Bricklayers Union $15,000 $0 $15,000
6 Sheet Metal Workers Union $15,000 $0 $15,000
6 Teamsters Union $15,000 $0 $15,000
9 Laborers Union $13,500 $0 $13,500
9 National Education Assn $13,500 $0 $13,500
11 United Steelworkers $12,700 $200 $12,500
12 Operating Engineers Union $12,600 $0 $12,600
13 National Community Action Foundation $12,500 $0 $12,500
14 Bristol Bay Area Health $12,400 $12,400 $0
15 United Auto Workers $12,250 $250 $12,000
16 University of Vermont $11,880 $11,880 $0
17 American Federation of Teachers $11,500 $0 $11,500
18 AFL-CIO $11,100 $0 $11,100
19 American Assn for Justice $11,000 $0 $11,000
19 National Assn of Realtors $11,000 $0 $11,000
