-Caveat Lector- Lawyers are biggest givers to Gore and Bush, study finds By JONATHAN D. SALANT Associated Press Writer April 29, 1999 Web posted at: 2:02 p.m. EDT (1802 GMT) WASHINGTON (AP) -- As a group, lawyers have been the most generous contributors to the presidential campaigns of both Vice President Al Gore and Texas Gov. George W. Bush. Lawyers accounted for $1.4 million of the $8.9 million Gore raised through March 31, and $747,550 of the $7.6 million Bush took in during the same period, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan research group. The figures include contributions from lawyers, other law firm employees and their spouses. The numbers might be even higher; hundreds of contributors to both candidates failed to list their occupations or employers. A candidate's campaign committee can accept only $1,000 per person. Many firms bundled contributions from their employees to increase their impact, the study found. Lawyers from the Houston-based firm of Vinson & Elkins, for example, contributed a total of $172,400 to Bush's campaign. The money includes donations from spouses. Some of the biggest bundlers are law firms that also are registered to lobby on behalf of large corporations. Vinson & Elkins represents Bell Atlantic, Federal Express, and several Texas organizations, for example. Other types of companies pool employees' contributions, as well. The highest total Gore received from a single company was $67,950 from employees of Ernst & Young, an accounting firm that also lobbies. Its lobbying clients include Intel, the Federation of American Health Systems and MCI, now MCI Worldcom. "They are active participants in politics on behalf of themselves and a wide range of clients," said Larry Makinson, executive director of the center, which studies the relationship between contributions and campaigns. "They want to make sure they're on the inside no matter who wins." Gore campaign spokesman Roger Salazar said the bundled contributions represented a small percentage of the vice president's donors. "The majority of our supporters, over 75 percent, gave $100 or less," Salazar said. "We think he's got support from people all across the country at all levels. They are all supporting the vice president for what he has to offer this country, which is the power of his ideas and his leadership." Bush campaign spokeswoman Mindy Tucker said the donors gave "because he's done a great job as governor and they want him to be president." Gore's only announced challenger for the Democratic presidential nomination, former New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley, took in $646,150 from lawyers. Overall, he raised $4.3 million during the first three months of 1999. Bradley's biggest bundler was the law firm of Winston & Strawn, which gave $37,500. Its clients include the Walt Disney Co., General Motors and American Airlines. The study found that some companies had divided loyalties. Employees of the investment firm of Goldman, Sachs & Co., contributed a total of $45,500 to Gore, $15,000 to Bradley and $9,000 to Bush. Salomon Smith Barney employees gave $16,500 to Gore and $20,000 to Bradley. The figures also include spouse contributions. The center did not analyze the contributions to other presidential candidates who had not filed electronically. http://cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/04/29/president.2000/money.ap/ "Thou Shall Not Steal!" because the federal thugs don't Like the Competition! --- Anonymous ---------------------- (^) Bard (^) Passionate Charter Member of the International Society of Clinton-haters DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
