Defense Industry Embraces Democrats, Hillary By Far The Favorite

The defense industry this year abandoned its decade-long commitment to the Republican Party, funneling the lion share of its contributions to Democratic presidential candidates, especially to Hillary Clinton who far out-paced all her competitors.

An examination of contributions of $500 or more, using the Huffington Post's Fundrace website, shows that employees of the top five arms makers - Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop-Grumman, Raytheon and General Dynamics -- gave Democratic presidential candidates $103,900, with only $86,800 going to Republicans.

Senator Clinton took in $52,600, more than half of the total going to all Democrats, and a figure equaling 60 percent of the sum going to the entire GOP field. Her closest competitor for defense industry money is former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney (R.), who raised $32,000.

Insofar as defense workers making political donations reflect the interests of their employers, the contributions clearly suggest that the arms industry has reach the conclusion that Democratic prospects for 2008 are very good indeed. Since their profits are so heavily dependent on government contracts, companies in this field want to be sure they do not have hostile relations with the White House.

The strong support for Clinton indicates that a majority of defense industry executives currently believe Clinton is a favorite to win the Democratic nomination and, in November, 2008, the general election.

In the 2004 presidential race, defense company workers, almost all of them upper-level employees, gave George W. Bush $819,358, more than twice the $366,870 received by John Kerry. Similarly, in House and Senate races over the past 10 years, the defense industry has favored Republicans over Democrats by a 3-2 margin.

Republicans holding public office almost always provide much stronger support for weapons programs and other Pentagon spending than do Democrats.

In an unexpected development, Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.), the ranking Republican on the Armed Services Committee and a decorated Vietnam War veteran, raised just $19,200, barely more than the $18,500 collected by Texas Representative Ron Paul (R.).

No other Democrat came near Clinton's totals. Running second to her in the competition for Pentagon contractors' cash was Senator Chris Dodd (D-Conn), who raised $13,200, almost all from executives of General Dynamics which has a major submarine building facility in Groton, Conn.

Former Senator John Edwards (D-N. Car.) raised $12,200 and Illinois Senator Barack Obama (D) took in $10,000.

Clinton's major industry benefactors - donors who gave the $4,600 maximum allowed by law -- include Roger A. Crone, Boeing's president of Network and Space Systems; Stanley Roth, Boeing's Vice President for Asia, International Relations, $4,600; Anne Sullivan, a Raytheon attorney; William Lynn, Raytheon's Senior Vice President for Government Relations; and Michele Kang, Northrop Grumman Vice President for health science solutions.

Comments

[NoFactsJustTruth]

I WON'T support ANY candidate that thinks we should still have troops in Iraq in 2013. That is just an insane and blatant crapping on voters, citizens and OUR troops who're saying it was ALWAYS a DIShonorable mission and we should LEAVE NOW! The Iraqis want us to LEAVE NOW!

ANYONE that thinks this one-party K-Street bought and sold system we currently have doesn't deserve to be laughed at and despoiled with mockery at every opportunity, is a kool-aid drinker that simply refuses to believe TRUTH. The front-running candidates ALL seem hand-picked by the msm for their cooperativeness with the corporate masters that require the wars and occupations for natural resources ...to continue.

Also, Thomas, corporate MERCENARY armies MUST NOT be allowed to operate within the USA as a legal and Constitutional Authority, and should NOT be allowed to be used elsewhere by U.S. corporations to EVER fight wars on behalf of these United States. These are things of which WE should be VERY afraid, if WE wish to recognize OUR nation AT ALL in the future.

It is NOT comforting that the ONLY two party options that're seriously allowed by the msm, are both so easily owned by these industry giants instead of the citizens of OUR country. It's also less comforting to know this 'condition' has been so for some time now.

[Earl]

You left out the part about private prisons sprouting up like weeds in a country that imprisons more citizens per capita than ANY other country in the world, including the axis of evil. Maybe Blackwater could branch out into that sector. I'm sure the Bush administration would love the Wall Street boost.

[NoFactsJustTruth]

Don't get me started...

We've gone from .5 millions prisoners to around 2.3 million prisoners in just the last 15 years, and mostly for non-violent crimes that harmed NO other person or their property. Not just the highest percentage,...THE MOST prisoners of ANY nation on the planet. Considering China's and India's populations, what makes us think we have the right to tell others about freedom and human rights violations. The faithful sheeples just keep swallowing,...hook, line and sinker.

COMMERCIAL PRISONS - like defense contractors or oil companies, MUST show a profit EVERY year for their investors.
The war on the citizens of OUR country to fill prisons for corporate profits, like the occupation of Iraq, is also a disgusting shameful disgrace.

[fact finder]

Lets don't forget the "detainment" centers being built by KBR. Supposed to hold 400,000 + people. HMMMM who is going there.

[Mikesacola]

Contractors joining the Hilitary. What's next?
Bilgewater?

[otispfudpucker]

a must see

http://www.hillcap.org/default.php?page_id=2

[isis]

I bet Dr. Dobson will never donate to Hillary.

[squareyellowpaper]

I am opposed to war. In particular, I am opposed to the immoral, illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq.

We must leave immediately. The Blackwater forces should be used to cover our returning troops, then, they should be helicoptered out.

With scrambled telecommunications, there is no need for an American embassy in Iraq at this time.

Barack Obama made it quite clear that he is against a protracted American presence in Iraq. Hillary Clinton would stay the course. As a result, Democrats have a difficult decision to make. Hillary is the winnable candidate in a national presidential election. Her stance on Iraq is more universally appealilng to the nation's voters. We cannot afford to gamble on Obama's ability to win in a national election. Hillary is our best bet.

[ObamaSeeChange]

In the pig's eyes!

[andyboy]

Geez what a conundrum. Your going to vote for the "stay the course candidate" yet your "opposed to the war.

Are you sure? Doesn't sound like your sure.

How can the political process work when people don't vote their conscience?

Answer: It doesn't.

I'll stand by for more rationalizing.

[GreatFutureForAll]

I'm not for winning just to place a Democrat in office. I'm an American first and a Democrat second, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

If Obama is better for the country, then we must vote for him.

Clinton's war drums sound too much like Dubya's. Remember, she's already on record as saying that Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism.

she adds: "If Iran does not comply with its own commitments and the will of the international community, all options must remain on the table."

Is getting a Democrat in office worth starting World War III (with terrorism as a major component)?

Invading Iraq is one thing. Attacking Iran when it does not have the capability of developing a nuclear weapon for at least another three years is sheer lunacy.

[Elkanah]

If the defence industry of America are pumping money and support into the Democratic Party and Hillary Clinton, it cannot be for the good of the peace movement and the vast majority of Americans who want to end the war in Iraq. It also explains why several important Democratic lawmakers including Hillary Clinton have come out in favour of extending the presence of American troops in Iraq and attacking Iran.

[socks1]

Even if this were the only reason to avoid support for Hillary, it is enough.

I also wish Hillary was a good woman candidate, but she is not. She will keep the present policies alive and healthy. And that is unsupportable.

Don't forget, this is the primary season. This is the time she will be 'sounding' the most liberal. She is now playing to the liberal base that will be more predominate in the primaries. Caution and a whallop of salt have to be ingested with each word she says.

[billysviez]

this support for Hillary should not suprise anyone. she is no differant than bush and the rethugs and is no Democrat as far as i can see. just look at her votes, such a sad day for Our Country.

[andyboy]

Nice post socks. I don't hear anything liberal at all coming out of Hillary. She's actually a pretty godammed rabid hawk. Is anybody reading about the corruption going on between Food suppliers and the military? Does anybody care that we are paying for a private army at 10x the going rate for a soldier so that chickenhawk kids don't have to go to Iraq to protect diplomats who have no business being there in the first place?

Women and their children are being ripped to shreds by machine gun fire from guys wearing tight black T-shirts and sporting huge steroid induced musculatures for sport. Your paying for it and therefore you need to take responsibility for it.

Hillary doesn't HAVE to be the nominee.

All you little political groupies out there make me sick. You won't vote your conscience. That's a sin and a lie. How fitting for us and for our times.

I will dedicate myself to seeing that Hillary Clinton does not win the Presidency. If she is the nominee I'll vote Republican. I swear it.

[jeffmorgan]

This reminds me of a contrast of imagery between Hillary and Obama, the machine vs. the grassroots.

[Jimmyboyo]

Of course the millitary industrial complex loves hillary. She has that "new war" she talked about= $$$ for them

[GladysKnightsPIP]

Iran is actually trying to help Iraq rebuild......since Saddam is gone there is an air of cooperation to make the region better for them.

Of course the Useless States can't have that...........precisely the reason Blackwater continues to kill and foment strife between factions.

The evil one is the USA.

[partyofone]

Hillary Clinton's candidacy and potential election are very very scarty for many reasons. The concentration of support for Clinton from the highly profitable defense industry is one more confirmation that Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton means sustaining the corporate-serving status quo.

We don't need Hillary, we need CHANGE!

[pacificoceanpark]

Yes! She is part of the elite ruling class, and she has a pro-corporate agenda just like her husband. Bill did not roll back much of the Reagan years, and Hillary will not roll back much of the Bush years. Under her America will continue down its current track towards our 2nd great depression. More nafta, cafta. More lobbyists. More raping of the middle class. More corporate control.

And now she is selling out the American people to the war mongers even before she is elected. The weapons makers view her as the least threatening of the Dems. And so they toss money at her knowing she is the one to protect their profitable wars, and keep bases in Iraq.

Do we really want to settle for Republican-Lite? She is not the best candidate just because she can raise the most money. She is not different because she is woman, women can be authoritarian and fascist just like men. She is just more of the same business as usual, keeper of the status quo. Pulling the wool over americans eyes, and bowing to the powers that be.

[VSamuels]

Right. Bill Clinton did not roll back much of the Reagan years, partially because he had a republican Congress to contend with on so many issues, however, he is often given undue credit for being a champion of the little guy, but I do not recall much that he did which has a lasting presence in our policies today. Whereas, Bill is credited with being the champion for the middle class and minorities, he did less measurable things than Carter, who while being less visible and openly friendly with minorities, solidified policies aimed at minorities.

Bill Clinton genius was making folks perceive him as one of them, this is the gift that keep giving as he is attempting to pass this torch to Hillary, who has absolutely no track record in her tenure in the senate, in passing legislation which benefit non-whites. Hillary is merely hoping that Bill Clinton's perceived good will as an ambassador to the non-white community will excuse her absence record for minorities. And, at the same time, the few non-whites who have access to the Clinton's previous Whitehouse are being courted by the latest Clinton who is too willing to trade access for the status quo.

It is far time, some examine what they are really getting from Hillary, and what policies she has sponsored or co-sponsored stand as the lynchpin of her current promises to non-whites. Simply believing Hillary is O.K. because Bill was a affable fellow is a disaster waiting to happen.

While I expect Toms like Albert Wynn (D-Md) to be a Hillary shrill, it is my expected hope that Ellison (D-Mn) will prove that sipping mint julip at the back door, under the shade of the magnolias is no substitute for clear political policies.

[GladysKnightsPIP]

Iraq will award Iran and China a $1.1 bn. contract to build two enormous electricity generating plants, says the NYT. The US military is said to be worried that the Iranians will put intelligence agents in Iraq as part of this project. I fear I think the real worry is that Iran will get credit for building the electricity plants, something the US was apparently too weak or inefficient to pull off.

Labels: Iraq

[LaFeminazi]

When Ike spoke of the dangers of the MIC back in the fifties it was still in its infancy however fattened by WWII and Korea it was.

Now the MIC is institutionalised into the very fabric of the US, as predicted. Getting it out now will probably involve a collapse of the US economy. After all its only US military power holding up the US at the moment, its too late to change the situation.

Debt, outsourcing and oil dependency have ripped out the core that was the American spirit, its manufacturing base.

[underdog]

But whosoeva's got the powa, see
S'tha one what says what goes, see?
So we got dis heeya protection plan,
s'gonna keep da rest a da woild from gettin hoit.
Capiche?

[Wiredwilly]

When are we going to realize Defense means living up to the ideals
of Thomas Jefferson, not building another trillion dollar smart bomb ?
The Millitary-Industrial complex will support anyone that keeps feeding the machine.
Peace will come when people realize it's basically insane to exist
in a continual state of War over natural resources & ideology.
What a shock ; The Multi-Billionaires support Hillary Clinton. Good for them.
I'm supporting Ron Paul , John Edwards, Dennis Kucinich, Al Gore, Russ Feingold,
Bruce Springsteen, Willie Nelson, Jim Hightower, Cindy Sheehan, John Kerry,
the Dalai Llama or some guy that works in a cheese factory.
Anyone who remembers that the Presidential election is about Liberty
and serving the People, not Government by the Media and serving the interest
of Multi-National Corporations and International Banking Cartels.

[SensibleAmerican]

As I mentioned below, the Nader play book and 2 decades of socialist-far-left-fringe scripting has gotten old! Try to actually read and research before getting into a rant as usual ...

[aftermath]

troll

[aftermath]

why should it be surprising that many Bush supporters are now working for the Hillary Clinton campaign?

[VivaZapata]

"2 decades of socialist-far-left-fringe scripting has gotten old!" how about century old red baiting? I love the way these guys pretend they have new ideas. Where is the evidence of SensibleAmerican's reading and researching? Perhaps ClintonFan can answer that question.

[whatsreallygoingonhere]

Kucinich is the man. He understands that we need a Department of Peace.

The focus of attention determines the balance of power. Want Peace? Focus on Peace. Defence has very little to do with Peace. Defence is about fear and fear has created a lot of wars. So has greed.

There is a better way to live.

Peace!

[VSamuels]

Care to tell us why the Dalai Llama would appear before a president who started a pre-emptive war without stated cause? Of all the people the Dalai Llama would meet, he meets with those who have condoned torture, invaded a sovereign nation and today renews threatening language about invading Iran. To watch George Bush sit there and smile while he attempts to legitimize his behavior in the shadow of the Llama, speaking of peace is not only disgraceful but abhorent.

While it is imaginable that money to Tibet is in the works for the Dalai Llama and his causes, it is inconceivable that Ghandi or Mandela would give George Bush any shred of credibility or his administration which is seen throughout the world as being as warmongering as those they describe as the 'axis of evil.'

Apparently, 'money does answereth all things, indeed.'

[Wiredwilly]

I imagine the Dalai Llama met with Bush because of a genuine wish for World Peace. As the Buddhist say " the sun shines on the rich and poor equally ". Only meeting with people in the Peace movement isn't going to solve the problem. Having met with the Dalai Llama, Mr Bush now has had a direct transmission of Dharma teachings. Even though he wouldn't know the difference between Karma and Car Wash, Bush now has the opportunity to improve. Perhaps now he will only have to spend 50,000 reincarnations as a cockroach instead of 75,000.

[TJTelecaster]

Hillary is part of The Military Industrial Complex a No Change Candidate..her vote in regard to Iran and naming the Republican guard terrorists goes a long way towards her favoring more War and a senseless needless ruinous War..

Idiot sheep will vote for her..she's no Bush but just the same ole wine in a brand new bottle..

[researcher]

smart move on their part. they know how to back a winner and she will pay big dividends to them in contacts.

the industrial military complex is alive and well with both demos and repubs.

more of the same and americans want to be imperialists. it is in their mentality.

years of conditioning and brainwashing.


"A nation that spends more year after year on military offense (and I mean offense) than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death". (Gunnels)


we have found the evil empire: US

[SensibleAmerican]

Ok firstly it is the military industrial complex and not the "industrial military complex" and their allegiance has always been with the neocons. The neocon movement goes way back to the early 30s and changed radically in the 70s and early 80s. The organizations listed above are part of the defense establishment and not the military industrial complex per se. To explain the difference, I will run out of time and space for this comment!

My suggestion would be to actually read and research instead of using the Nader play book ad nauseum ...

[Andreas]

"...their allegiance has always been with the neocons."

Sensible,

are you saying Hillary is a NeoCon?

+

"To explain the difference, I will run out of time and space for this comment!"

Sorry, but this is considered bad style in the internetz.

If you can't give a good argument for your opinion, then it's just that: your OPINION.

[ObamaSeeChange]

To explain the difference you will run out of brainpower so give the few brain cells that allows you to be capable of successfully doing daily living tasks and STFU!

[whatsreallygoingonhere]

You've got that right! Military Offense!

Eisenhower was right about the industrial military complex. Too bad our 'leaders' didn't learn fmuch from his warnings.

[andyboy]

You act as if there isn't any anti-war candidates. All you have to do is vote for one.

[rocketoo]

Good for Hillary. I am sure many Huffposters will soon be condemning her as a tool of the Defense Industry, but it will be pure jealousy. Everyone with any smarts knows she will be our next President. The bandwagon is beginning to fill up, but if you hurry there is still room for even the most negative among you.

[whatsreallygoingonhere]

Hey! If you like war, she's your gal!

Peace!

[pacificoceanpark]

"The bandwagon"??? yeah follow the others, go and dance to the drums of war. Sheep like you are what got us into the Iraq mess, and Sheep like you wont get us out. Keep that Status Quo going until America is bankrupt and enters the 2nd great depression.

Hillary is a fugazi, electing a woman would be a change... but not this corporatist wench.