The Power of Money in Politics

As you must have heard, the Republicans are the party of the rich. The Democrats are the party of the poor people and the middle class.

If you don’t believe me, just ask any Democrat.

Being a Democrat means hating the rich, especially if they are named Koch.

Each time the Supreme Court opens the door to more campaign contributions, liberal Democrats are outraged. Now, they tell us, rich Republicans will be buying elections.

At the same time, Democrats are doing their best—with some considerable Republican support—to offer amnesty and citizenship to more illegal immigrants. In this way they will assemble an army of the poor to counter the effect of big Republican money.

But I digress.

When pondering the question of money in politics, especially of big money in politics, it is useful to have some facts at one’s disposal.

A few days ago Investor’sBusiness Daily provided some in an editorial. Clearly, it is doing God’s work.

And contrary to the hand-wringing on the left about the Supreme Court's 5-4 McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission ruling Wednesday,

Democrats far outspend Republicans on elections. It isn't even close.

According to OpenSecrets.org, from 1989 to 2014 rich donors gave Democrats $1.15 billion — $416 million more than the $736 million given to the GOP. Among the top 10 donors to both parties, Democrat supporters outspent Republican supporters 2-to-1.

But what about the villainous Koch brothers, those conservative plutocrats supposedly seeking to control American politics? They rank 59th on the list of big givers — behind 18 unions and No. 1 Act Blue, the massive left-wing fund raiser that gives only to Democrats.

Indeed, a recent book, "The New Leviathan," says donations to Democrats outstrip those to Republicans 7-to-1. How can this be? Democrat support soars when you include unions, universities, superPACs, nonprofits, left-wing interest groups, and — ready for this? — Wall Street (which overwhelmingly favors Democrats).

So Democrats don't really want to restrain money in politics. Just the money that goes to Republicans.

From Bill Gates to Warren Buffett to Wall Street bankers to Silicon Valley tech oligarchs... the big money in this country is more and more concentrated in the hands of Democrats. At least, they've been getting their money's worth.