# Contributions to Politicians' Funds

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contributions-to-politicians-funds/751454>\
**Category:** Politics & Elections\
**Created:** [April 7, 2016, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contributions-to-politicians-funds/751454 "2016-04-07T15:55:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contributions-to-politicians-funds/751454/41 "2016-04-13T13:31:13Z")

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> [@camille](#):
>
> Defense is a unionized industry, is it not? That might explain most of his contributions. From your cite:
> 
> Two-thirds of Sanders’ total and 95 percent of his individual contributions from employees of defense contractors came in amounts of $250 or less

Good point. I am so sick of sources that lump donors together based on employer and call them an industry. Donations from individuals are NOT donations from the industry they happen to work for!

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**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contributions-to-politicians-funds/751454/42 "2016-04-13T13:41:10Z")

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> [@camille](#):
>
> Defense is a unionized industry, is it not? That might explain most of his contributions. From your cite:
> 
> Two-thirds of Sanders’ total and 95 percent of his individual contributions from employees of defense contractors came in amounts of $250 or less

But the defense industry and the various aerospace and machinists unions have one big issue in common: neither want cuts to the defense budget.

[Cite,](http://www.politico.com/story/2012/05/labor-industry-unite-against-cuts-076121) [cite,](http://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/hearings/Herrnstadt%20Testimony_0.pdf) [cite.](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/27/AR2009042703326.html)

To the extent that aerospace workers support Sanders, its probably for reasons other than his plans to cut defense budgets.

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**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contributions-to-politicians-funds/751454/43 "2016-04-13T14:01:35Z")

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> [@Ravenman](#):
>
> To the extent that aerospace workers support Sanders, its probably for reasons other than his plans to cut defense budgets.

Yes, hence her mention of their union status.

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