# Find out which companies supported which political party **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 15, 2004, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-out-which-companies-supported-which-political-party/279960 "2004-12-15T13:29:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-out-which-companies-supported-which-political-party/279960/1 "2004-12-15T13:29:04Z")
I didn’t put this in BBQ Pit, since this works both ways, whether you’re a Democrat or Republican…find out which companies supported your party! [Link!](http://www.choosetheblue.com/main.php) ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-out-which-companies-supported-which-political-party/279960/2 "2004-12-15T14:07:41Z")
Wow, that was interesting. I see that Apple Computer donated 81% (I think) to the Democrats, while Microsoft donated 60% to Democrats. Actually, I’m surprised that Apple donated _anything_ to the Republicans. I hadn’t given much thought to which party Microsoft would donate to most; but I guess I am surprised. (I’ll have to alert my staunchly Conservative, Windows-exclusive friend about Microsoft, though. He’ll be disappointed. ;)) ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-out-which-companies-supported-which-political-party/279960/3 "2004-12-15T14:26:29Z")
It sounds so tiresome to try and decide what to buy based on stuff like this. To be honest, I’m going for whatever product gives the best value, even if the company that makes it gave money to Satan himself. ---
**Author:** ![AmericanMaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@AmericanMaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AmericanMaid)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-out-which-companies-supported-which-political-party/279960/4 "2004-12-15T14:28:21Z")
Ivylass, that is an EXCELLENT website! Hopefully, I can shop blue for the next four years. Check out all the red under automotive and gasoline. Kinda makes one think about our current energy policies, huh? ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-out-which-companies-supported-which-political-party/279960/5 "2004-12-15T14:44:17Z")
Why would anyone donate to BOTH parties? I don’t understand. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-out-which-companies-supported-which-political-party/279960/6 "2004-12-15T14:55:10Z")
> [@LaurAnge](#): > > Why would anyone donate to BOTH parties? I don’t understand. I wondered the same thing, then somebody pointed out to me that then the company has influence no matter who wins. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-out-which-companies-supported-which-political-party/279960/7 "2004-12-15T14:55:20Z")
> [@LaurAnge](#): > > Why would anyone donate to BOTH parties? I don’t understand. Because they want the ear of whomever is in office. I didn’t look at how the figures were derived, but how is “giving to a party” defined? Could it be that the numbers reflect localized donations more than national level donations? I could see how a store that generally supports the Dems but has most of its stores in GOP-leaning areas would donate to GOP, and vice-versa. ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-out-which-companies-supported-which-political-party/279960/8 "2004-12-15T15:04:11Z")
A word of caution, since I know we’re all concerned about being factual and accurate. I was curious about how they obtained their information, so I clicked on the “Source Info” for Proctor & Gamble and it said: > [@](#): > > Donation Information for Procter & Gamble > was obtained from Open Secrets on 2004-12-12 So I went to [www.opensecrets.org](http://www.opensecrets.org) and found the following: > [@](#): > > A message from the Center for Responsive Politics about the “Shopping Your Politics” email circulating through the Internet: > > In recent days we have been made aware of an email and related Web sites that advise recipients to shop with certain companies based on which political party those companies support with their campaign contributions. The email cites the Center for Responsive Politics and our Web site, [OpenSecrets.org](http://OpenSecrets.org), for the campaign contribution figures. > > Please note that the Center did not author the email and has no relationship to its author. > > The Center is a non-partisan research organization that does not endorse or promote any political party or candidate in any context. Nor do we take any position on the views or activities advocated in the email. > > Also note that the campaign contribution figures in the email are inaccurate and and do not reflect current information from our Web site. > > We invite those wanting correct figures or further information to visit [OpenSecrets.org](http://OpenSecrets.org). Our Industry Profiles list total contributions to federal candidates and party committees by industry and sector. The profiles also display the top contributors within each industry and sector. Contributions are from employees and political action committees of the organizations listed. Corporations and labor unions cannot contribute directly to candidates, and since the end of 2002, they have not been able to contribute directly to political parties. ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-out-which-companies-supported-which-political-party/279960/9 "2004-12-15T15:09:09Z")
(not to pick on your post, **Ivylass** ; looks like [www.opensecrets.org](http://www.opensecrets.org) is a really worthwhile site that accomplishes basically the same thing - I had no idea that information was out there) ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-out-which-companies-supported-which-political-party/279960/10 "2004-12-15T15:09:38Z")
> [@An Arky](#): > > Because they want the ear of whomever is in office. > > I didn’t look at how the figures were derived, but how is “giving to a party” defined? Could it be that the numbers reflect localized donations more than national level donations? I could see how a store that generally supports the Dems but has most of its stores in GOP-leaning areas would donate to GOP, and vice-versa. As it happens, companies can’t give anything at all to any candidate. This reflects contributions of all employees of a company who report their affiliations when they contribute (everyone’s required to for contributions over $200). So if the senior management of Amalgamated Widget all hate politics but the guys in the mailroom all chipped in for that one guy’s brother who is running for Congress as a Republican, the company will show up as “Republican” on that website. Also, from their [FAQ](http://www.choosetheblue.com/notes.html?backlevel=001..001Choose%20The%20Blue): > [@](#): > > In compiling the information, we have become aware that there are certain weaknesses in the data and analysis, including a lack of data concerning state and local political contributions, as well as certain soft-money contributions, likely mistakes in some of the reported data, incompleteness in certain data, judgments made about the connection of particular dollars to particular political parties, etc. However, we believe that the information can be very helpful in categorizing companies at a general level. Ummm, yeah. Good luck with that. For whatever it’s worth, you can go directly to the sources, [fec.gov](http://fec.gov) and [opensecrets.org](http://opensecrets.org) and look this stuff up for yourself. The data will identify which individuals with the companies gave to whom, so you can determine for your ownself whether the donations correctly reflect the company. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-out-which-companies-supported-which-political-party/279960/11 "2004-12-15T15:23:43Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > It sounds so tiresome to try and decide what to buy based on stuff like this. To be honest, I’m going for whatever product gives the best value, even if the company that makes it gave money to Satan himself. Oh, I agree…it’s just fun to have your assumptions about companies challenged. For instance, after the Clinton’s admin’s attempt to charge Microsoft with anti-trust abuses, I’m surprised they’re as Democrat-leaning as they are. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-out-which-companies-supported-which-political-party/279960/12 "2004-12-15T18:11:34Z")
> [@manhattan](#): > > As it happens, companies can’t give anything at all to any candidate. This reflects contributions of all employees of a company who report their affiliations when they contribute (everyone’s required to for contributions over $200). So if the senior management of Amalgamated Widget all hate politics but the guys in the mailroom all chipped in for that one guy’s brother who is running for Congress as a Republican, the company will show up as “Republican” on that website. Not entirely. A company can also support PACs that in turn support candidates, and one would expect a company to be affiliated with PACs that reflect its legislative aims. Other than this, though, you’re right on target. For instance, consider the tobacco industry. [This opensecrets.org page](http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.asp?Ind=A02) shows the overall industry contributions broken down by year, nature of contribution (individual, PAC, and soft money; no soft money after 2002, though, on account of McCain-Feingold), and the party it went to. Then we can go to [this page](http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/contrib.asp?Ind=A02&Cycle=2004) which shows you the breakdown by company, with Dem/GOP and PAC/individual breakdowns for each company. And there we find out, for instance, that Reynolds and/or its employeees gave $905K this past cycle, 91% of it to Republicans, and 87% of it through PACs. OTOH, Vector Group, whose $122K in contributions came entirely from individuals, tilted 71% Dem in its giving. BTW, if they explain how they apportion a PAC’s contributions amongst its member companies, I don’t see it. Nor do they give us a combined Dem/Rep, individual/PAC breakdown, so we’d know what % of a company’s PAC contributions went to which party. Neither of these are trivial points. But this is still a lot better than no info at all, and can give us a much better idea who the actual _companies_ supported than the raw totals at ChooseTheBlue do. (In many situations, we still won’t know for sure, though.) So like **manny** said, we need to do a bit more digging beyond ChooseTheBlue’s listings to get at the truth. And employees’ political contributions don’t necessarily reflect the views of management.