Megadonor Funds GOP Primary Challenge to Illinois Governor

[Anonymous]

Another megadonor trying to buy our elections to support his ideology.
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/19/republican-megadonor-uihlein-470268

Democrats and many Republicans in Illinois were horrified by the ad: a 60-second spot released by Gov. Bruce Rauner’s GOP primary challenger, Jeanne Ives, featuring a parade of politically incorrect takes on thorny cultural issues. A deep-voiced man portraying a transgender woman tells Rauner, “Thank you for signing legislation that lets me use the girls bathroom.” Then a young woman thanks Rauner for “making all Illinois families pay for my abortions.”

But equally shocking to the content was the person who had made the ad possible: Richard Uihlein, a little-known Republican donor who had until recently been one of Rauner’s biggest supporters. After a fallout with the governor over abortion policy, Uihlein gave $2.5 million to Ives in a single week this past January — essentially bankrolling her campaign to defeat Rauner in a Republican primary on Tuesday.

Uihlein's funds have similarly given heft to other candidacies across the country, especially in Senate races that could prove crucial to Republicans seeking to keep their majority in the chamber. Uihlein has spent six-figure sums in at least seven Senate races thus far, including a super PAC supporting state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey over Rep. Evan Jenkins in West Virginia, and McDaniel, who is running in a special election in Mississippi for a soon-to-be-vacant Senate seat this fall.

Uihlein was also one of few donors to give money to a pro-Moore super PAC in last year’s special Senate election in Alabama — after Moore was accused of having solicited women as young as 14.

[Anonymous]

It’s almost like we need, I don’t know, campaign finance reform or something.

[Anonymous]

I am wondering why there are no mega donor bankrolling Democrats? What's up with liberal millionaires and billionaires not investing in buying seats based on their political views.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s almost like we need, I don’t know, campaign finance reform or something.

Sigh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am wondering why there are no mega donor bankrolling Democrats? What's up with liberal millionaires and billionaires not investing in buying seats based on their political views.

Maybe because they don't agree with an ideology that has politicians function as the paid-for lap dogs of rich donors? Maybe they actually believe in democracy?

Crazy idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am wondering why there are no mega donor bankrolling Democrats? What's up with liberal millionaires and billionaires not investing in buying seats based on their political views.

Maybe because they don't agree with an ideology that has politicians function as the paid-for lap dogs of rich donors? Maybe they actually believe in democracy?

Crazy idea.

I understand, but what is ideology getting us? Why are liberal more worried about ideological purity? Why can't we learn the basic concept from conservatives that ideological purity does not yield you power and without long term power you cannot change the direction of the country.