The Mouse Backs Hillary

[50sjayne]

Disney puts money on Dems, Clinton
By Gina Keating
Reuters
Link to Source
2/28/2008


Democrats - and especially Hillary Clinton - look like winners this year to the Walt Disney Co.
The House of Mouse has given 64 percent of its total political contributions so far in the 2008 election cycle to Dems and has showered Clinton with more Mickeybucks than any other presidential contender this year, according to data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics.

Disney has shelled out more than $424,585 in political donations during the current election cycle, putting its election spending on track with its 2004 total, the data showed, and maintaining the favoritism it has shown for Democrats since at least 1990.

While Democrats have long controlled the California statehouse, Disney operates its home resort, its profit powerhouse, Walt Disney World resort, in GOP-controlled Florida.

It isn't saving the money it's not spending on Republicans either. The data showed the company's lobbying budget has more than doubled to $4.5 million over the past decade.

In the media world, however, Disney's aggregate campaign spending was dwarfed by that of Time Warner Inc, which has laid out more than $1 million so far this year mainly to Democrats. If its contributions to the presidential candidates are any indication, the media conglomerate sees Barack Obama as the next Commander-in-Chief — but only by a slim margin.


Don't mean to step on any toes--just found this and thought it interesting.

 

[nunzia]

I'm wondering what Disney needs so many lobbyists for...

 

[jemilah]

I think as a business owner you should stay out of politics, I like everyones money and choose to offend no one, I am surprised they did that so publicly. I don't care about any one's views , I am just there for fun!

 

[Jenn1116]

I'm wondering what Disney needs so many lobbyists for...

The same things any huge Corp needs lobbyists for. They can lobby for laws and deals that increase their profit margin, and against those that don't. Gotta have a politician in your pocket when you're as big as Disney.

I'm not saying I agree. Just the way things are. Unfortunately, I'm not a Clinton supporter so this news is a little disappointing.

 

[jemilah]

See no matter who they back they will dissapoint someone! So why do it so publicly

 

[KerTggr]

See no matter who they back they will dissapoint someone! So why do it so publicly

Fully agree with keeping it private and here just for fun. I think unions and corporations cannot remain annoymous per some of the campaign funding. So while Disney may have not gone public with it, any reporter could find out.

 

[stacymomof2]

I think as a business owner you should stay out of politics, I like everyones money and choose to offend no one, I am surprised they did that so publicly. I don't care about any one's views , I am just there for fun!

I agree 100%

(politics...ugh, one reason being an adult isn't fun....but at least we get to go to DL whenever we want!!! )

 

[DoomBugger]

How do you think WDC was able to alter the public domain laws when the mouse was turning 75 a few years ago and would have gone into the public domain. Miraculously the law was extended to I believe 92 years so the WDC would have a couple more decades of mouse control.

It is funny that all these Democrats get support from the mouse these days as Walt would have never been in bed with all that liberal sillyness.

 

[scooter15]

Big businesses are going to support candidates who will further their agenda. It has nothing to do with who they feel is right for the people or for the good of the nation...it boils down to which one will pass policies that will increase their profit margin.

Frankly I do not care who supports what candidate because it won't sway who I will finally support. 5 years working in politics was enough for me and I had just about enough. Disney to me is about the make believe...when I walk through that turnstile, I want to forget about the outside world.

 

[GregC]

funny Doombugger mentioned that, in fact Walt was a Free Mason himself..in terms of present times he would 99% most likely be a republican. No matter what he was, he was the coolest creator of all time and I don't knock him for any silly secret societal or political beliefs in the least!

 

[GBShorts]

I guess I don't get why companies throw money in the hat in the first place, but then again I'm a bit ignorant.

Couldn't there be things they could put that money into at the parks instead or work toward keeping the Disney Stores they just bought back open instead of closing some of them?

All I can say is that it definitely isn't working to sway my vote.

 

[jernysgirl]

funny Doombugger mentioned that, in fact Walt was a Free Mason himself..

Was Walt really a free mason? That is so interesting... I had never heard that before, but I haven't really read a lot of info about him personally. Kind of ironic that Disney makes the National Treasure movies about the Free Masons then...

 

[dbanzai]

Walt certainly was anti-union, after seeing so many of his early employees get swept up by a big studio.

Freedom of speech stuff seems to weigh more on the Democratic side, so I would think the company would like that aspect.

I don't think big businesses can keep donations like this private. They have to announce somewhere where their money is going. Whether they wanted it publicly known or researched, I would guess not, but it's still a matter of public disclosure.

 

[50sjayne]

Sorry, didn't mean to do a drive by posting. I remember last time we went to Disneyland we met the President of Disneyland- don't remember his name but he was having lunch with some kind of local government officials at the restaurant with the country show- they had it only open for them at the time. A cm was talking to my husband about POTC ride which is my husbands favorite and they were redoing it at that time-- this was back in 99 I believe and the cm introduced us to the prez. They talked about the ride ;-) Anyway I got the impression how important city and county officials were as they were pre- California Advenures at that point. I know I'm rambling-- don't remember much, I think they might have actually been meeting with the gov. of California- it was a big deal-- big entourage. Anyways, I guess I'm always suprised at how people don't understand how closely related their lives are to our govt. and the decisions being made. It's our lives and we are a part of it. I'm very happy that for the first time ever-- here in Oregon, I am actually a part of it, and matter in choosing our president. It's always been decided before it got to our state. Was just doing a gas calculation for our trip and at $3.84 a gallon- will cost us $450- rough estimation. Scary what it will be at in 10 months when it is time for our trip.

 

[scooter15]

I think most people don't understand how much political pull DL has had in the past, certainly in the present and most definitely in the future. Walt played an integral part in getting I5 built towards Orange County. He also had ties to the Irvine family (Irvine Co.) as I remember someone telling me that he named one of the ferries at WDW after an Irvine family member. That also played an integral part in getting funding for I5 towards OC.

Also Walt Disney was a fierce supporter of Joe McCarthy...remember McCarthyism/Red Scare. Anyway I dont' think that the Freedom of Speech side has to do anything with why the Walt Disney Co. is supposedly supporting Hillary. It comes down to business/political policies. President Bush had the oil companies and apparently Hillary is schmoozing the entertainment industry. All about getting the votes to get the nomination and in return, create favorable business policies. That's the ugly truth about politics whether anyone wants to believe it or not. I spent 5 yrs in county govt' working with state/feds and private industry.

Also, the state politicians and local ones as well work side by side with The Disney Co. Entertainment is by far the largest employer in Los Angeles/OC County. I also believe that Disney is the largest employer (if not one of the largest) in Orange County and of course our local political figures are seen often as a way to work with growing the economy.

 

[50sjayne]

Whew-- my panic attack is now over- I did another gas estimate and realized that the figure I had was for round trip--LOL. I did my calculations on $4 gallon gas and that our car gets 30 mpg freeway (low estimate) and I think as long as we go the speed limit and have her on cruise control, only stopping for gas and driving at night we should be cool ;-) I was looking into train travel as it is more green but we wouldn't have all of our stuff we want to take and it would take 27 hours one way if I remember right. It would be great if there was a good promotion price out there though. Woo hoo, now I can seriously think about adding another room if Hojo's comes out with more dates, or add a priceline room for cheap, so our son can have his own room- he'll be 18 then and he was very interested in that prospect lol. And I wouldn't care if we ended up farther from the park or there was expensive parking as we could park at hojo's and be able to crash each others rooms as needed lol.