The Structure of Social Stratification in the United States, The, CourseSmart eTextbook by Leonard Beeghley

Author:Leonard Beeghley [Beeghley, Leonard]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Social Science, Sociology, General
ISBN: 9781317343790
Google: 49qoCgAAQBAJ
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2015-10-05T02:49:08+00:00

Challengers lose because incumbents are supported with money—lots of it. For example, Table 6.4 depicts the sources of campaign contributions during the 2004 congressional elections. The business contributions of more than $1.2 billion come from every industry imaginable: finance, agriculture, communications, utilities, defense, medical treatment, law, lobbyists, transportation, and many others. Labor contributions of $61 million come from some of the same industries, at least where unions exist. Ideological contributions come from special interest groups, both liberal and conservative, such as abortion groups (both sides), human rights groups, organizations interested in reducing or enhancing gun availability, and the like. The data reveal that business contributors overwhelm all other categories. The table shows that at least 71 percent of all contributions to Congressional campaigns come from business interests ($1.2 out of $1.7 billion).

"At least" is used above because candidates have other sources of money as well. Political Action Committees (PACs) are special interest groups organized to elect or defeat candidates for public office as well as to support or oppose legislation. They are nearly always funded by wealthy contributors. Under Federal Election Commission rules they can contribute up to $5,000 per candidate per election (e.g., a primary and general election). This may not seem like much, but the money adds up rather quickly. For example, seventy PACs dealt with “agricultural services and products” in the 2004 election cycle. Among them are such organizations as the Alabama Veterinary Medical Association, the Archer Daniels Midland Company, and the Fertilizer Institute. Taken together, these seventy PACs raised $3.2 million dollars, giving 70 percent of it to Republicans and 30 percent to Democrats.70 A similar pattern occurred in every industry imaginable. In addition, PACs can spend unlimited amounts of money supporting legislation or issues of interest to them. The line between issue support and candidate support often becomes blurred. An additional source of funding comes from 527 Groups, which are tax-exempt groups (named after a provision of the tax code) created to engage in issue advocacy. Again, they are nearly always funded by wealthy contributors. These groups are not regulated by the Federal Election Commission and, hence, can spend unlimited amounts of money. And they spend big money. The top twenty 527 groups spent about $441 million in 2004 on presidential and congressional campaigns.71 Two of the most well-known at that time were MoveOn.org (which supported mostly Democrats) and Swift Boat Veterans for Truth (which supported mosdy Republicans). And, again, the line between issue support and candidate support often becomes blurred.

TABLE 6.4 Campaign Contributions, Congressional Elections, 2004 SECTOR AMOUNT OF

CONTRIBUTION PERCENT TO

DEMOCRATS PERCENT TO

REPUBLICANS

Business $1,223,400,000 36% 64%

Ideological/Single Issue 180,700,000 62% 38%

Labor 61,500,000 87% 13%

Other/Unknown 264,100,000 53% 46%

Total: $1,729,000,000

Source: Open Secrets (2006).

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