Money in Politics 1989- 2012: Wal-Mart , Koch Brothers, and Exxon-Mobil Fail to Break Top 70

Open Secrets has the all time donor numbers from 1989- 2012. Time and time again we hear from university intellectuals , the old legacy media , and other sorts of socialists that money is corrupting American politics. We generally hear that Wal-Mart buys politicians and is evil for providing consumers low prices. We hear the Koch brothers control everything from the tea party movement to the Republican party. We hear that Exxon-Mobil hurts the environment, controls politicians, and oil is bad for the economy. Are Wal-Mart, the Koch brothers, and Exxon-Mobil at the top of the influence peddling list? Far from it. Wal-Mart is number 88. Koch Industries is number 76 and Exxon-Mobil is number 73. So, who's in the top 20? AFSCME at number 3. SEIU at number 5. AFT at number 10. Laborers Union at number 11. Teamsters Union at 12. Carpenters & Joiners Union at number 13. Communications Workers of America at number 14. United Food & Commercial Workers Union at 15. United Auto Workers at number 18. Just a reminder, the next time you hear the left talk about getting money out of politics. These unions wouldn't be making these campaign contribution-bribes unless there was a payout. Which is another way of saying when teachers unions make a campaign contribution to a politician: it's not for the children.