George Soros
Controversial hedge fund
executive and philanthropist, George Soros has donated over $8 million directly
and indirectly to boost Hillary Clinton’s campaign including one single check
for $6 million to super PAC Priorities USA Action. Soros has made multiple $1
million donations to other Clinton-backing super PAC groups, but the amount of
money Soros has donated is not necessarily what sets him apart from other
donors.
In 2004, George Soros
was not hesitant to spend big money on ousting then President George Bush.
After spending over $20 million and failing to get Bush out of office, Soros
dialed back on his political spending. In 2012 he gave only $1 million to
Priorities USA which was dedicated to Obama’s reelection at the time. According
to Clinton ally’s Soros has admitted to regretting his decision not to back
Hillary at the time and later wrote in an email that he was appreciative of the
chance to discuss policy.
Priorities USA is
essentially a super PAC dedicated to airing ads attacking Clinton’s opponents.
Last year it had earned over $15 million in the first half of the year to
support Clinton and her campaign. Soros also contributed to American Bridge
21st Century which is an opposition super PAC founded by Clinton supporter and
long-time Soros associate David Brock. An adviser to Soros has also stated that
he has donated a hefty sum to America Votes which is a liberal non-profit group
that mobilizes voters around issue and election campaigns.
Soros has been alarmed
by Trump’s successful campaign and is all but pouring money into the 2016 year
to help Hillary Clinton and other democrats. A spokesperson for Soros has said
that there is no single reason for the increase in spending, but George Soros
has been very vocal regarding his views on the Republican candidates for the
upcoming presidential election.
James Simons
James Simons, founder of
Renaissance Technologies is a major contributor to Democratic super PACs.
Renaissance Technologies has donated over $2 million to the campaign and
Euclidean Capital, also owned by Simons, has given over $7 million.
James Simons was one of
the top two hedge fund managers in 2015 and many other top dollar makers have
joined the mathematician in supporting Hillary Clinton. James Simons has been
labeled the smartest billionaire in the world but unlike his billionaire
comrades, he never was one to switch alliances.
A number of deep
pocketed elites have been giving up the donations because Hillary Clinton
has been deemed the only candidate of either party that is establishment
friendly. In response, the Clinton campaign has formed a group dubbed
“Republicans for Clinton” to reach wealthy GOP donors.
Simons has always been a
large donor to Priorities USA Action. He contributed $5 million to the super
PAC when the focus was on President Obama. He has also donated $3 million to
Majority PAC and $1.5 million to House Majority PAC, both pro-Democratic super
PACs. While you will not hear Simons go on about his support of a particular
candidate, he has said that he is not “seeking any publicity” in the matter and
“the donations can speak for themselves.”
James Simons is not
without controversy. The billionaire has been criticized and accused of a
number of transgressions, including tax evasion. In 2009 and in 2014,
Simons was questioned by investors on the dramatic performance gap of his funds
and was condemned by both parties by the US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on
Investigations for the use of complex barriers to shield day to day trading.
Cheryl Saban
Breitbart reported that
$6.4 million has been contributed to Hillary Clinton by the entertainment mogul
and his wife. Cheryl Saban is a woman’s advocate and author while Haim Saban is
the CEO of Saban Capital Group. The money has been donated to Clinton’s
official campaign, the pro-Clinton super PAC Priorities USA, and smaller
Democrat Party committees. “It’s important to me for the industry to know what
I’m doing for Hillary, how committed I am,” he told reporters. “I want my
number to be out there so others will be inspired to do the same.”
Haim and Cheryl Saban
have donated the maximum amount allowed to a number of smaller Democratic
organizations. The $6.4 million does not include a private fundraiser the
couple held at their Beverly Hills mansion. The $2,700 per plate
evening was reportedly attended by over 700 individuals and brought in $1.9 for
Clinton’s campaign.
Haim has no problem
throwing his weight and money around in support for Hillary. He has donated
millions directly to her campaign and to the Democratic Party in general. Mr.
Saban is well ahead of his media mogul comrades. Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey
Katzenberg have each given $1 million to Priorities and directory JJ Abrams and
his wife gave $500,000 each. Smaller contributions have been made by the likes
of Jane Fonda while George Clooney has hosted fundraisers at his home.
The Saban couple has a
long history of contributing to Hillary Clinton. While Clinton was serving as
Secretary of State from 2009 to 2013, the Saban Family Foundation paid the
Clinton Foundation more than $7 million and listed over $30 million in “grants
and contributions approved for future payment.” Since 2009, the Clintons have
both given speeches at Saban Family Foundation forums and Hillary has delivered
a major policy address on Israel at one such forum. In 2013, Cheryl Saban
joined the Clinton Foundation’s Board.
Women’s advocate and
philanthropist Barbara Lee has donated over $1.1 million. Barbara Lee of
Cambridge is one of two female mega-donors that do not lean right. Lee is also
part of the Hillblazers group of 159 key supporters. The group is dedicated to
raise $100,000 or more from their friends and business colleagues to support
Clinton.
Barbara Lee
Barbara Lee is
considered one of the country’s biggest experts on women and politics. Since
1998 the Barabara Lee Family Foundation and political office has helped elect
over 130 women in 30 states. She also co-founded The White House Project which
ran ads in women’s magazines promoting potential female presidential
candidates. The ads included Elizabeth Dole and Hillary Clinton.
For over 15 years, Lee’s
foundation has done extensive research into bettering women’s capabilities to
be elected into political office. It also conducted a pioneering study to
help women identify the personal traits and actions that help candidates bounce
back from a loss.
Lee is also a
fundraising powerhouse. In 2015, she was listed as the third most generous
female donor with contributions to groups like Priorities USA Action, Clinton’s
main super PAC, and Ready for Hillary, a super PAC that was designed to help
Clinton’s candidacy. Lee has also donated to other liberal super PACs dedicated
to helping Clinton like the American Bridge 21st Century and Correct the
Record. “I’m a big fan of Hillary,” Lee said. “I have known her both personally
and professionally for a long time and I think she would make an amazing
president.”
Barbara Lee has even
gone so far as to host multiple fundraisers at her summer home on Martha’s
Vineyard. The 2008 fundraising extravaganza was what some say helped Clinton
defeat Obama in the Massachusetts primary. Lee has many other fundraising
efforts geared towards women in politics including Women’s Senate. The
connections are expected to benefit Clinton greatly.
JB Pritzker
Billionaire Clinton
backer J.B. Pritzker has said that he will do whatever he can to stop Donald
Trump from winning the presidential election. Pritzker is an heir to the Hyatt
hotel fortune and is also a private investor. J.B. and his wife Mary Kathryn –
or M.K. – are among the top Clinton donors contributing almost $3 million to
Priorities USA, a political action committee (super PAC) that supports Clinton
and can legally take unlimited donations.
In January, they started
their contributions by donating $1 million each and admitted they will continue
to donate more if needed. It was unclear how far the billionaire was willing to
go, but he did state that this election was the most important election of his
life. The Pritzker family is a wealthy and politically active family. The
family is said to be worth upwards of $30 billion. While J.B. Pritzker has not
come out to say how much the rest of his family has contributed to the
campaigns, he has said that his family is more or less split in half between
Republicans and Democrats. Incidentally, his older sister is billionaire
Democrat and Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker.
A majority of Clinton’s
billionaire supporters have had a history with Trump and the Pritzker family is
no different. The two names partnered back in the 70s for an acquisition of the
Commodore Hotel in NY and turned it into a Hyatt. It was the first large deal
Trump had to his name and really one of the first stepping stone for Trump, but
the relationship reportedly soured and things quickly went awry.
J.B. Pritzker was also
the national co-chairman of the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign of 2008
and has even opened up his private residence for Clinton fundraising. Pritzker
is among the select group of Chicago-area supporters known as bundlers. They
gather up smaller contributions into one lump sum.
http://conservativeamerica-online.com/george-soros/
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