In an interview with Forbes magazine, Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson offered a bit of moneyed bombast: He might give up to $100 million to help Newt Gingrich’s presidential campaign.
Adelson and his wife Miriam have already pumped $11 million, and are expected to dump another $10 million, into the pro-Gingrich political action committee, Winning Our Future, which has been running some of the most scathing attack ads of this campaign cycle against Mitt Romney.
Romney has since lost considerable ground to Rick Santorum, while Gingrich lags nationally in third place, only barely besting Ron Paul. (That’s in terms of both polls and delegates won.)
The Forbes article points out that Gingrich’s $11 million is a drop in the bucket to Las Vegas’ richest man:
“With a net worth of roughly $25 billion, that $11 million, which jolted Gingrich’s flatlining presidential bid back to life, equates to 0.044% of his fortune,” author Steven Bertoni writes. “For someone with a $1 million net worth, the equivalent would be $440, or a two-night stay at Adelson’s Venetian casino. Adelson could personally fund an entire presidential campaign — say, $1 billion or so — and not even notice.”
In a bit of blithe irony, Adelson goes on to disparage the idea of “very wealthy people attempting to or influencing elections,” then rationalizing: “But as long as it’s doable I’m going to do it.”
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"In an interview with Forbes magazine, Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson offered a bit of moneyed bombast: He might give up to $100 million to help Newt Gingrich's presidential campaign."
As with anything having to do with government now, it always comes down to getting the money. In this matter it seems who wins the Republican nomination will be the one with the most money. The only thing worse is that's who the voters put into office.
"The two symbols of the Republican Party: an elephant, and a big fat white guy who is threatened by change." -- Seth MacFarlane, The Family Guy
Fib Newton can't be elected to the white House, he needs some wealthy 1%er to buy it for him. Thats not democracy,...thats a purchase,...and it pretty much makes Gingrich a hoe.
absolutely no consciences, anti-American, and just plain wrong on so many levels...
$100 million could go a long way in Las Vegas to help real people with real problems, let alone $1 billion!
Newt ought to change his slogan from:
"Winning Our Future"
to:
"Buying My Future"
First a cool five million by Mr. Adelson to help Mr. Gingrich.
Then, MISSES Adelson donates another five million to help Mr. Gingrich.
Now, there's talk of ten million.
No.
Wait.
I see your five, raise your ten, aw, the hell with it, let's go one hundred million.
YEEE HAAAAHHHHH!
I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Adelson.
Please spend that money on your favorite Republican Party candidate.
Please have your say in this even more than any voter could ever do. Fox News is not allowed to pick. Only the billionaires have a say. Everyone else is inconsequential.
This Presidential candidate race for the Republican Party is now officially down on the books as the 2012 Battle of the Billionaires.
I got a candidate that can whoop yer candidate's... What? You just gave him one million? Okay. I'm gonna give mine ten. WHAT!??! You raise me another twenty??!?! To hell with it, here's one hundred million.
The Citizens United ruling has finally sprouted.
I think what is interesting about it is that the Republican Party has done its damndest to protect the billionaires and millionaires, all at the expense of the average hard working middle class people.
But now, we are seeing a point in time where money is hijacking the Republican Party. They actually have candidates that could scream endlessly "FRESH FISH FOR SALE!" and have no clearcut message, but hell, they got money.
Money has taken place of the message in the Republican Party.
We are actually watching the Republican Party falling apart before our very eyes. It's no longer the message anymore. It's my billionaire against yours. Then you add to the mix the Tea Party infection where each candidate is eternally trying to get to the right of each other. So much so that now not one of them appeals to anyone.
The Republican Party is now dead. Money has turned them inside out. The brand of conservatism they have always known to stand for is gone, baby, gone. Replaced by who knows what.
This U.S. Supreme Court has just effectively destroyed a political party and turned it insignificant. For at least a few generations or so.
America for sale to the highest bidder!
I think I will change my mind about Bill Gates.
USA TODAY: "WASHINGTON -- Five wealthy people, led by Dallas industrialist Harold Simmons and Las Vegas casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, have donated nearly $1 of every $4 flowing to the super PACs raising unlimited money in this year's presidential race, a USA TODAY analysis shows."
Without the super wealthy, the GOP Presidential campaign would be a whisper.
Wealth does not need a Democracy - it costs them too much money. If they rule, they write the Tax Laws and pay little or nothing. That is the objective - pay nothing, fill the Armies with jobless children, and ask for Forgiveness on Sunday Morning.