Comcast Employees Top Donors to Obama Campaign Accounts
EmailABC News' Devin Dwyer (@devindwyer) reports:
Employees of media giant Comcast have contributed more money to President Obama’s reelection bid than employees from any other organization, according to a new analysis of Federal Election Commission data by the Center for Responsive Politics.
Comcast employees contributed nearly $80,000 directly to Obama for America and roughly $200,000 to the Obama Victory Fund, a joint account benefitting both the Obama campaign and Democratic National Committee, through the first half of 2011 records show.
Comcast, the nation’s largest video and internet services provider, is the parent company of NBCUniversal, which owns broadcast networks NBC and Telemundo among other assets.
President Obama has recently spent time with top Comcast executives, attending an intimate fundraiser at the home of Comcast executive vice president David Cohen in Philadelphia in June and a private “social reception” at the Martha’s Vineyard estate of Comcast CEO Brian Roberts earlier this week.
Roberts, who serves on the President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, has not yet personally contributed to Obama’s campaign, according to FEC records.
Cohen, however, is a top Obama fundraiser, contributing the legal maximum to both the campaign and the DNC, and bundling more than $500,000 in contributions for the 2012 cycle from his friends and associates.
Michael Beckel with the Center for Responsive Politics said Comcast employees have also given to some Republican presidential candidates but in much smaller aggregate amounts. Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty each collected $5,000 from Comcast employees. Records did not indicate any contributions with Comcast ties to Michele Bachmann or Ron Paul, he said.
The Obama campaign reported raising $47 million through June. The Obama Victory Fund collected $39 million in the same period.
Best Commencement Speeches of 2012 
Joe Biden Recalls Death of Wife, Daughter
Everyone I know that has or “had” Comcast hated the non-customer service.
Posted by: LongT | August 25, 2011, 4:06 pm 4:06 pm
Fears Grow That August Will Show Net Loss in Jobs Picture
At a time when the economy should be creating employment at a fairly steady pace, the US actually may have lost jobs in August.
Posted by: America in Decline | August 25, 2011, 4:13 pm 4:13 pm
Comcast…big corporation. CEOs, etc. I thought only the GOP slept with big business. NOT!!
Posted by: OfCourse | August 25, 2011, 4:17 pm 4:17 pm
I am not happy to hear that Comcast is such a huge contributor to the Obama campaign..Will be checking into other tv and internet options.
Posted by: jean | August 25, 2011, 4:30 pm 4:30 pm
That is why I switched to UVERSE. Less money for Obama
Posted by: Allie | August 25, 2011, 4:31 pm 4:31 pm
Somehow this is just reported as ordinary news…but if it had been a Republican, it would have been reported as sinister and influence-peddling, etc.
Both parties are in the pocket of big business…it’s just big business…and a whole lot of people in this country are gullible enough to think that it’s just one side.
Posted by: memphispiano | August 25, 2011, 4:33 pm 4:33 pm
Yet another reason to hate the cable company but it certainly explains why they suck so badly. I’ll stick with DirecTV and will continue to avoid Comcast and related services like the plague.
Posted by: Erik | August 25, 2011, 4:34 pm 4:34 pm
They must paying them a very nice wage at comcast.. *wink *wink… too bad it isn’t for them to work. Had comcast up until about 6 months ago.. service sucked.. God help you if you had to call Customer Service for anything. Now, I have Verizon DSL and pay $12 bucks a month for netflicks and $9 a month for hulu, and I am saving $80 a month.
Posted by: ajax659 | August 25, 2011, 4:34 pm 4:34 pm
Good. Now that we have that cleared up could we please have a list of the top donors to the campaigns of Rick Perry, Mitt Romney, Michelle Bachmann and Ron Paul?
Thank you.
Posted by: Keith Ward | August 25, 2011, 4:40 pm 4:40 pm
“I do,” Boehner replied. “When you look at this final agreement that we came to with the white House, I got 98 percent of what I wanted. I’m pretty happy.” Straight from the horses mouth.
The House Republican leader Boehner is a hypocrite. He cried in front of the media when he was elected cause he said his dream came true. Well, his dream truly came true to get what he wants for his own career, now it really shows he is not thinking what is good for the whole country. When he talks, looking back, one can feel what a hypocrite he is, the American dream it is not for him only, but he should sacrifice so it is a dream for more people. That is a true hero. A hero that we would have teary eyes for. The idea of having teary eyes for yourself in public life, but others do not admire you for what you do for them. That is a loser…when I think back he was tearing up for himself in a public office. Loser!!!! His an’t Hero tears.
Boehner stop playing self interest politics and party to win your election for yourself, but do what is great for individual every day Americans. Now Boehner stays away from the media, but we don’t forget how the US economy got here right after the debt ceiling debacle.
Posted by: Robert | August 25, 2011, 4:52 pm 4:52 pm
There’s nothing surprising about this given the obvious love affair nbc has for the empty suited charlatan.
Having said that, thanks for letting me know to avoid comcast (and ge) and all affiliates like the plague!
Posted by: DJH | August 25, 2011, 4:54 pm 4:54 pm
I suspect the merger of NBC into Comcast has skewed the contribution. There is no doubt that NBC and its employees are Dems or even more liberal. What do the records reflect regarding political contributions by Comcast prior to the merger?
Posted by: Paddy | August 25, 2011, 4:56 pm 4:56 pm
They must be totally nuts or dumber than a skunk. No other way to say it.
Posted by: Ann | August 25, 2011, 5:27 pm 5:27 pm
What are they going to do when obama gets squashed
Posted by: DJ | August 25, 2011, 5:41 pm 5:41 pm
I wonder if half of my bill went to the dems. That can explain the expensive bill. Same package with satelitte at a third of the price.
Posted by: Adam | August 25, 2011, 5:50 pm 5:50 pm
This is why I hate Comcast so much besides their service was horrible and they always blamed other things for my TV to go down and not themselves that sound familar.
Now I even have another reason to hate them more than ever.
Posted by: Carol | August 25, 2011, 6:03 pm 6:03 pm
jean you hit the nail on the head. comcast stands to do well with the rural internet initiative. the next step is obama will argue that everyone has a right to have internet and basic cable weather they can afford it or not and the gumt will pay for it. its in the constitution.hah
Posted by: catman | August 25, 2011, 6:06 pm 6:06 pm
For those of you attacking “COMCAST” plezase look again at the article, people from COMCAST and their union members are putting their personal cash towards the candidate. Just like you can put your money where your mouth is. They are not reporting that your cable bill is going directly to either campaign.
Posted by: John | August 25, 2011, 6:12 pm 6:12 pm
Collectivist unions shoveling money to the democrat socialist Obama? Shut the front door! No farting way that would happen!
Posted by: TexBork | August 25, 2011, 7:43 pm 7:43 pm
For those of you attacking “COMCAST” plezase look again at the article, people from COMCAST and their union members are putting their personal cash towards the candidate. Just like you can put your money where your mouth is. They are not reporting that your cable bill is going directly to either campaign.
Posted by: John | Aug 25, 2011 6:12:00 PM
Sadly John, most of them come here to spew their biases, rather than read the news and possibly learn something.
Posted by: Sandy | August 25, 2011, 8:46 pm 8:46 pm
Corporations are people?
Where have we heard that?
Now are those donations mandatory from the union dues of each employee or is it that each union member donate or ?
Posted by: MikeB | August 25, 2011, 9:16 pm 9:16 pm
“Roberts, who serves on the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, has not yet personally contributed to Obama’s campaign, according to FEC records.”
Why would he; when he can get other people to cough it up.
Posted by: MikeB | August 25, 2011, 9:22 pm 9:22 pm
Just canceled my Comcast account. Appreciate the heads up ABC.
Posted by: FAA | August 25, 2011, 9:34 pm 9:34 pm
John thank you for interpreting the article to the forum. Just remember people do not read anymore….they are just mad at obama and anything ..noun, adjective, pronoun, compound word associated to Obama’s name it’s bad! This is about people who want to donate to the person who they feel can best run this country!
Posted by: pointless | August 25, 2011, 9:42 pm 9:42 pm
Glad I got rid of comcast several years ago. They kept raising the rates and taking away channels. The employees can do what they want with their money but none of it is coming from me.
Posted by: rebecca2656 | August 26, 2011, 6:19 am 6:19 am
This is about Comcast employees, not Comcast. If you make a donation to a presidential campaign you are required to disclose the name of your employer. If I make a donation, I’m required to do it, even though my employer has nothing whatsoever to do with my choice.
Posted by: Esther Williams | August 26, 2011, 6:34 am 6:34 am
Now everybody should know that you can NOT trust Any election coverage of NBC. It’s so called “reporters” will do anything and everything possible to get Obama re-elected. NBC and MSNBC, news you CAN’T Trust!
Posted by: Tom | August 26, 2011, 7:01 am 7:01 am
rebecca2656 | Aug 26, 2011 6:19:56 AM:
“Glad I got rid of comcast several years ago…The employees can do what they want with their money but none of it is coming from me.”
========================================
LOL! …… guess you better get rid of that Fox News channel too, since ABC reported about 3 months ago that World News Corp employees also donated more to Obama’s campaign than to McCain’s. … LOL!… smart business people know who’s turning the economy around…and it ain’t going to be those “NO!” Republicans.
Posted by: Georgie_Bushie | August 26, 2011, 7:04 am 7:04 am
In other words, the Madcow and Tingle Mathews are some of Obama’s biggest donors.
Posted by: krissy | August 26, 2011, 7:30 am 7:30 am
“smart business people know who’s turning the economy around…” LMAO! Like people donate because they KNOW who is turning the economy around…LMAO…..No, they donate to whoever they think they can gain the most favor with…LOL….hehehehehe.
Posted by: LongT | August 26, 2011, 7:53 am 7:53 am
Don’t forget about Ed ‘Doctored Video’ Schultz.
Posted by: kate | August 26, 2011, 8:19 am 8:19 am
Kate (8:19 AM); “Ed Schultz”. You had to go ahead and try and ruin my morning?
Posted by: LongT | August 26, 2011, 8:35 am 8:35 am
Hello knology, thanks ABC.
Posted by: billy bob | August 26, 2011, 8:48 am 8:48 am
NBC and MSNBC are jokes and no one is watching but extreme liberals. GE owns NBC so does that tell you something?
Posted by: Freedom | August 26, 2011, 9:26 am 9:26 am
That’s probably because they were told to, by their employer, or their union.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | August 26, 2011, 10:15 am 10:15 am
Not Suprising.
GE got bailed out and paid no taxes. Comcast was given the greenlight on the takeover of GE.
Brian Williams is a former Democratic activist who dropped out of college to go work for the Jimmy Carter administration
Chuck Todd is a former Democratic activist who worked for Sen. Tom Harkin. His wife is still on the DNC payroll
Chris Mathews was a top aid to both Jimmy Carter and Tip Oneal.
Al Sharpton is a race baiting, anti semite, who was hired after saying he will not criticize the president
Lawrence O’donell was a former democratic aid
Mika gets talking points sent from the Whitehouse during morning Joe
Posted by: j | August 26, 2011, 10:27 am 10:27 am
Sandy, Of course it was their personal cash. The union pressures its members to do it’s bidding, even against their will. That’s how collectivism works. If you expect to get anywhere in the union, they do what they tell you to do. If they tell you to vote a particular way, you do it. If they tell you what to do, you do it. If they tell you to give you do it and they will tell you how much to give as well. Failure to follow the demands will result in hardships and the necessity for remedial training and further pressure to do what you are told. Maybe a few visits to you home. Maybe a temporary reassignment to an unpleasant job at work. Other than that, you are free to do whatever you want. I saw how my Dad was forced to strike even though he didn’t want to. He had to do what they told him to do. I was in a non-union shop and worked along side union shops and I saw how they were forced to do things. I saw that on every job site I worked. I’m glad I live in a free state where I am not forced into a union and controlled against my will if I want to have a job. So, where I won’t support socialist candidates for any position in government, if I were a union member, chances are better than even I would be required to do so against my will and from my own pocket.
Posted by: TexBork | August 26, 2011, 11:42 am 11:42 am
With all kinds of alternatives to cable television (Internet TV, satellite, HD broadcast) it smells like someone is lobbying for market protections!
Posted by: Common _ Sense | August 26, 2011, 11:51 am 11:51 am
Georgie Bushie, I guess that blows a hole that Fox News is right wing propaganda news organization.
Posted by: rebecca2656 | August 26, 2011, 12:50 pm 12:50 pm
comcast….rural connectivity initiative….obama is pushing that connectivity is a basic right of all americans. his stimulus jobs package to be unveiled will have this as a part of it.states are handing out cell phones as an entitlement and the feds will push that basic cable and internet service are an entitlemant. comcast will stand to benefit nicely.
the more people connected the more they can be exploited. if it were not for connectivity their would have never been an Arab Spring or a flash mob.
Posted by: catman | August 26, 2011, 2:20 pm 2:20 pm
Catman (2:20 PM); And the more people connect the dots, the more they understand what’s really going on.
Posted by: LongT | August 26, 2011, 4:10 pm 4:10 pm
Republicans did you read the article? Can you people read? Employees of Comcast are donating their personal cash to the Obama campaign not Comcast itself. And to think these same people believe that the likes of Perry, Bachmann, Romney and (heaven help us!) Sarah Palin are smart enough to be President of this great country.
Posted by: Linda | August 27, 2011, 11:52 am 11:52 am
Linda (11:52 AM); My guess is the employees are desparately hoping to get strength behind unionizing efforts which Comcast and the Robert’s family has successfully held off for years.
Posted by: LongT | August 27, 2011, 12:31 pm 12:31 pm
The real news here is that on average every Comcast employee gave $2. And out of the 100,000 employees 98% are working class. We may be donating a little, but not to better big business.
Posted by: Employee | August 28, 2011, 12:16 pm 12:16 pm
Linda, Did you read my Aug 26, 2011 11:42:15 AM post? Maybe not. Of course it was the employees who gave. I know how that game works, because I’ve seen it over and over again for decades. Check out my post. If you still have questions, let me know what they are.
Posted by: TexBork | August 28, 2011, 3:45 pm 3:45 pm