Coke and Pepsi

Some DNC and RNC protesters have alleged that the Democrats and Republicans are no different than Coke and Pepsi.

But there is a political difference in Coke and Pepsi.

Pepsi has given $165,000 to the Republicans, but only $45,000 to the Democrats.

Coke, however, has given $157,750 to the Demos and $149,350 to the GOP.

THE GANG'S ALL HERE -

CORPORATE DONORS TO THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION

Al Gore said in his Democratic Convention presidential acceptance speech that campaign reform will be "the very first bill that Joe Lieberman and I send to Congress."

Meanwhile, corporations are tripping over themselves to give money to Al and Joe. In many cases, the same corporations are making similar donations to George W. and Dick.

Here is a partial list of corporate contributors to the Democratic and Republican conventions according to each Convention Host Committee's estimate.

*Gave large amounts to both Democratic and Republican Conventions.

DNC donors:

    $2,000,000
    American International Group*
    $1,000,000
    United parcel Service
    BP Amoco Corp.
    General Motors*
    Maguire Partners
    Microsoft Corp.*
    SBC Communications
    AT&T*
    $500,000
    Staples, Inc.
    United Airlines
    $250,000
    Majestic Realty
    Bank of America
    DaimlerChrysler*
    Global Crossing*
    Hewlett-Packard*
    Hilton Hotels
    Sempra Energy
    Tenet Healthcare
    Wells Fargo
    Lincy Foundation

RNC donors:

    $1,000,000
    General Motors*
    Microsoft Corp.*
    Bell Atlantic (Verizon)
    Ballard, Spahr et.al.
    Comcast Corp.
    Motorola, Inc.
    Peco Energy
    AT&T*
    $500,000
    SAP America
    American International Group
    Anderson Consulting
    Blank, Rome et. al.
    Safeguard Scientifics
    Tierney & Partners
    PepsiCo Inc.
    US Airways
    $250,000
    Union Pacific
    DaimlerChrysler*
    Global Crossing*
    Hewlett-Packard*
    Unisys Corp.
    Sunoco Inc.
    SmithKline Beecham
    Prudential Insurance
    Philip Morris
    First Union
    Enron Corp.
    Aramark Corp.
    USX Corp.

What about the Shadow Convention?

Capital Eye reports that a goal of $500,000 was to be raised to fund the pro-campaign reform Shadow Convention. Among the biggest donors were billionaire George Soros's Open Society Institute, the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Carnegie Corporation and the Arca Foundation.

Source: Capital Eye, published by Center for Responsive Politics, <www.opensecrets.org>.