From Apple To Xbox, Tech Companies Lean Left

Velcroman1 writes "Only a week to election time! How does tech feel about politics? If you guessed liberal, you're right: Big Tech leans left. 'They're dominated by coastal people who tend to be more liberal,' says Jim Taylor, a management consultant who writes about the business of psychology. 'Also, those in Big Tech tend to be educated in the better schools, which lean left. Big Tech skews younger and hipper [and favors] social and environmental issues. Their political values trump financial concerns at the organizational culture level and the missions of many firms, especially those that are new media.' For example, Marissa Mayer, known as 'the face of Google,' gave $30,400 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2009. In fact, of the top 10 contributions made by Google in 2009, only one — by CEO Eric Schmidt — was to the Republican National Committee. Facebook has donated almost exclusively to Democratic candidates, according to Transparency Data, including $1,000 to California Sen. Barbara Boxer a year ago, and more recently, almost $5,000 to Richard Blumenthal, who is running for senator in Connecticut."

Comments

Re:More obvious stories

[Jah-Wren Ryel]

Exxon donated more to Obama than any other person in office, so that isn't true either, and that tidbit just chafes the leftwing mantra.

I can see how some people would be chafed by that tidbit, since it doesn't appear to be true.
I looked.
The best I could find was that Obama received more than McCain -- not "any other person in office."

Furthermore, those donations were only in the 5 digits, while it looks like Exxon regularly spends $600,000+ in political bribes every year. Seems to me that any of their favourite senators could easily rack up triple digit donations over the years - and according to this article which does not name names so is unfortunately a PITA to verify, the top 20 cumulative recipients of Exxon money since 1990 are all republican.

If you have some citations that show otherwise, I am all ears - I'm looking for the truth, not truthiness.

Re:More obvious stories

[brit74]

Exxon donated more to Obama than any other person in office, so that isn't true either, and that tidbit just chafes the leftwing mantra. Corporations read the tea leaves and buy influence accordingly. (D) and (R) are just prostitutes who peddle influence to the highest bidder.

"The [oil and gas] industry has donated $180 million to political candidates since 1989, making it the eighth biggest spender out of 80 industries analyzed. Currently, ExxonMobil has donated over $600,000 to political candidates - second only to Koch Industries, a small oil company known for its high spending on Congressional candidates. The oil industry clearly favors republicans to push its agenda on Capitol Hill and ExxonMobil is no exception. In 2006, 89 percent of ExxonMobil's donations went to republicans."

http://www.exxposeexxon.com/ExxonMobil_politics.html

"Through June, Exxon employees have given Obama $42,100 to McCain's $35,166. Chevron favors Obama $35,157 to $28,500, and Obama edges out McCain with BP $16,046 vs. $11,500," the center said. But McCain has raised more from nearly every other top giver in the oil and gas industry, including Hess Corp. -- $91,000 to Obama's $8,000. And, overall, McCain's campaign has received about three times more from the oil and gas industry than Obama's has -- $1.3 million compared to about $394,000."

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/08/both_mccain_oba.html

Re:More obvious stories

[MHolmesIV]

We also donate more (per employee) to non-profits than any other sector. Dunno about other companies, but Microsoft will match your charitable giving dollar for dollar up to $12K a year, and will match hours volunteered by donating $17 per hour as well.

I'm much happier seeing corporate money going to these programs than lining some politician's pockets. At least charities have rules about how much overhead they're allowed to have.

Re:More obvious stories

[Dragonslicer]

If American Democrats are "right of center" ... what is Center?

Slightly to the left of most Democrats. A lot of people in the US like to call Obama a socialist. These are people that have never looked at European politics, where you can see real socialists. Take a look at the political compass and count how many 2008 candidates were left of center.

Re:As a hillbilly from a desert island, I have to

[bondsbw]

But the funny thing is, Democrats have been in control of the Alabama legislature for the past 136 years, and were in control of all politics in the state between the time of Reconstruction and the Civil Rights movement.

These were fairly conservative Democrats, mind you... but they still swing in the liberal direction on many issues.