(AP Photo.)
(CNSNews.com) – A number of big names from the entertainment industry have contributed to President Barack Obama’s campaign for a second term in office and to the Democratic National Committee.
According to the campaign contribution data on the OpenSecrets.org Web site, actor George Clooney is renewing his support for President Obama in 2011 with a $2,500 contribution for the primary and another $2,500 donation for the presidential race – total $5,000. (Each primary, runoff, and general election counts as a separate election.) Clooney’s contributions are up from the maximum individual donation of $2,300 that he gave Obama in the 2008 campaign (also then $2,300 for the primary and then another $2,300 in the general election for Obama.)
Actor George Clooney. (AP Photo)
Under federal election campaign finance law for 2011-12, an individual may give $2,500 to each candidate and $30,800 to a national party committee, such as the Democratic National Committee (DNC) or the Republican National Committee (RNC).
Clooney gave the maximum $30,800 to the DNC on April 26, 2011, the same day he gave the two donations for the Obama primary and general election.
Tom Hanks, a two-time Oscar winner for Best Actor, is also, like Clooney, renewing his support for President Obama. Hanks gave two $2,500 donations (primary and general race) to Obama on Apr. 26, 2011. He also gave the maximum $30,800 to the DNC that same day.
Actor Michael Douglas, who recently renewed his role as Wall Street wizard Gordon Gekko in “Money Never Sleeps,” donated $2,000 to Barack Obama on May 5, 2011. Michael’s father, Kirk Douglas, gave the maximum $2,500 to Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) on June 23.
Actor Tom Hanks. (AP Photo)
Filmmaker Steven Spielberg went all out, giving $30,800 to the DNC on Apr. 26; $8,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee on July 31; and two $2,500 donations to Barack Obama on Apr. 26.
Spielberg also gave the maximum $2,500 to Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) on Aug. 25; two $2,500 donations to Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) on June 21; another $2,500 to Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) on Mar. 31; and another $2,500 to Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.) on Sept. 19.
Some of Spielberg’s fellow filmmakers joined him in directing their contributions toward Democratic causes. Director Ron Howard gave $1,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, while Rob Reiner and Cameron Crowe donated $5,000 and $500, respectively, to the same committee. Crowe also contributed the yearly maximum of $2,500 to President Obama (for both primary and general election, total: $5,000).
Singer-songwriter Neil Young gave the maximum: $30,800 to the DNC on Apr. 22, and two $2,500 donations to Obama on Apr. 12.
Neil’s wife, Pegi Young, also gave the maximum: $30,800 to the DNC and two $2,500 donations to Obama on Apr. 14, 2011.
Director Rob Reiner, right, and former Democratic Vice President Al Gore. (AP Photo.)
Five-time Grammy Award winner James Taylor matched Young’s contributions to both the DNC Services Corp. and President Obama, giving the maximum annual contributions.
Not all celebrities back President Obama’s reelection campaign. Some have chosen to make donations to candidates vying for the Republican nomination. Dennis Miller, comedian and political commentator, made a $250 donation to then-presidential candidate Herman Cain on Sept. 26.
Nationally syndicated radio personality and author Neal Boortz also donated to then-presidential candidate Herman Cain in the amount of $1,000 on Feb. 27. He donated $2,400 to Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) on Mar. 30.
Ben Stein, actor, comedian, and economist, contributed $1,500 to Rep. Michele Bachmann’s campaign, and he also donated $250 to Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) on Aug. 8.
Jack Nicklaus, arguably the greatest golfer of all time, donated $3,630 to the Republican National Committee and $2,500 to the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Business titan and resort owner Steve Wynn contributed $1,000 to Republican candidate Mitt Romney.
Real estate mogul Donald Trump contributed $30,800 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee. He also gave $1,000 to Rep. West (R-Fla.), another $1,000 to Rep. Pete King (R-NY), and $2,500 to Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.)
Source material can be found at this site.
