CIVICS 101:
How U.S. Elections Are Bought and Paid For

 

 

Israeli tycoon top donor
to American politicians

 

Israeli billionaire Saban biggest donor to US politicians
Ynet News Tuesday, 23 January 2007

By ITAMAR EICHNER

Mogul Haim Saban

TEL AVIV — A communications tycoon has donated at least $13 million to American politicians. As a close friend of the Clintons he contributed to the Democrats, but President Bush has not been deprived either.

Israeli billionaire and media mogul Haim Saban is at the top of the list of donors to political campaigns in the US.

Fox Network revealed over the weekend that Saban has donated
approximately $13 million to various candidates.

According to the report, Saban, a close friend of the Clintons, is one of the major donors to the Democratic Party, though he has also contributed to Republican candidates, including President George Bush and Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Next on the list of donors are Stephen Bing, father of Elizabeth Hurley's son, who donated $10 million; Businessman Fred Eichner, who has given candidates $8 million; and Steve Forbes, owner of Forbes magazine, who has funded election campaigns at the sum of $7 million.

The last on the list is Jim Pederson, who was contender for US Senate for the state of Arizona, with a little over USD 6 million.