Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has relentlessly criticized conservative billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch for pouring millions into right-leaning causes. But with another billionaire Republican funder, Las Vegas casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, Reid said the same criticism isn’t deserved.
“I know Sheldon Adelson, he’s not in this for money. He’s not in this to make money, he’s in this because he’s got certain ideological views,” Reid said in an interview with MSNBC which aired on Thursday. Reid said Adelson’s views on certain social issues actually align with Democrats.
“So Sheldon Adelson, don’t pick on him, he’s not in it to make money,” Reid said.
Adelson is a major figure in Reid’s state. He’s chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp., which owns the Venetian and Palazzo casinos in Las Vegas. The Las Vegas Sun noted that Adelson has “almost $39 billion to his name” and Forbes listed him as the eighth-wealthiest person in the world.
Adelson was a major funder to Republican presidential candidates in the 2012 presidential cycle and was the primary donor behind Newt Gingrich’s super PAC. Adelson donated $15 million to the pro-Gingrich super PAC and spent over $90 million on Republican presidential campaigns according to The Washington Post.
(H/t: The Hill)
Watch the video below:
Oh come on, Harry…you should have just shrugged it off, not been quite so obvious in your grovelling.
We get it, Adelson could buy your seat with enough negative money. But this is just shameful.
I’d put it differently. I’d say off the bat that Reid isn’t actually concerned with Adelson’s money being used to take his Senate seat, for a number of reasons, including that Reid’s not at all oblivious to his own age and that of Adelson. I’d have said it was the Koch’s, not Adelson, who are ‘ideologically’ inclined, and that Adelson’s financial motives are not entirely irrelevant. But to the extent you’re suggesting Reid sees Adelson as someone who can be moved off the Tea Party agenda, I’d agree: Adelson’s main motivation seems to be a hedge bet that there MIGHT be a Heaven, which he should spend a bit on to get a ticket into, just in case.
It doesn’t matter if Harry is “grovelling” or playing politics. Putting daylight between Koch Bros & Sheldon can only, in turn, divide them from one another. This is a good thing. You ain’t gonna beat billionaire money in politics if you provide them reasons to present a united front.
Right. I thought Adelson was mainly concerned about not being prosecuted for his hanky panky in Macau…
Besides, Adelson was 100% ineffective, whereas the insane Koch brothers have influenced politics to a very alarming degree.
You were punching quite well there Harry. Why flinch? A distinction between dark and dirty money? A thief and a swindler? Money loving and the love of money?