Steve Weiss: A tale of donations and documentaries
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Steve Weiss
The Walt Disney Co.'s intra- family squabble with Miramax over the distribution of a new documentary that criticizes President Bush makes for great headlines.
It also sheds light on the extent to which election-year politics can seemingly weigh on the decisions of a major political donor.
Disney and its subsidiary Miramax are arguing over "Fahrenheit 9/11," a film by the famously liberal filmmaker Michael Moore that is highly critical of Bush's decisions surrounding the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Miramax bought the North American distribution rights for the movie. Disney objected to the distribution deal, The New York Times reported, on the grounds the movie would create a partisan political battle that could turn off a large chunk of Disney's audience.
Moore's agent accused Disney of acting to protect tax breaks it enjoys in Florida, where Jeb Bush, the president's brother, is governor. The company denies the charges.
Regardless of its motivations, Disney predictably wants to avoid becoming entangled in a controversy relating to the contentious presidential campaign.
The company, which is well known for its efforts to maintain a squeaky clean image among its customers, has spent millions to establish a powerful reputation in the nation's capital.
Disney and its employees are among the biggest donors in American politics, having contributed nearly $8 million to federal candidates and party committees since 1989.
Two-thirds of that total has gone to Democrats. But like a lot of donors, Disney and its employees have sent an increasing share of their contributions to Republicans since the mid-'90s, when the GOP took control of Congress. Disney's donations were split more evenly than ever immediately after the 2000 election. The company and its employees sent 53 percent of their contributions to Democrats and 47 percent to Republicans in the 2001-2002 election cycle.
So far in the current cycle, slightly more than 60 percent of contributions from Disney has gone to Democrats, versus 40 percent to Republicans.
A portion of that giving comes from Disney's political action committee, which has contributed $158,000 to federal candidates in the current election cycle - half to Democratic candidates and half to Republican candidates.
Disney is also a lobbying giant, having spent nearly $4 million to lobby the federal government last year. Chief among its concerns is preventing the unauthorized copying and distribution of movies and music, but Disney's legislative interests are as broad as its business holdings.
In addition to its stake in the movie and theme park business, Disney owns the ABC television network, dozens of local television and radio stations and two major sports franchises, pro hockey's Anaheim Mighty Ducks and Major League Baseball's Anaheim Angels.
One reason Democrats edge Republicans in fund-raising from Disney may be Miramax itself, whose contributions are included in the Disney total.
Harvey and Bob Weinstein, the brothers who run Miramax, are big givers who have contributed $224,492 to Democratic candidates and party committees since 1999. They have given no contributions to Republicans during that time.
Harvey Weinstein, who gives far more generously than his brother, gave $2,000 last year to John Kerry, the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate.
He made most of his political contributions during the 2001-2002 election cycle, the last in which unlimited soft money contributions to the national political parties were allowed.
Weinstein gave $85,000 in soft money to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and $50,000 to the Democratic National Committee during the cycle.
Eve Chilton Weinstein, Harvey's wife and the president of Elegant Films, has contributed more than have the two brothers combined (though her contribution totals are not included with Miramax's).
She has given $383,500 to federal candidates and parties since 1999, all to Democrats. Of that, $320,000 went to DNC soft money accounts in 2000.
Michael Eisner, the embattled Disney chief executive who reportedly encouraged filmmaker Moore to cancel his distribution deal with Miramax, has been much more modest, and pragmatic, in his political giving.
Together with his wife, Jane, Eisner, who recently was stripped of his duties as chairman by the Disney board, has contributed $80,500 to federal candidates and party committees since 1999.
One-third of that total, or $27,000, has gone to Republicans, including $5,000 to the National Republican Congressional Committee last year.
° Steve Weiss is media director for the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan, nonprofit research group based in Washington, D.C. This commentary was distributed by Minuteman Media, 32 Allen Road, Norwalk, CT 06851; e-mail: mail@ minutemanmedia.org. |
