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Politics : Sioux Nation -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: SiouxPal who wrote (157406)	1/4/2009 8:04:11 PM
From: stockman_scott	Respond to of 363112

Michiganians give big to Obama gala _______________________________________________________________ Residents contribute from $250 to $50,000 for president-elect's Jan. 20 inauguration. By Deb Price Detroit News Washington Bureau Friday, January 2, 2009 WASHINGTON -- Stryker Corp. heiress Ronda Stryker of Kalamazoo, one of the wealthiest women in the world, and her husband, William Johnston, kicked in $100,000 to help pay for President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration. The couple's contributions -- $50,000 each -- are among 14 listed from Michigan on the Obama Presidential Inaugural Committee Web site. The donations from Michigan start at $250, and include three $50,000 gifts, as well as five $25,000 contributions. As part of Obama's promise to make government more transparent, he's posting on his Web site contributions ranging from $200 to $50,000 -- the maximum allowed. Breaking from past inaugural committees, Obama is not accepting money from corporations, political action committees, labor unions, current federally registered lobbyists, non-U.S. citizens and registered foreign agents. Historically, taxpayers pay for a president's swearing-in ceremony, inaugural parade and security. But incoming presidents pay for their inaugural balls and other festivities. President George W. Bush's second inauguration cost about $40 million. But some political observers predict Obama's inauguration -- which may draw a crowd of up to 3 million people -- could cost $50 million. Stryker is on the board of directors of Stryker Corp., a medical technology company based in Kalamazoo founded by her grandfather, Dr. Homer Stryker. Her husband is the founder and president of Greenleaf Trust, a Kalamazoo-based investment advisory firm. Stryker's brother, Jon Stryker, has become a political force in his own right in Michigan politics in recent years, helping to finance Democratic gains in the state Legislature. The third $50,000 contribution so far from Michigan came from Roderick Rickman of West Bloomfield, chairman and CEO of Rickman Enterprise Group. Jody Conybeare and her attorney husband, Barry, of St. Joseph gave $25,000. "We contributed because we are really excited about all the possibilities that his inauguration and presidency mean for our country," said Jody Conybeare. "We wanted to be a part of it. "My husband I were really unhappy with the last eight years and how pro-big business the Bush administration was. "We are really hopeful that the new Obama administration will help the economy and get things going again," added Conybeare, who plans to attend the inauguration. Ann Arbor businessman James Dries contributed $250. "It's a transformational event," Dries said. "I went to (Bill) Clinton's first inauguration. Sixteen years later, I'm more crowd adverse. But the inauguration is going to be exciting, even on TV."

To: SiouxPal who wrote (157406)	1/4/2009 8:51:12 PM
From: stockman_scott	Respond to of 363112

Olympian Michael Phelps Returning to China to Endorse Mazda By Mason Levinson Jan. 4 (Bloomberg) -- Mazda Motor Corp. is betting that Michael Phelps will be as successful an endorser in China as he was a swimmer at last year's Olympic Games. Phelps, who is returning to Beijing this week for the first time since winning a record eight gold medals in August, has been signed to be the brand spokesman for Mazda in the Greater China region, according to a news release by Dynamic Marketing Group's DMG Entertainment unit, which is creating the campaign. The ``seven-figure'' accord is the largest single sponsorship for a western celebrity in China's history, according to the release. Telephone and e-mail messages seeking details from Drew Johnson, one of Phelps's agents, weren't immediately returned. ``The people of China have been very supportive of me and my efforts to help promote swimming,'' Phelps said in a statement. ``I am excited to begin 2009 with my first return trip to Beijing since the Games.'' In December, Mazda, Japan's fifth-largest carmaker, abandoned its 2010 sales target of 300,000 cars in China because of slumping demand and poor results at a venture with Chongqing Changan Automobile Co., the Economic Observer reported, citing Mazda's top China executive. Mazda sold 105,000 cars in China during the first 10 months of last year, it said. Eclipsed Spitz In August, Phelps eclipsed the single-Games record of seven gold medals set by another American swimmer, Mark Spitz, 36 years earlier, setting seven world records in the process. Phelps won individual gold in the 400-meter individual medley, 200-meter freestyle, 200-meter butterfly, 200-meter individual medley and 100-meter butterfly, plus team golds in the 400-meter freestyle, 800-meter freestyle and 400- meter medley relays. In his return to China, he'll exclusively endorse the new Mazda 6 model in television commercials, print advertisements and public appearances, the DMG statement said. To contact the reporter on this story: Mason Levinson in New York at mlevinson@bloomberg.net. Last Updated: January 4, 2009 14:00 EST