Angelos, Selig, Steinbrenner, & Reinsdorf gave more to Democrats

"Orioles owner Peter Angelos and his wife, Georgia, have given to many Democratic candidates over the years. Angelos has donated as much as $500,000 at once and more than $3 million overall to the Democratic National Committee and other party organizations. But he made news last year when he held "Bob Ehrlich Day" at Camden Yards and posted huge banners reading "Thank You! Governor Ehrlich" on the warehouse. Despite that show of support, he had not fattened Ehrlich's campaign coffers as of the latest campaign filings.

• (It's all one big party these days, but Ehrlich is supposedly a Republican). sm

• New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner has given $222,000, about 49 percent of that to Democrats, 27 percent to Republicans and the rest to various political causes. His Chicago White Sox counterpart, Jerry Reinsdorf, has spent more conservatively on baseball but less so on politics, distributing $362,203 to Democratic candidates (52 percent) and Republicans (32 percent.)

All three commissioners of the major sports are substantial donors. NBA chief David Stern is the leviathan of the bunch, having given $829,060, almost all of it to Democrats. Former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue might have led a more profitable league but donated modestly by comparison, giving $27,751 (44 percent to Republicans, 29 percent to Democrats). Baseball commissioner Bud Selig has given $63,250, mostly to Democratic candidates. Ironically, Selig represented management (usually associated with Republicans) in baseball's labor wars.

• (No offense, but the author of this article must be caught in a time or propaganda warp. Selig is huge socialist which anyone can tell you, and the management he represents all make their wealth off socialist principles. That doesn't mean they want to share their own money---it just means they fervently believe you must share yours). sm

His chief foe, union chief Donald Fehr, has distributed 46 percent of his $19,756 in donations to GOP candidates.

• (Although the union guy, Fehr, donated almost equal portions, the author doesn't mention union guys are traditionally thought to be Democrats). sm

Some athletes are exceptions to the apolitical majority, according to federal campaign contribution data compiled by the political Web site newsmeat.com." from the Baltimore Sun, 11/6/06 by Childs Walker

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