Forbes
So far in this election cycle, the campaign of Republican nominee-to-be Donald J. Trump has spent $47 million. And among the biggest vendors to the campaign happens to be one Donald J. Trump.
Companies that Trump owns or controls have charged the campaign for an array of expenses. The biggest line item is air travel — a Trump company called Tag Air, which operates Trump’s aged 757, collected $3.7 million as of the end of March. But the campaign makes its headquarters at Trump Tower ($35,457 a month), and takes meetings downstairs at the Trump Grill. (“The best taco bowls are made in Trump Tower Grill,” Trump boasted last Thursday to mark the Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo. “I love Hispanics!”) It pays salaries for Trump company employees, puts them up in Trump-owned hotels, and occasionally rents Trump ballrooms for campaign events.
All told, the campaign has paid Trump entities $4.3 million through March 31, according to Federal Election Commission records. That amounts to nearly ten percent of the campaign’s total expenditures, and taken together are second only to Rick Reed Media, a G.O.P. advertising consultant.
2 comments:
It is called synergy, and most every conglomerate of any means does the same. The classic example being the Walt Disney Company, notorious for integrating, cross-promoting, and everything else imaginable to link and advertise its various ventures.
Though somehow implying as much, there is no real scandal in this story. If anything, it demonstrates Trump's ability to most efficiently allocate and spend money.
According to Open Secrets, Hillary Clinton's campaign has raised $256,406,947 through to mid April. Over the same period the Sanders campaign raised $189,762,736, and Trump pulled in $51,161,112. At a comparative 5-to-1 and 4-to-1 cash disadvantage to Clinton and Sanders respectively, Trump has managed to equal or better advantage.
Sanders, by the way, according to the Los Angeles Times has apparently run desperately low on funds, to the point that the campaign has laid off hundreds of staff and will not be able to afford television spots in California.
So, besides being a windfall for Tad Devine, Revolution Messaging, et al, what the hell happened to Bernie's cash?
The secret of cash flow. If it works for Trump, Inc, why not support at least a $15 to $20 minimum wage? Wouldn't that money circulate for everybody and raise all boats by the same principle?
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