Petrelis Files

Let me start off with a few disclosures.

I am currently subscribing to The Nation, generally agree with its political stances, and will be ever grateful the magazine published Alexander Cockburn's Feb. 11, 2002, rational column about the hysterical legal troubles brought on by San Francisco's former "progressive" district attorney, whose agenda against me was dictated by a lynch mob. Cockburn and The Nation, in no small way, brought much needed sanity to criminal charges pending against me, and since dropped, so I have a special place for the publication in my political head.

However, I've always found the magazine's editor, Katrina van den Heuvel, in her appearances on TV shout-fests and in her columns, exhibiting quite a few shades of a "poor little rich kid" burden in her politics.

Well, one part of that is true -- she's rich. Or endowed enough to make contributions to federal and state candidates, in amounts that show up on public campaign finance records.

In my hunt for public files on media personalities making political donations, certainly among print outlets, I've not come across anyone who has donated as much money to causes and candidates, as van den Heuvel.

Since 1984, she's written checks totaling $141,499 at the federal level, and at least $5,500 for state candidacies, for a combined amount of $146,999.

A nice bit of pocket change to spread around.

At this point in my study of journalists giving money to politicians and PACs, I have to say, across the political spectrum, from Fox News on the right, and The New Yorker and The Nation on the left, many reporters and editors are writing checks, which can't be such a bad thing because a high number are donating.

If the public, or media critics, had trouble with reporters giving to campaigns, there would be outrage over the practice, and fewer journalists would donate.

But since the reality of the situation is members of the press exercise their rights to participate in the political process by giving money to candidates, I think simple disclosure to readers or the audience, is one ethical way of dealing honestly with such giving.

My hope is that van den Heuvel, in the pages of The Nation, discloses all of her political donations, at federal, state and local levels. At the same time, The Nation could set the standard for acknowledging donations, but also in printing its rules over the practice for readers.

Just as the media rightfully demands transparency from corporations, nonprofit organizations and political institutions, that same degree of transparency is required of the press and reporters.

Here are the federal and a few state level donations from van den Heuvel that I was able to locate on the web.
^^^

STATE LEVEL

03/01/2002
van den Heuvel, Katrina
340 Riverside Dr., # 8B
New York, NY 10025
$500.00
editor The Nation
Reich, Robert
(Source: MA campaign finance site)


VANDEN HEUVEL KATRINA MS.
THE NATION MAGAZINE, EDITOR
NEW YORK, NY 10025
CALIFORNIA EMILY'S LIST, ID#910164
$5,000.00
10/20/2000
MONETARY
Total Monetary
$5,000.00
(Source: CA campaign finance site)


FEDERAL LEVEL

Vanden Heuvel, Katrina
3/5/2004 $2,000.00
New York, NY 10025
The Nation Magazine/Editor -[Contribution]
SOUTH DAKOTA WOMEN VOTE!

Vanden Heuvel, Katrina
4/8/2004 $33,334.00
New York, NY 10025
The Nation Magazine -[Contribution to a 527 organization]
EMILYS LIST NON FEDERAL

Vanden Huevel, Katrina
3/7/2003 $16,666.00
New York, NY 10025
The Nation Magazine -[Contribution to a 527 organization]
EMILYS LIST NON FEDERAL

Vanden Huevel, Katrina
10/28/2003 $33,332.00
New York, NY 10025
The Nation Magazine -[Contribution to a 527 organization]
EMILYS LIST NON FEDERAL

Vanden Huevel, Katrina
8/4/2003 $16,667.00
New York, NY 10025
The Nation Magazine -[Contribution to a 527 organization]
EMILYS LIST NON FEDERAL

Vanden Heuvel, Katrina Ms.
3/1/2002 $5,000.00
New York, NY 10025
The Nation Magazine/Editor -[Contribution]
EMILY'S LIST


HEUVEL, KATRINA VANDEN
3/17/2000 $1,000.00
NEW YORK, NY 10025
THE NATION MAGAZINE -[Contribution]
REBECCA YANISCH FOR US SENATE INC


HUEVEL, KATRINA VANDEN
10/4/2000 $1,000.00
,
THE NATION MAGAZINE -[earmarked contribution]
STABENOW FOR US SENATE


VANDEN HEUVEL, KATRINA
3/26/1999 $5,000.00
NEW YORK, NY 10025
THE NATION MAGAZINE -[Contribution]
EMILY'S LIST

VANDEN HEUVEL, KATRINA
2/23/2000 $5,000.00
NEW YORK, NY 10025
THE NATION MAGAZINE -[Contribution]
EMILY'S LIST

HEUVEL, KATRINA
10/12/1998 $1,000.00
NEW YORK, NY 10025
THE NATION MAGAZINE -[Contribution]
FRIENDS OF BLANCHE LINCOLN


VANDEN HEUVEL, KATRINA
3/11/1998 $5,000.00
NEW YORK, NY 10025
THE NATION MAGAZINE -[Contribution]
EMILY'S LIST

HEUVEL, KATRINA VANDEN
5/9/1996 $500.00
NEW YORK, NY 10025
THE NATION MAGAZINE -[Contribution]
CONNIE MCBURNEY FOR CONGRESS CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE

HEUVEL, KATRINA VANDEN
10/31/1994 $1,000.00
NEW YORK, NY 10025
THE NATION MAGAZINE -[Contribution]
FEINSTEIN FOR SENATE '94


HEUVEL, KATRINE VANDEN
10/1/1992 $500.00
NEW YORK, NY 10025
THE NATION MAGAZINE -[Contribution]
FEINSTEIN FOR SENATE COMMITTEE


VANDEN HEUVEL, KATRINA
11/11/1991 $1,000.00
NEW YORK, NY 10025
THE NATION MAGAZINE -[Contribution]
FEINSTEIN FOR SENATE COMMITTEE


VANDEN HEUVEL, KATRINA
10/29/1991 $2,000.00
NEW YORK, NY 10025
THE NATION MAGAZINE -[Contribution]
EMILY'S LIST


HEUVEL, KATRINA VANDEN
9/7/1990 $1,000.00
NEW YORK, NY 10025
THE NATION MAGAZINE -[Contribution]
FRIENDS OF ROSA DELAURO


HEUVEL, KATRINA VANDEN
8/14/1989 $500.00
NEW YORK, NY 10025
THE NATION MAGAZINE -[Contribution]
ROSARIO KENNEDY FOR CONGRESS


HEUVEL, KATRINA VANDEN
5/2/1990 $500.00
NEW YORK, NY 10025
THE NATION MAGAZINE -[Contribution]
CITIZENS FOR WATERS


VANDEN HEUVEL, KATRINA
12/29/1989 $500.00
NEW YORK, NY 10025
THE NATION MAGAZINE -[Contribution]
BILL BRADLEY FOR U S SENATE '90


VANDEN HEUVEL, KATRINA
9/26/1989 $2,500.00
NEW YORK, NY 10025
THE NATION MAGAZINE -[Contribution]
EMILY'S LIST


VANDEN HEUVEL, KATRINA
6/15/1990 $2,500.00
NEW YORK, NY 10025
THE NATION MAGAZINE -[Contribution]
EMILY'S LIST


VANDEN HEUVEL, KSTRINA
8/21/1990 $500.00
NEW YORK, NY 10025
THE NATION MAGAZINE -[Contribution]
JOSIE HEATH FOR U S SENATE INC


HEUVEL, KATRINA VANDEN
3/25/1988 $500.00
NY, NY 10023
THE NATION MAGAZINE -[Contribution]
WILLIAMS FOR CONGRESS


VANDEN HEUVEL, KATRINA
10/1/1987 $1,000.00
NEW YORK, NY 10027
THE NATION MAGAZINE -[Contribution]
BILL BRADLEY FOR U S SENATE '90

VANDEN HEUVEL, KATRINA
4/11/1986 $500.00
NEW YORK, NY 10023
THE NATION MAGAZINE -[Contribution]
EMILY'S LIST


VANDEN HEUVEL, KATRINA
4/11/1986 $500.00
NEW YORK, NY 10023
THE NATION MAGAZINE -[Contribution]
EMILY'S LIST

VANDENHEUVEL, KATRINA
6/28/1984 $1,000.00
NEW YORK, NY 10023
THE NATION MAGAZINE -[Contribution]
BILL BRADLEY FOR U S SENATE '84

(Source: Political Money Line)