Petrelis Files

CNN Chief Klein Gave to GOP Rep; CNNers Funded Kerry, DNC

CNN took some well-deserved punches this week when it hired conservative talk radio loudmouth Glenn Beck to host a show for the ratings-deficient network. As is my habit at times when a news personality is himself the news, I checked the Federal Election Commission files on Beck and no donations from him were found.

But in searching FEC files for CNN executives and journalists, I discovered that the head of CNN, Jonathan Klein, when he worked at CBS, made a $1,000 donation in 1996 to former New York GOP Congressman Bill Paxon. Interesting that Klein has made just one contribution over the years and it was to a Republican. Says something about his political leanings.

You can view the actual FEC report for Klein's donation here.

Using the search terms "CNN" and "Cable News Network" at the PoliticalMoneyLine's site, I found some CNN employees donated mostly to Democratic pols and committees in the past six years. Located one donation from a business consultant for CNN Asia to the GOP of Hawaii and one from a staffer in Atlanta who gave to the RNC.

The most surprising donation, albeit one made while she was working at Court TV, was Nancy Grace's $1,000 gift to Hillary Clinton. Don't know why, but I never thought Grace would be the sort of journalist to make any donation, much less a low four-figure one.

Seeing how the contributions decidedly went to Democrats again gets me thinking CNN might do itself a real favor and that is, instead of trying to match Fox News' conservative slant and talking heads, go with being proudly liberal. Putting more of the Democrat politics of CNN folks who donated front and center on the air would find an audience, perhaps even halt the network's ever-declining number of viewers.

Why can't America have a right-leaning cable news outlet, and another with leftist views, while still more featuring centrist politics, all competing in the media marketplace of ideas for viewers and loyal audiences? I'm one news junkie tuning in less and less to cable news, because it's either stale and predictable, especially the faux debates, or lacking left and Green Party spokespeople.

These CNN contributions caught my eye, but this list is in no way comprehensive.

Watson, Carlos Mr.
7/12/1999
$1,000.00
East Palo Alto, CA 94303
Achieva College Prep Ctrs.[Contribution]
GORE 2000 INC

Diamond, Rebecca Ms.
7/14/1999
$250.00
New York, NY 10024
CNN [Contribution]
BILL BRADLEY FOR PRESIDENT INC

GRACE, NANCY
10/21/1999
$1,000.00
NEW YORK, NY 10016
COURT TV[Contribution]
HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON FOR US SENATE COMMITTEE INC

NELSON, RICHARD H
10/23/2000
$300.00
ATLANTA, GA 30303
CNN [Contribution]
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE CONTRIBUTIONS

Press, Bill
11/1/2001
$1,000.00
Washington, DC 20003
CNN/Journalist [Contribution]
GAY AND LESBIAN VICTORY FUND

Tanonaka, Dalton
2/22/2002
$1,000.00
Honolulu, HI 96825
CNN- Asia/Business Consultant [Contribution]
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF HAWAII; THE

Begala, Paul
6/24/2003
$1,000.00
McLean, VA 22101
CNN/television host [Contribution]
FRIENDS OF JON JENNINGS COMMITTEE

Young, Jonathan
2/5/2004
$250.00
Atlanta, GA 30308
CNN America/Technology Executive [Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Hughey, Lee
3/8/2004
$250.00
Chamblee, GA 30341
Cable News Network/Video Editor [Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Young, Jonathan
3/16/2004
$250.00
Atlanta, GA 30308
CNN America/Technology Executive [Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Young, Jonathan
6/14/2004
$1,500.00
Atlanta, GA 30308
CNN America/Technology Executive [Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Hughey, Lee
7/15/2004
$250.00
Chamblee, GA 30341
Cable News Network/Video Editor [Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

King, Kate
7/28/2004
$200.00
Decatur, GA 30030
Cnn/Producer [Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC

Roberts, Suzanne Ms.
9/8/2004
$15,000.00
Coatesville, PA 19320
CNN's Headline News/Actress/Child T [Contribution]
DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE

Roberts, Suzanne Ms.
9/12/2005
$1,000.00
Coatesville, PA 19320
CNN's Headline News/Actress/Child T[Contribution]
DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE

Biggs, Barton
9/30/2004
$500.00
Atlanta, GA 30306
cnn/journalist [Contribution]
DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE

Biggs, Barton
10/3/2004
$1,000.00
Atlanta, GA 30306
CNN/journalist [Contribution]
DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE

Neblett, Toure
10/20/2004
$250.00
Brooklyn, NY 11217
CNN/Correspondent [Contribution]
DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE