As the fight over financial reform heats up, both parties have attempted to warn the American people about the other side's long-standing affair with Wall Street: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called on his GOP counterpart, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, to disclose the content of a recent meeting with Wall Street executives; Republicans have seized on Goldman Sachs' recent hiring of White House attorney Gregory Craig. Which side has been seduced the most fully, the most often? Who cares? It's a threesome:
In the often-confusing debate on financial regulatory reform, there are many assertions and accusations but few facts. Yet here are two: Washington is awash in Wall Street money, and both Republicans and Democrats are recipients.
Democrats have an edge when it comes to raising funds in lower Manhattan, and particularly from Goldman Sachs, the investment bank being sued by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Republicans get their share, too, especially in the Senate where financial reform will be decided. Out of the $7.3 million given to the Republican campaign arms, the National Republican Senatorial Committee got $4.3 million.
