Analysis of Top Corporations Aid U.S. Chamber of Commerce Campaign Article - Essay Example

 The New York Times published on October 21, gives a clear picture of biased reporting that has marred the media industry. The title of the publication was “Top Corporations Aid U.S. Chamber of Commerce Campaign”. Some of the contributors to the Chamber of Commerce were Dow Chemical which gave $1.7 million this according to the writers was to help fight the proposed rules that would tighten the security requirements for the chemical facilities. Other donors mentioned, were Chevron Texaco, Aegon, and Goldman Sachs which gave over $8 million and were critical of spending and federal regulation. These donors were not made public according to the report since the Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit making organization. The advertising money was spent to criticize the Obama administration and influence Congressional elections that were coming up that fall.

The chamber of commerce according to fillings of corporate foundations indicates that the chamber has relied on small collections from big corporate donors to finance its legislative and political activities. The chamber is opposed to legislation that would require organizations like it to make public all those who contribute money to their campaigning adverts. The chamber received $10 million from health insurance anonymously to oppose President Obama’s health care policy.

The chamber has increased in recent times taking a more aggressive role in elections supporting Republicans 90% of the time. Making affiliate local chambers accuse it of being too partisan. The organization 2003 according to the writers had a budget of $130 million and in that particular year (2010) a budget of $200 million to spend. In that particular year, the chamber together with its affiliates allocated $144 million to lobbying. According to the writers, this makes the chamber the biggest lobbyist group in the United States.

The author's view as expressed in the article is that Republican Party is buying its way into political posts using the largest lobbyist group doing its bidding. It is important to note the article was the headline of the New York Times at a time the congressional elections were just about to take place. It is clear according to the authors that money from interest groups is being used to sabotage the gains that are to be realized by President Obama and the democratic government. The authors Lipton et al (2010) want to make the impression that the conservatives spent a lot of money to buy the elections as well.

The piece does not provide objective reporting by the fact that the authors of the article do not provide the other side of the argument. By providing their readers with alternative information about the highest contributors to campaign adverts and lobbying campaigns from both the liberal and conservatives, the reader would be able to make a judgment for himself/herself. The authors could have mentioned liberal lobbyists the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, and the money they have spent on campaign advertising and lobbying.

The article robes the reader of an opportunity to make any comparison but rather presents an opinion with aim of making the reader accept the opinion as true.