Obama Inaugural Reveals Corporate Donors
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SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — President Obama’s inaugural committee Friday confirmed that corporate cash has begun flowing in to help celebrate a second term, four years after Obama eschewed such funds and refused to accept them.
The names of 417 “benefactors” to the 57th inaugural were quietly posted Friday night on the Presidential Inaugural Committee’s website, including the names of seven companies. The committee said more names will be posted in coming days.
The corporate donors to Obama’s inaugural include AT&T, Microsoft, Genentech Inc., Whittier Trust Co., Centene Corp, Financial Innovations Inc. and Stream Line Circle LLC.
None of the individual donors appeared to be high-profile public figures or campaign bundlers. (The committee did not provide any geographic information for the donors or the amounts of their gifts.)
The release of donor names was voluntary as part of an effort the committee said was intended to boost transparency.
Last month Obama reversed a voluntary ban on unlimited corporate cash, which he imposed on the inaugural four years ago and during the 2012 Democratic National Convention.
Obama said he would also allow individuals to contribute up to the legal maximum for the 2013 inauguration — $250,000 — lifting a $50,000 cap he voluntarily imposed in 2008. The shift appeared to be driven by fundraising challenges in the wake of a multi-billion dollar campaign. Obama and GOP nominee Mitt Romney each raised north of $1 billion for the election cycle — historic highs.
The full list of 2013 Obama inaugural donors can be viewed here. http://2013pic.org/about/benefactors
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