Putting Money Where Their Mouth Isn't: Rush Limbaugh's Bosses Now Tilt Toward Dems

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Even liberal Sherrod Brown received a donation from the Texas company that writes the rightwing talker's paychecks. Campaign finance data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics reveals the corporate PAC controlled by Rush Limbaugh's employer no longer seems to be on the same page as its hired mouth. In fact, it has turned a page. Clear Channel Communications gave 56 percent of its political contributions to Democrats last year, including $10,000 to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Limbaugh has used Pelosi as a target on his conservative talk show, and once remarked that her skills as House leader included an ability to "breastfeed" and not much else. But the money trail indicates Clear Channel doesn't put much stock in Limbaugh's analysis.

Up through the 2008 election cycle, radio giant Clear Channel -- whose stable of conservative talkers includes Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck --steered most of its PAC money -- and PAC money is the mother's milk of politics -- to Republicans. House Dems got $144,500 last year, more than twice the total given to House Republicans. Other Limbaugh targets who benefited from Clear Channel's PAC were Rahm Emanuel, who got $4,000, and Sen. Harry Reid, $6,500.

In Ohio, these were the beneficiaries of Clear Channel's largess:
Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, $2,500; Joe Cimperman, $3,000 (he lost in a primary against Kucinich); former GOP Cincinnati U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot, $1,500; former Springfield U.S. Rep. Dave Hobson, $1,000; Jim Jordan $1,000; Democratic U.S. Rep. Zach Space, $2,500; Cleveland area Republican U.S. Rep. Steve LaTourette, $1,000.