We appreciate the restraint Microsoft has shown, not sucking up to Republicans at the convention this week. That sort of behavior should be limited to big Wall Street firms. The head Softies did, however, throw a big retirement bash at Le Cirque for U.S. Rep. Jennifer Dunn, R-Microsoft, reports The Seattle Times, and the company's financial head, John Connors, said the congresswoman has been such a legislative inspiration that his daughter is modeling her life after Dunn. Aside from that, "our involvement is minimal," a company spokesperson said of the convention. That might even be true. But campaign contributions are another story. There are still two months to go, but of the $857,000 Microsoft's political action committee has donated to federal races so far this year, 53 percent went to Republicans. In 2002, the Redmond software giant gave the GOP $1.8 million in soft money alone. When the chips were counted after the 1999 2000 election cycle, according to the Center for Public Integrity, Microsoft had given $8.8 million to Republicans. (The Dems got a measly $3.9 million during the same period.) It wouldn't be surprising to see Microsoft equal that this time.


Source : SeattleWeekly