By Sam Pierce -
Given that conservatives I respect seem to be considering supporting Bruce Rauner, I am perplexed. After checking the political donations by him and his wife, I am more perplexed. While the majority of his political donations since have been to Republican organizations and candidates, it is hard to imagine why Republicans and "conservatives" are supporting a man whose 2002 contributions were as follows (http://www.campaignmoney.com/finance.asp?type=in&cycle=02&criteria=rauner&fname=bruce):
Name/Location | Employer/Occupation | $ Amount Contributed | Contributed To | Primary/ General |
Date |
Rauner, Bruce WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
GTCR Golder Rauner LLC/Chairman | $1,000 | FRIENDS OF RAHM EMANUEL - DEMOCRAT | P | 08/30/2001 |
Rauner, Bruce WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
GTCR/venture capitalist | $5,000 | JOINT ACTION COMMITTEE FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS | P | 08/09/2001 |
RAUNER, BRUCE WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
GTRC GOLDER RAUNER | $500 | FRIENDS OF DICK DURBIN COMMITTEE - DEMOCRAT | P | 05/15/2001 |
RAUNER, BRUCE VINCENT WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
GTCR GOLD RAUNER | $1,000 | FRIENDS OF MAX BAUCUS - DEMOCRAT | P |
04/26/2001 |
Diana Rauner Contribution List in 2000
Name & Location | Employer/Occupation | Dollar Amount |
Date | Primary/ General |
Contibuted To |
RAUNER, DIANA MENDLEY WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
CAHPIN HALL CENTER FOR CHILDREN | $250 | 10/19/2000 | G | STABENOW FOR US SENATE - Democrat |
RAUNER, DIANA WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO | $1,000 | 09/09/1999 | P | EMILY'S LIST |
RAUNER, DIANA WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
CHAPIN HALL CENTER FOR CHILD | $500 | 06/11/1999 | P | EMILY'S LIST |
RAUNER, DIANA WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
CHAPIN HALL CENTER FOR CHILD | $500 | 03/29/1999 | P | EMILY'S LIST |

Diana Rauner Contribution List in 2004
Name & Location | Employer/Occupation | Dollar Amount |
Date | Primary/ General |
Contibuted To |
Rauner, Diana M WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
Self-Employed/Writer | $5,000 | 05/28/2004 | G | OUR COMMON VALUES PAC |
RAUNER, DIANA WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO | $2,000 | 04/14/2004 | G | OBAMA FOR ILLINOIS INC - Democrat |
RAUNER, DIANA WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO | $250 | 03/03/2004 | P | OBAMA FOR ILLINOIS INC - Democrat |
RAUNER, DIANA M WINETKA, IL 60093 |
UNIV OF CHICAGO | $1,000 | 11/25/2003 | P | DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE - Democrat |
Rauner, Diana Ms. WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
University of Chicago/Researcher | $2,500 | 11/14/2003 | P | EMILY'S LIST |
Rauner, Diana Mendley WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
University of Chicago/Researcher | $2,000 | 05/19/2003 | P | JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC - Democrat |
Actually, 2008 seems to be when Dr. Rauner decided that moderate Republicans deserved some of her contributions. I wonder if she was so distraught over being torn between two parties that she could not remember her occupation from donation to donation? (http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/diana-rauner.asp?cycle=08)
Rauner, Diana WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
Ounce Of Prevention/Non-Profit Exec | $2,300 | 10/23/2008 | G | KIRK FOR CONGRESS - Republican |
Rauner, Diana M. WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
Ounce of Prevention Fund/Executive | $2,300 | 09/25/2008 | G | ROSKAM FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE - Republican |
Rauner, Diana Mrs. WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
Ounce of Prevention Fund/Executive | $2,300 | 09/25/2008 | G | SCHOCK FOR CONGRESS - Unknown |
Rauner, Diana WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
Ounce of Prevention Fund/Director | $2,300 | 09/03/2008 | G | BILL FOSTER FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE - Democrat |
Rauner, Diana WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
GTCR Golder Rauner/Principal | $1,150 | 03/20/2008 | G | MARKEY COMMITTEE, THE - Democrat |
Rauner, Diana WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
GTCR Golder Rauner/Principal | $1,150 | 03/20/2008 | P | MARKEY COMMITTEE, THE - Democrat |
Rauner, Diana WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
None/Homemaker | $10,000 | 03/12/2008 | P | ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN PARTY - Republican |
RAUNER, DIANA MENDLEY WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
$-700 | 02/29/2008 | G | ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT INC. - Republican | |
RAUNER, DIANA MENDLEY MRS. WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
$-700 | 01/10/2008 | P | ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT INC. - Republican | |
RAUNER, DIANA MENDLEY MRS. WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
$700 | 01/10/2008 | G | ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT INC. - Republican | |
RAUNER, DIANA MENDLEY MRS. WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
$3,000 | 11/30/2007 | P | ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT INC. - Republican | |
Rauner, Diana M. WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
homemaker/homemaker | $2,300 | 09/23/2007 | G | DAN SEALS FOR CONGRESS - Democrat |
Rauner, Diana M. WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
homemaker/homemaker | $2,300 | 06/25/2007 | P | DAN SEALS FOR CONGRESS - Democrat |
Rauner, Diana Ms. WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
Dunce of Prevention Fund/Non-Profit | $2,300 | 03/13/2007 | P | OBAMA FOR AMERICA - Democrat |
At least in 2010 the donations were all Republican... and the staunch conservative Democrat Jan Schakowsky ... oh, and Sara (http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/diana-rauner.asp?cycle=10):
Diana Rauner Contribution List in 2010
Name & Location | Employer/Occupation | Dollar Amount |
Date | Primary/ General |
Contibuted To |
RAUNER, DIANA CHICAGO, IL 60654 |
$-2,400 | 06/22/2010 | G | CHACHAS FOR NEVADA - Republican | |
RAUNER, DIANA WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
OUNCE OF PREVENTION/EXECUTIVE DIREC | $2,400 | 06/02/2010 | G | PORTMAN FOR SENATE COMMITTEE - Republican |
Rauner, Diana Medley WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
Ounce of Prevention/Executive Direc | $1,400 | 01/20/2010 | G | SCHAKOWSKY FOR CONGRESS - Democrat |
RAUNER, DIANA CHICAGO, IL 60654 |
HOMEMAKER/HOMEMAKER | $2,400 | 12/31/2009 | P | CHACHAS FOR NEVADA - Republican |
RAUNER, DIANA CHICAGO, IL 60654 |
HOMEMAKER/HOMEMAKER | $2,400 | 12/31/2009 | G | CHACHAS FOR NEVADA - Republican |
RAUNER, DIANA WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
OUNCE OF PREVENTION/NON-PROFIT EXEC | $2,400 | 12/17/2009 | P | KIRK FOR SENATE - Republican |
RAUNER, DIANA WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
OUNCE OF PREVENTION/NON-PROFIT EXEC | $2,400 | 12/17/2009 | G | KIRK FOR SENATE - Republican |
Rauner, Diana WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
None/Homemaker | $10,000 | 07/09/2009 | P | ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN PARTY - Republican |
Rauner, Diana M. WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
Ounce of Prevention Fund/Executive | $2,400 | 03/18/2009 | G | ROSKAM FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE - Republican |
Rauner, Diana M. WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
Ounce of Prevention Fund/Executive | $2,400 | 03/18/2009 | P | ROSKAM FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE - Republican |
Rauner, Diana Mrs. WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
Ounce of Prevention Fund/Executive | $2,400 | 03/17/2009 | G | SCHOCK FOR CONGRESS - Republican |
Rauner, Diana Mrs. WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
Ounce of Prevention Fund/Executive | $2,400 | 03/17/2009 | P | SCHOCK FOR CONGRESS - Republican |
Rauner, Diana WINNETKA, IL 60093 |
Ounce of Prevention Fund/Executive | $500 | 02/26/2009 | P | FRIENDS OF SARA - Democrat |
Perhaps I am missing the point. Apparently Bruce Rauner gives a hell of a speech and he is not a current politician. So conservative activists like what he has to say, so much so, what he has done doesn't matter? Words do speak louder than actions, after all. Anyway, the bulk of his recent contributions have been to moderate/establishment Republicans and organizations. I don't suppose he needed that level of donation history for an eventual run? Nah, not a political outsider, he would never consider what he would need to do for a run.
Also, who do I think I am bringing his wife's politics into this? He is running, not his wife. If the thinking is that the candidate's wife and her political actions have no bearing on the candidate, I assume the thinker had nothing ever to say about Michelle Obama or pre-2000 Hillary Clinton.