CodePink Demonstration against General Atomics Predator Drones
The top ranking recipient of General Atomics campaign
contributions isn’t a member of the infamous “drone caucus” (Congressional
Caucus on Unmanned Systems). General Atomics is the leading producer and
promoter of drones used by the
Department of Homeland Security, Defense Department, and the CIA.
Senator Diane Feinstein’s (D-Calif.) contributions from General
Atomics easily placed her at the top of the list. Feinstein, who chairs the
powerful Senate Intelligence Committee, was also favored in the campaign
contributions by Linden Blue, the president of General Atomics. (See Figure 4)
Senator Feinstein has been a highly consistent supporter of the
intelligence community and military budgets. Her failure to oppose the
clandestine drone strikes ordered by the White House and CIA have sparked
widespread criticism by those who argue the strikes are unconstitutional,
illegal under international law and counterproductive as a counterterrorism
tactic.
In 2012, General Atomics was Feinstein’s third largest campaign
contributor, while other leading contributors were the military contractors
General Dynamics (from which General Atomics emerged), BAE Systems and Northrup
Grumman. Feinstein’s connections to General Atomics extend beyond being top
recipient of their campaign contributions. Rachel Miller, a former (2003-2007)
legislative assistant for Feinstein, has served as a paid lobbyist for General
Atomics, both working directly for the firm (in 2011) and as a General Atomics
lobbyist employed by Capitol Solutions (2009 - present), one of the leading
lobbying firms contracted by General Atomics.
And did you know that Linden Blue plans to marry Retired Rear
Adm. Ronne Froman? Few others knew
about the engagement of this high-society San Diego couple until Senator
Feinstein announced the planned marriage at a mid-November 2012 meeting of the
downtown San Diego business community – news that
quickly appeared the Society pages of the San
Diego Union-Tribune. There has been no explanation offered why Feinstein
broke this high-society news, but the announcement certainly did point to the
senator’s likely personal connections to Blue and Froman (who was hired by
General Atomics as senior vice-president in December 2007 and has since left
the firm).
Campaign contributions and personal connections
create goodwill and facilitate contracts. General Atomics also counts on the
results produced by a steady stream of lobbying dollars – which have risen
dramatically since 2003, and been averaging $2.5 million annually since 2005.
In 2012, General Atomics spent $2,470,000 lobbying Congress.
General Atomics, Campaign
Contributions (2012 cycle)
Top
Individual Recipients
Diane
Feinstein (D) $54,750
Buck McKeon
(R) $38,800
Jerry Lewis
(R) $22,400
Duncan
Hunter (R) $16,450
Brian
Bilbray (R) $13,250
Source: OpenSecrets.org
Linden Blue, President of General
Atomics
Campaign
Contributions (2012 cycle)
Top
Individual Recipients
Buck, McKeon $7,100
Duncan
Hunter $3,950
Diane
Feinstein $3,500
Mitt Romney $2,450
Jerry Lewis $1,000
_______________________________________
Source:
OpenSecrets.org
For more information and references, see: Drones
Over the Homeland, April 2013, at
http://www.ciponline.org/images/uploads/publications/IPR_Drones_over_Homeland_Final.pdf
For more information and references, see: Drones
Over the Homeland, April 2013, at
http://www.ciponline.org/images/uploads/publications/IPR_Drones_over_Homeland_Final.pdf
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