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the issue of single payer healthcare. According to one report, 60% of the polled public supports such system but less than half of those in Congress are willing to back it at the moment and Obama has come out against it, despite supporting it as a State Senator.

Because both sides of aisle receive such heavy campaign funding from the insurance industry, Democrats and Republicans are quick to decry the idea as "socialism", which shows the fear of a dying free market system and not a moment too soon. This brings up the issue of special interest groups. Both parties have to appeal to many of these large lobby groups even if they oppose the base of either political divide. This breaks with the notion that each presidential election is a ideological tug-of-war; a battle of Right versus Left.

Let's take the so-called pro-Israel faction as an example of a lobby group that has helped develop American policy. Every fours year the Republicans like to paint the false picture that the Democratic presidential candidate has plans to overturn the US policy of lending the Israeli government unconditional support. The reason is simple, the Jewish community, despite being less than 10% of the total US population consistently prove to be one of the most organized and potent voting forces under the flag. The truth of the matter is that, since 1948 our unconditional policy towards Israel has been the policy of both parties and this seems very unlikely to change under president Obama.

But in the end, every politician knows that it costs money to run a successful campaign and this is where the best interests of 90% of the American publican are kicked to the curb by both parties. This is where the lies really are given birth. Below is a list of the top contributors in the latest presidential race cycle.

Industry

Grand Total

%Dem

%Repub

Retired

$11,510, 739

45%

55%

Lawyers/Law Firms

$6,122,714

70%

30%

Securitie s & Investment

$3,330,854

50%

50%

Real Estate

$2,852,061

47%

53%

Health Professionals

$2,153,116

49%

51%

E ducation

$2,077,402

73%

27%

Busine ss Services

$2,013,354

62%

38%

Misc Business

$1,747,086

51%

49%

Misc Finance

$1,412,332

44%

56%

Compute rs/Internet

$1,400,256

56%

44%

Act Blue

$2,246,871

100%

0%

Goldman Sachs

$1,472,646

71%

29%

Citigroup Inc

$1,317,453

61%

39%

Morgan Stanley

$1,012,097

62%

38%

Lehman Brothers

$990,150

61%

39%

Merrill Lynch

$932,376

42%

58%

JP Morgan Chase & Co

$793,894

66%

34%

UBS AG

$696,839

64%

36%

DLA Piper

$682,560

92%

8%

Credit Suisse Group

$651,895

45%

55%

Top 10 Contributors to Presidential Candidates, 4th Quarter

Donor

Grand Total

%Dem

%Repub

Lehman

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