Under the Federal Election Committee’s guidelines re-written in 1993, unions and corporations are forbidden from funneling unlimited contributions to political parties.

So last week when Congress provided immunity for telecom giants, such as AT&T, who are collaborators in the biggest spy bill passed in history, perhaps they weren’t looking for anything in return.

Except the fact that AT&T is now the sponsor of the Democratic National Convention.

Coupled with other winners like Comcast, Motorola, Coca-Cola, Google and a smorgasboard of additional corporate piggy sponsors, AT&T has donated over a $1 million to the DNC in return for “prominent display space and access to elected officials.”

Access to elected officials? Isn’t a corporation forbidden from political charity?

Alas, under an exemption that was created by the Federal Election Commission, which essentially is made up of representatives of the two major parties, “all of this money can be given if it’s given through a host committee under the pretense that it’s merely to promote the convention city.”

Denver 2k8 or bust!

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