Candidates get over $460,000 from journalists, media pros

Anna Wintour hasn't kept her political allegiances hidden. In July, the Vogue editor made headlines by having President Obama over to her Manhattan townhouse for a $30,000-a-head Democratic National Committee fundraiser.

But Wintour has done more for the party than simply host a fundraiser. Last year, she gave a little over $30,000 to the DNC and another $2,000 to New York Congressman Timothy Bishop.

The Center for Responsive Politics calls attention to donations from Wintour and 234 other self-identified journalists or media professionals in its analysis of the 2010 election cycle. Candidates, or party committees, took in more than $469,900 from individual media donors over the past two years.

Several news organizations prohibit both journalists and employees from donating to political campaigns, including the Associated Press, New York Times, and Reuters. The center's list doesn't include editorial staffers from publications like the Times or the Washington Post, but does cite individuals on the business side of those news organizations.

Clearly, political reporters from nonpartisan media outlets — rather than, say, staffers in a magazine's marketing department — would run up against the most glaring ethical issues by making contributions to candidates. However, the 235-person list doesn't include any 2010 campaign reporters.

But journalists from partisan media outlets or lifestyle magazines aren't always bound by strict rules concerning donations, and some justify giving to candidates of their choice.

Christopher Hayes, the Washington editor for the left-leaning Nation magazine, gave $250 to Alabama Democratic candidate (and friend) Josh Segall. Hayes told the center that because he's long-time friends with Segall, he would have been too conflicted to write on his candidacy for the magazine anyway. Hayes said he donated out of of "personal admiration" for Segall.

The Center for Responsive Politics also noted contributions from individuals identifying affiliations with Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., Conde Nast, the New York Post, ESPN, and Men's Health. (News Corp. recently raised ethical alarms by giving $1 million to the Republican Governors Association, but the company is not included in this analysis of individual donors.)

New York Post editor Jesse Angelo, according to the report, has donated $3,400 to Kentucky Senate candidate Jack Conway, who's now behind in the polls against Republican Rand Paul. Angelo didn't respond to the center's questions about the donation, but Post business reporter Paul Tharp explained why he gave $750 to New York Democratic Rep. Michael McMahon. "Just because I am a reporter doesn't mean I give up my rights," Tharp said. "I have an interest in public service, but not politics. I cover business."

Marty Peretz, editor-in-chief of the liberal New Republic, has given $4,800 to New York Senator Chuck Schumer. Peretz didn't respond to the center either, but told The Upshot that his magazine has "no rules about donating to campaigns."

Peretz, who lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, said that he's given in the past to Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and intends to donate to Barbara Boxer, the California Senator in a tight race against former HP chief executive Carly Fiorina.

Michael Kinsley, a veteran editor and new columnist for Politico, describes his $500 donation to Slate blogger-turned-Democratic Senate candidate Mickey Kaus as his "first foray into campaign contributions." In June, Kinsley said that despite Kaus only getting 5.3% of the vote, he "got [his] money's worth."

Here are a few of the other high-profile media donors:

New Yorker writer and Pulitzer Prize winner Seymour Hersh: $1,000 to Idaho Rep. Walt Minnick (D).

Vanity Fair contributing editor (and Enron chronicler) Bethany McLean: $2,000 to losing Illinois Senate candidate David Hoffman (D).

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review owner (and conservative-backer) Richard Mellon Scaife: $14,400 to the Republican National Committee, Pennsylvania Senate candidate Pat Toomey (R) and Pennsylvania Congressional candidate Louis J. Barletta (R).

Men's Health editor Dave Zinczenko: $2,400 to Pennsylvania Congressional candidate John Callahan (D).

Glamour editor Cindi Leive: $500 each to New York Congressmen Michael E. McMahon (D) and Scott Murphy (D)

ESPN executive producer Maura Mandt: $30,400 to the DNC.

(Photo of Wintour and former White House social secretary and current media executive Desirée Rogers at Fashion Week in 2009: AP/ Diane Bondareff)