Who is Sheldon Adelson?

Sheldon Adelson, a casino mogul and the third-richest man in the United States, is a prominent backer of right-wing 527s and Republican candidates. Adelson owns the Venetian and the Palazzo in Las Vegas, the only casinos that are fervently anti-union. In August, Adelson opened the world's largest casino in China on the island of Macau. Adelson has lobbied US representatives on behalf of Chinese interests. He also owns a free conservative daily newspaper in Israel, which serves as a springboard for promoting Likud party leader Benjamin Netanyahu. [National
Journal; New Yorker]

6 Things Adelson Doesn't Want you To Know

1. Lobbied Congress to Overlook China's Human Rights Violations. Adelson lobbied former House Majority Leader DeLay on behalf of the Chinese government in exchange for a casino concession permit. Adelson asked DeLay to kill a resolution opposing China's Olympic bid due to its ”abominable human rights record.” [Source: New Yorker; Las Vegas Review Journal, 10/4/07]

2. Makes Most of His Money From Chinese Gambling Profits. Adelson opened the world's largest casino in China on the island of Macau. He continues to develop casinos in China and Asia, investments that are the main source of his wealth. [Source: National Journal]

3. Allegedly Employed Illegal Workers in Macau. 900 protestors gathered in Macau to protest official corruption and the influx of illegal workers from the recent casino developments, including Adelson's Macau Sands. Local officials claim that the Macau sands boom is fueling inequality and forcing local companies out of business. [Source: NPR]

4. Attempted to Bribe a Congresswoman. Representative Shelley Berkeley claims that Adelson, tried to bribe her. Adelson offered to provide Berkley all the campaign funding she would need if she switched to the Republican Party. [Source: New Yorker]

5. Intimidated American Workers. Adelson's two Las Vegas casinos, the Venetian and the Palazzo, are the only Las Vegas Strip properties whose employees have no union representation. Union representatives accuse Adelson of intimidating workers, and workers frequently organize protests at the Venetian. [Source: USA Today]

6. Under Investigation For Involvement In Bribery Scandal. Jerusalem District Court is investigating whether Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert asked Sheldon Adelson to award one of his contributors a substantial contract for mini-bar computerized systems. Olmert is resigning soon under pressure, and authorities are deciding whether Adelson should be indicted with bribe-taking. [Source: Jerusalem Post]

Adelson's Giving History

Between 2007 and 2008, Adelson donates over $4 million to Freedom Watch. Freedom's Watch, a 501(c)(4) established in 2007, has been described by the Guardian
Observeras “a neo-conservative slush fund and front for White House policy.” Rep.
Chris Van Hollen characterized the group as ”`a shady soft money group with ties to President Bush and Senator John McCain” and its funding and support for 2008 Republican Congressional candidates as an ”unprecedented swift boat operation.” Freedom's Watch has already launched attack ads on behalf of Republicans that local affiliates have started to reject as misleading. Democrats and outside groups challenge the tax-exempt status of Freedom's Watch by contending that its ads inappropriately target candidates. Adelson reportedly uses Freedom's Watch to promote his business and political interests in China, Washington, and Israel.

Between 2007 and 2008, Adelson donates over $3 million dollars to American Solutions. Newt Gingrich bills his 527, American Solutions for Winning the Future, as a non-partisan policy shop. But news reports revealed that American Solutions was simply Gingrich's “back door into the presidential process.' The Atlanta Journal Constitution described the group's mission as “promoting its founder's presidential aspirations,” while The Washington Post debunked the group's alleged non-partisanship, concluding that American Solutions was “clearly courting conservatives” for Gingrich. American Solutions allowed Gingrich to repeatedly visit states with early primaries and caucuses, air ads, and build a network of supporters through direct mail and marketing - “much like a presidential contender.” Watchdog organizations question whether American Solutions violates federal law, as a potential candidate cannot use 527 funds once he or she begins to test the waters. Due to American Solutions' non-profit status, the group is not subject to the restrictions of a typical candidate committee and can accept donations of any amount from virtually anyone. American Solutions continues to receive large contributions from troubled donors. [Sources: Atlanta Journal Constitution, 10/3/07, 9/15/07]

In 2006, Adelson donated $20 million to a Georgetown program to “moderate the Arab presence at the university.” Adelson gave money to Georgetown University to expand a program in Jewish civilization so as to "moderate the Arab presence at the University which is strong and getting stronger." [Source: Ha'aretz]

Between 1995 and 2005, Adelson donated $7,200 to Tom Delay Congressional Committee. [Source: Fec.gov]

In 2004, Adelson donated $500,000 to George W. Bush's inauguration. [Source: USA
Today]

In 2008, Adelson raised over $100,000 for John McCain's Presidential Campaign. [Source: McCain for President]

Further Reading

The Brass Ring - A multibillionaire's relentless quest for Global Influence
The New Yorker, By Connie Bruck, 6/30/08

Betting Man
National Journal Magazine, Peter Stone, 5/10/08

Great Expectations for a Conservative Group Seem All but Dashed
New York Times, Michael Luo, 4/12/08

Betting on Red
Mother Jones, Peter Stone, 1/08

Big Coffers and a Rising Voice Life a New Conservative Group
New York Times, By Don Van Natta Jr., 9/30/07