Warren Buffett's $100K donation to Chuck Hassebrook is believed to be his largest single contributio

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald

By Robynn Tysver

Warren Buffett can be a tightwad with politicians.

The Omaha billionaire who is arguably Nebraska’s most famous Democratic businessman has a long history of donating dollars to candidates. But, typically, the folksy investor shells out only a few thousand bucks per person.

He also rarely invests heavily in Nebraska state races, giving most of his money to federal candidates running for either president or Congress.

Not this year.

FULL story at link.



Warren Buffett, left, and Chuck Hassebrook


Read more: http://www.omaha.com/news/politics/warren-buffett-s-k-donation-to-chuck-hassebrook-is-believed/article_36accc6d-76d1-5130-afd2-805efd507b2a.html

[merrily]

1. I saw his grandddaughter on TV once. IIRC, I think she said

she had worked her way through college as a nanny.

If I am remembering correctly, it's one thing not to believe in dynastic wealth, but which billionaire thinks it's wrong to even lend his granddaughter college tuition? I don't consider that impulse entirely normal. Sure, it's not anything he should be hospitalized for, but it sure is outside any norm with which I am familiar.

This is hysterical though. If I gave someone $100,000 it would be a huge personal sacrifice for me, but would never make a ripple in the news. Buffet probably has more than $100,000 in his couch cushions, but he is usually so tightfisted that this donaton supposedly "legitimizes" a candidacy for Governor?

Why don't we just admit that our society worships the wealthy, even if they are notorious tightwads and have unusual family arrangements?

I must admit, though, having nothing to do with his money, I find Buffet's grin infectious and therefore usually smile when I see him. Maybe I also like that he blows the myths that only welfare queens vote Democratic.

[WhoWoodaKnew]

2. Personally, I think it's great. He's teaching a life lesson that many if us had to learn.

[merrily]

3. Ok. You have a different opinion about it.

I would teach it by not paying for other things, like a car, but I'd at least lend a grandkid tuition, even if that were the one and only financial favor I ever did her.

That's what makes a horse race, as they say.

[valerief]

5. Higher ed s/b paid by the federal govt like it's done in first world countries. nt

[merrily]

8. Too bad that was not an option for Buffet's granddaughter.

[valerief]

9. Or anyone else. nt

[Warpy]

10. He's had a very long time to witness what inheritance of enormous wealth

and shielding offspring from economic reality faced by 99% of the population does to those children and it's not pretty, at all.

It's hard to tell which is the worse inheritance, poverty or enormous wealth. At least if you're poor, you've got plenty of company.

One thing I'm most grateful to my dad for is that he left me enough to live on but not enough to ruin my life. Thanks, Dad.

[DFW]

4. I paid for my kids' college tuition

Or, rather, my parents left me some money that was just enough to cover my kids' college tuitions. I'm no billionaire, but I wasn't going to make them saddle themselves with burdensome loans if I could help it. Both of them are now out on their own, earning their own living. The peace of mind--for all involved parties--was worth more to me than the cash.

[freshwest]

7. Sending you a PM about this...

[brooklynite]

6. Forgive me, but what does paying (or not) for college have to do with political contributions...

I think the bigger story is that Nebraska apparently has no limit on how much you can contribute to a candidate.