Nike Founder Runs to GOP: Just Pander It
Nike co-founder Phil Knight, a fixture in political giving, recently funneled record-breaking sums to Republicans per Newsweek. While the mainstream media frames this as a bipartisan billionaire merely flexing his civic muscles, it's worth recalling Knight's deep history of cultivating political influence. His previous 'independent' spending, like the $3.75 million he dropped in Oregon's
gubernatorial race (OpenSecrets.org), consistently aims to shape state and national policy to his—and Nike's—benefit, regardless of the party. It’s less about ideological conviction and more about ensuring the playing field is always tilted in corporate favor. So, when you see a 'record-breaking donation' to a political party, perhaps it's useful to ask what policies suddenly get a convenient
tailwind. How many 'independent' expenditures does it take before we admit that elections are less about choice and more about auction?