Fresh off the regulatory defeat of the $45 billion merger between Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA) and Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC), Comcast regulatory affairs chief David L. Cohen is set to host a $2,700-a-plate fundraiser for 2016 Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
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The event will take place on June 26 at the home of Cohen and his wife, Rhonda. Those who donate $50,000 or more will have access to a private reception with the candidate.
Cohen's involvement in the political system includes a term as chief of staff for Ed Rendell, the former governor of Pennsylvania.
The fundraising event comes after progressive consumer groups proved instrumental in torpedoing the Comcast-TWC deal, one spearheaded by Cohen himself on the regulatory end.
Of course, Comcast is perhaps the most aggressive of all media companies when it comes to political donations, spreading cash across party lines and the ideological spectrum.
"Comcast NBCUniversal operates in 39 states and has 130,000 employees across the country," said company spokeswoman Sena Fitzmaurice in March. "It is important for our customers, our employees and our shareholders that we participate in the political process. The majority of our PAC contributions are to the senators and members who represent our employees and customers."
According to The Center for Responsive Politics, Comcast made around $5 million in political contributions last year, and spent fully $17 million on lobbying.
As for Cohen, he recently received a vote of confidence from Comcast CEO Brian Roberts.
For more:
- read this Philadelphia Business Journal story
- read this Philadelphia Inquirer story
Related articles:
Comcast's Roberts comes out in support of merger 'general' Cohen
Comcast's DC 'general,' Cohen, could take fall for failed merger attempt
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