In politics, money talks

Lois Cole’s family doesn’t understand her political choices.

Cole, of La Monte, was the only person in The Sedalia Democrat’s nine-county coverage area to donate money to the Barack Obama campaign in this year’s presidential race, according to federal records.

“Like I told them, do you know that I’m 90 years old and live on Social Security?” the life-long Democrat said. “I think we need a change. I heard him talk and thought that sometimes we white people don’t recognize that there’s value in anyone else who’s not white.”

Cole, who has been voting her entire adult life, donated $250 to aid the Obama campaign because she thinks the presidential hopeful is “capable and sincere.”

“I think he reaches out and knows what we need. We need someone who knows the law, and he taught the Constitution for 10 years in college,” she said. “I thought that if he’s going to serve according to the Constitution, we can’t go wrong. I just think he’s the right one.”

With the state’s presidential primaries and Super Tuesday just two days away, the people of Missouri have donated $2.8 million to Republican and Democratic presidential campaigns, according to the Federal Election Commission.

The Democrat’s coverage area comprises Pettis, Saline, Lafayette, Johnson, Henry, Benton, Morgan, Moniteau and Cooper counties. People here have donated a total of $7,964 — $5,474 for the Republican candidates and $2,490 for the Democrats, according to reports on the FEC Web site.

A total of 22 people from The Democrat’s coverage area donated to both political parties.

For Bonnie Pankalla, the Republican side has many choices. She donated $500 to the John McCain campaign and $1,000 to the Mike Huckabee campaign.

“I knew that I wanted one or the other of these two gentlemen to be the next presidential contender,” Pankalla, 70, said.

“I have a lot of faith in both men for different reasons,” she said. “McCain is a warrior, and he’d be the best man to handle the war we’re facing with the Islamic countries.”

Last summer Pankalla moved to Warrensburg from Arkansas, and said she was familiar with Huckabee since she lived there while he was governor. “We know Mr. Huckabee and know what kind of man he is.”

On Super Tuesday, Pankalla’s vote can only go to one man. “I’ve been a staunch Republican all of my life and plan to vote for McCain,” she said.

Candidates have dropped out as the primaries have progressed. One John Edwards contributor was sad to see him leave the race.

“I like him very much,” Ruth Kearns, 82, said. “He’s so honest and down to earth. And quite practical.”

Kearns, a Democrat from Slater, donated $450 to the campaign and said Edwards gave up too soon.

“I wish he hadn’t done it. Harry Truman went through this, and everyone said he was going to lose, and he won,” she said.

Kearns plans to vote Tuesday for Hillary Clinton without any reservations.

For one Republican, this presidential campaign comes down to one issue: illegal immigration.

Marvin Schlup, 86, backed Tom Tancredo with $190 because he likes the candidate’s stance on immigration control. “The problem isn’t out here, but it’s a problem in the nation,” the Latham resident said.

Supporters of Hillary Clinton donated the most money locally, with the total coming in at $1,190.

Dr. Dot Robbins, a German professor at the University of Central Missouri, donated $940 and said she is viewing this election from an international perspective.

“I go to Russia two or three times a year,” she said. “We are so hurt internationally. For me, at this point, Hillary Clinton and her team are the only ones who can turn things around.”

rflorez@sedaliademocrat.com