Posted on February 28, 2008 by Steve Pollak
My passion is Jewish writing but I'm also a political junkie. So, when I saw an opportunity to combine the two for a post on this blog, I jumped.
Nick Antosca is tracking political contributions by writers on his blog. It's a pretty simple operation, thanks to the Huffington Post's special section on political fundraising. You simple ask for all contributors who list their occupation as novelist and it provides a listing.
I was struck by the number of writers I've discussed on these pages or could be discussed on a blog called Jewish Literary Review. For example, Pulitzer Prize-winning Jewish novelist Michael Chabon gave $4,600 to the Obama campaign. His wife, writer Ayelet Waldman, gave $4,652 to Obama as well. Nick also listed information on Judy Blume, David Mamet and Jonathan Safran Foer.
Here are more results from Antosca's digging (along with some help from his readers):
Jean Auel--$2,300 for Clinton.
Judy Blume-- $2,300 for Obama and $2,300 for Richardson.
Geraldine Brooks-- $2,300 for Obama.
Michael Chabon-- $4,600 for Obama.
Deepak Chopra-- $4,600 for Clinton.
Dennis Cooper (same one?)-- $4,600 for Obama and $2,300 for Clinton.
Nelson DeMille--$1,200 for Giuliani.
Dave Eggers--$2,300 for Obama.
Jonathan Safran Foer-- $1,108 for Obama.
Jonathan Franzen-- $500 for Obama.
John Grisham-- $4,600 for Clinton and $1,000 for Obama.
Sara Gruen--$258 for Obama.
Daniel Handler-- $2,300 for Obama.
John Hodgman--$250 for Obama.
Tabitha King--$2,000 for Chris Dodd.
Dean Koontz-- $4,600 to Mitt Romney and $2,300 to Fred Thompson.
Nicole Krauss-- $1000 for Obama.
Tim LaHaye-- $2,300 for Huckabee.
David Mamet-- $4,600 for Chris Dodd.
Terry McMillan-- $2,300 for Obama.
Claire Messud--$300 for Obama.
David Milch (of Deadwood)-- $2,300 for Obama.
Walter Mosley-- $4,600 for Clinton.
Gloria Naylor-- $2,700 for Obama.
Susan Orlean-- $2,300 for Clinton.
Sara Paretsky--$586 to Edwards, $250 to Obama, $250 to Clinton.
Marisha Pessl-- $450 for Clinton.
Bradley Pierson--$475 for Ron Paul.
Richard Preston-- $2,300 for Obama.
Anne Rice-- $4,600 for Clinton.
Marilynne Robinson-- $1,000 for Obama.
Jane Smiley-- $500 for John Edwards.
Amy Tan-- $4,600 for Clinton.
Binky Urban (super agent)-- $2,000 for Obama.
Vendela Vida--$700 for Obama.
Ayelet Waldman-- $4,652 for Obama.
Jennifer Weiner--$500 for Clinton.
Connie Willis--$277 for Obama.
Jennifer Weiner--$500 for Clinton.
Connie Willis--$277 for Obama.
For more information and updates, visit Nick Antosca's blog.