Raytheon's Political Firepower, AT&T's Expanding Clout and More in Capital Eye Opener: March 21 http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2011/03/ceo-3-21-2011.html

THIS MISSILE STRIKE BROUGHT TO YOU BY ... Those Tomahawk cruise missiles raining down on targets throughout Libya?They're primarily manufactured by Raytheon, a large defense contractor that sells these weapons to the U.S. government for a pretty penny.Military minded as it is, Raytheon also ranks among the great political forces in the United States, too, landing on OpenSecrets.org's "Heavy Hitters" list -- a distinction reserved for the companies, unions and other special interests that account for their political their cash using seven or eight figures.In 2010, Massachusetts-based Raytheon spent nearly $7 million lobbying the federal government on a variety of issues.

Meanwhile, in its lobbying disclosure reports filed with the federal government, it mentioned the word "missile," or some variation thereof, no fewer than 50 times. The company also targets political candidates with its financial resources: Raytheon's employees and political action committee combined to contribute more than $2.17 million to federal-level candidates and parties during the 2010 election cycle.

That's the most they've ever donated in a single election cycle. Political party doesn't appear to be much of a factor for Raytheon-affiliated political donors, as Democrats (53 percent) benefited from their cash only slightly more than Republicans (46 percent). Ex-Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) and Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) received more Raytheon-related money during the 2010 cycle than any other candidate running for Congress.As for those Tomahawk missiles, the U.S. Navy estimates that one costs $569,000 in 1999 dollars.