Big Oil
Big Oil is a term some use to describe the major petroleum companies such as Exxon-Mobil, Chevron-Texaco, British Petroleum and others.
Oil is used as a raw ingredient in the production of gasoline, heating oil and plastics.[1]
Politics
Some Democrats often position themselves against Big Oil while in general, Republican candidates are favorable to these large oil corporations. From 1990 to 2006, the oil industry as a whole contributed $48,972,754 to democratic candidates while contributing $150,571,902 to Republican candidates, for a 25% to 75% split between the two parties and a total of $200,865,355 in campaign contributions.[2]. The disparity in the donations between the parties was widened from a 38%/62% split in 1990 to a 17%/82% split in 2006 in favor of Republican candidates.