Google CEO Eric Schmidt is joining Apple’s Board of Directors.  He should feel comfortable at his first board meeting when he looks over the table and spots fellow board member Al Gore.  Schmidt, after all, is comfortable with Democrats.  He gives them money.  Lots of it.

A search of opensecrets.org reveals that since 1998, Schmidt has given $195,466 to Democratic federal candidates and committees.  How much to the GOP?  $8,500.  Wendy Schmidt have given $46,500 to Democrats and $3,000 to Republicans.

Of course, Schmidt asks others to give money to Democrats as well.  A September 20, 2000, Reuters report:

Flamboyant rock star Elton John, making his first foray into American politics after three decades of performing in the United States, endorsed Vice President Al Gore at a ritzy Silicon Valley fund-raiser. John, the entertainer at a $10,000-a-plate dinner Tuesday, began his set with “Your Song.” But before his next number, he showed his political stripes to the business leaders of America’s technological mecca.  “I’ve never done a political fund-raiser before, and I’m an English man who has been coming to America for 30 years,” John told the 320 guests, who included actors Robin Williams and Sharon Stone as well as a slew of high-tech executives. .. The fund-raiser, at the home of Novell Corp. Chief Executive Eric Schmidt, raised $3.25 million for the Democratic National Committee.

Yes, Gore and Schmidt: quite comfortable together.