For a start, Mitt Romney, whose presidential campaign the eBay CEO has joined as chief California fundraiser, is more progressive than some of his posturing on gay marriage would suggest; he's just trying to make himself acceptable to the conservative right of the Republican party. And Whitman has a personal connection to the Republican presidential candidate; they both worked as management consultants at Bain & Company, in the 1980s.

As for Whitman's financial support of hardliners on immigration and the teaching of evolution: the eBay boss, and the company's government affairs department, may be more concerned about a political challenge to eBay's fabulously profitable monopoly position in the online auctions business. Writes one observer:

eBay needs real friends to help them. You only earn friends by donating massively to one side. To the extent of supporting paleo nuts? If she thought it would save her business, she would.