Doerr's point of view focuses on the broad goals of the high-tech industry: He wants a free market, plentiful labor, and a growing consumer base. To make sure Silicon Valley is heard in Washington, Doerr founded the bipartisan political action committee TechNet in 1997 to donate large sums to political candidates. Today, TechNet comprises more than 300 high-tech executives -- including 12 donors on the Mother Jones 400 who invested a combined $4 million in national politics. During the last election cycle, TechNet tripled the amount of campaign contributions it made over the previous election cycle.

An alum of chipmaker giant Intel, Doerr put Silicon Valley on the political map in 1996 by organizing opposition to a California proposition intended to make it easier for shareholders to sue irresponsible companies when stock prices tanked. Doerr attacked the ballot measure, saying it would encourage "frivolous shareholder lawsuits threatening every company in the country and costing California 159,000 jobs." Once again, his politics served as an extension of his business: As a partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Doerr had a stake in more than 250 technology ventures, including Compaq, Sun Microsystems, and Amazon. He helped raise a record $40 million to oppose the shareholder proposition, ensuring its defeat.

Last fall, Doerr's lobbying paid off again when TechNet scored victories on both of its top two legislative priorities: exporting more products and importing more workers. First, the Senate approved permanent normal trade relations with China, clearing the way for high-tech business. "By trading with China," Doerr gushed to repoters, "we will raise the standard of living for everybody, create more jobs, and, if they use and adopt more of our products, we'll see democracy flourish faster."

Then, Congress raised the number of H-1B visas issued to foreign workers each year from 115,000 to 195,000, giving Silicon Valley a flood of new high-tech employees. The legislation also doubles the amount of money for training American workers for high-tech jobs and teaching students information technology skills.

Although Doerr's interest in education is almost a personal obsession -- he has two school-age daughters and claims to visit one public school every three weeks -- it's also a strategic business position. According to TechNet, education reform means ensuring that "all children -- and all Americans -- share in the Information Age through access to technology and its benefits." The underlying message is clear: Make technology an important part of children's lives, and the high-tech industry can seal its success with the next generation of employees and customers. "Half of the classrooms don't have the electricity to plug in a computer," Doerr said at a fundraiser last fall. "It just makes you sick."

In an effort to change that, Doerr -- along with his family and business associates -- spent more than $8 million to win approval of a California proposition making it easier to pass school bonds. Last year, he also helped push through legislation that lifted the cap on the number of charter schools permitted in California. Although he claims he supports charter schools because they raise educational standards, Doerr has a financial interest in their success: He's an investor in Advantage Schools, one of the nation's largest charter school companies with 15 schools across the country.

Given his political action -- and his connections -- some insiders speculate that the Democrats may nominate a Gore-Doerr ticket in 2004. To that, Doerr scoffs. "No way," he told the San Francisco Chronicle. "I wouldn't be good at it. Everyone is out to kill you. I don't have the thick skin."