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Tag(s): Congress; Congressional Ethics; Corporate Corruption Crime; Corporate Media
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November 19, 2007 at 21:22:44

My Congressman is a stooge for big media - Is yours? Check this list...

by Gustav Wynn Page 1 of 1 page(s)

www.opednews.com

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I just found out what my Member of Congress has been spending his time doing. I came across an article about him along with a group of mostly Democratic Members writing an official letter of petition. But not regarding any of the issues most important to the American people like the war, electoral reform, corruption, health care, or even education - instead, the letter was recommending approval of the satellite radio mega-merger to benefit media titans XM and Sirius radio. The article was on the Forbes business site [click here] and portrayed the merger as "unlikely", making even more ponderous the reason why Congress is taking time and taxpayer money to cheerlead for the deal.

If I had to guess, I'd say this petition was signalling the same unfortunate trend of large corporations buying our Reps and tricking them out as lobbyists for particular business deals that benefit the same puppetmaster donors.

It's particularly spurious when the corporations in question are media conglomerates which so often whitewash news and events that do not complement their political agenda.

My Congressman in particular has a sorry history when it comes to votes on major legislation regulating big media. Despite significant outcry, he voted yes for the COPE bill which, among other things would eradicate net neutrality and allow cable companies to decide which websites you have full access to. If you value OpEdNews, you'll vote these snakey Reps out before they shut down the voices of real Americans.

The letter was signed by Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Rep. Corrine Brown (D-FL), Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL), Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY), Rep. Ralph Hall (R-TX), Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL), Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Rep. Greg Meeks (D-NY), Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL), and Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-NY).

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2 comments

Barbara H. Peterson is retired from the California Department of Corrections, where she worked as a Correctional Officer at Folsom Prison. She was one of the first females to work at the facility in this classification. After retirement, she went to college online to obtain a Bachelor's degree in Business, and graduated with honors.

The most valuable thing she received from her time with UOP was a realization that her life's passion is writing. Now her business degree sits in her d...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Barbara PetersonBarbara H. Peterson is retired from the California Department of Corrections, where she worked as a Correctional Officer at Folsom Prison. She was one of the first females to work at the facility in this classification. After retirement, she went to college online to obtain a Bachelor's degree in Business, and graduated with honors.

The most valuable thing she received from her time with UOP was a realization that her life's passion is writing. Now her business degree sits in her d...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Hidden agenda

While researching for an article I did on the media consilidation issue, I found that people are doing a bit of sleight of hand with this issue. The proponents of it are cast as people who support less government regulation. This is subterfuge. The real consequences of loosening government control over consolidation is that it creates the opposite effect. Since our government is actually bought and paid for by multi-national corporations, when we give the corporations more control, we are not reducing government control, but actually increasing it because the corporations control the government.

by Barbara Peterson (46 articles, 80 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 416 comments) on Tuesday, November 20, 2007 at 3:26:45 PM

GW is a proud American from NY State, concerned about ethics issues, media manipulation and overconsumption. He has recently changed careers to become an inner city schoolteacher. A firm proponent of curbing overpopulation and international adoption, he hopes to adopt a third child and enjoys history, outsider art, garage rock music and rare/unusual vinyl records.
Gustav WynnGW is a proud American from NY State, concerned about ethics issues, media manipulation and overconsumption. He has recently changed careers to become an inner city schoolteacher. A firm proponent of curbing overpopulation and international adoption, he hopes to adopt a third child and enjoys history, outsider art, garage rock music and rare/unusual vinyl records.

Appearances can be decieving...

Indeed, this widely despised Congress does work hard in covering it's tracks. For example, when pushing through the corporate-friendly Communications Act mentioned above, a separate amendment to the bill was created concerning the Net Neutrality issue. The amendment to the larger bill failed to get enough votes, but when I wrote my Congressman in defense of net neutrality, he was quick to point out that he supported the failed amendment. How could you still pass the overall bill then, I asked? The excuse was nonsensical, but now seeing how beholden he is to major media outlets, I see how his allegiance has been bought.

by Gustav Wynn (49 articles, 33 quicklinks, 5 diaries, 229 comments) on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 at 1:22:19 PM

2 comments

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