GLAAD Pulls Support For AT&T T-Mobile Merger As Constituents Realize Group Was Parroting AT&T Positions Thursday Jul 14 2011 09:01 EDT Despite years of using non-profits and other groups to parrot AT&T positions in exchange for cash donations, AT&T's use of the tactic to gain T-Mobile deal approval is really shining a light on the practice. Earlier this month we saw fallout for this kind of behavior for the first time ever, with Jarrett Barrios, head of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), and eight board members being forced to resign after using the group as an AT&T plaything. The new leadership of GLAAD this week sent a letter (pdf) to the FCC, pulling their support for the merger. From the letter: quote: (GLAAD) "received many expressions of concern about our May 31st letter after its filing. We have taken those concerns under consideration, and have over the last several weeks engaged in a much more rigorous and consultative examination of the relative benefits and drawbacks to AT&T's application than we undertook in advance of the filing of our initial letter. We concluded at the end of this reconsideration process that GLAAD should return to a neutral position regarding AT&T's merger application."
The group went on to make it clear that unlike AT&T, GLAAD is very supportive of "the general principle" of network neutrality. |
pnh102Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty Premium Member join:2002-05-02 Mount Airy, MD |
pnh102
Premium Member
2011-Jul-14 8:25 am
InterestingIf there is some good that will come from the imminent, unstoppable and absolutely-guaranteed-to-happen AT&T/T-Mobile merger it is that all of these advocacy groups are being exposed as the frauds that they are.
Maybe the people who fund these groups might consider other options with their money. | |
| | FFH5 Premium Member join:2002-03-03 Tavistock NJ |
FFH5
Premium Member
2011-Jul-14 9:03 am
Re: Interestingsaid by pnh102:If there is some good that will come from the imminent, unstoppable and absolutely-guaranteed-to-happen AT&T/T-Mobile merger it is that all of these advocacy groups are being exposed as the frauds that they are.
Maybe the people who fund these groups might consider other options with their money. And I notice they aren't against the merger, only neutral on it. Trying to not close the door to future AT&T money? All these groups would sell their souls for corporate money. And the only reason GLAAD backpedaled on the merger was because someone exposed them to public scrutiny - something they are not used to dealing with. | |
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talz13
Member
2011-Jul-14 9:37 am
Re: Interestingsaid by FFH5:And I notice they aren't against the merger, only neutral on it. Trying to not close the door to future AT&T money? All these groups would sell their souls for corporate money. And the only reason GLAAD backpedaled on the merger was because someone exposed them to public scrutiny - something they are not used to dealing with. I think neutral is about where they should stand, since their advocacy group has NOTHING to do with the telecom industry. Now their members, as human beings and U.S. citizens, should continue to be against the merger, but it's all well and good that the group is neutral. | |
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chockfull to FFH5
Anon
2011-Jul-14 2:09 pm
to FFH5
# At least GLADD is a real organization and not one of the many shill organizations who Billion dollar Corporations create to spread FUD all over the place to give the illusion of "the merger is good for joe average". When in reality the merger is just another example of corporations being the most evil devils on the Earth who will screw over joe average. » aapress.com/editorial/7217/quote: AT&T Deal Supporters Take Corporate Pay
AlterNets David Rosen and Bruce Kushnick analyze GLAADgate, which erupted after the president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamations president Jarrett Barrios was forced to resign after signing a statement of GLAADs support for the AT&T/T-Mobile deal with the FCC. He did so despite GLAADs board voicing opposition to the acquisition. After the statement was released, it was revealed that AT&T contributed $50,000 to GLAAD in whats looking like a quid pro quo.
But thats just the tip of the cash-for-shills iceberg. Rosen and Kushnick note that AT&T has leveraged more than 300 nonprofit groups, including labor unions, trade associations, state and local politicians, and private corporations into supporting the merger. The NAACP, for instance, received over $1 million from AT&T in 2009 alone.
In 2009, the AT&T Foundation doled out over $60 million to nonprofits and other causes. In addition, in 2010, AT&T paid out nearly $20 million to influence the political process and legislative decisions; it contributed $3.7 million to Americas two major political parties (56% to Republicans) and another $15.4 million to lobbying activities. During the first three months of 2011, AT&T spent $6.8 million on lobbyists and in to lawyers related to the T-Mobile deal.
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| | | | MrHappy316Wish I had my tank Premium Member join:2003-01-02 Columbia, SC |
Re: InterestingThe feds and IRS may want to start looking at this if the above article is true. Tax Deduction donations to non profit organizations should come with no strings attached. If AT&T are making these donations for quid pro quo then it should not be a tax deductible donation, its a gift from corporate AT&T. | |
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to pnh102
said by pnh102:If there is some good that will come from the imminent, unstoppable and absolutely-guaranteed-to-happen AT&T/T-Mobile merger it is that all of these advocacy groups are being exposed as the frauds that they are.
Maybe the people who fund these groups might consider other options with their money. Unlabeled corporate facebook pages? | |
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to pnh102
someone like lulzsec should hack ATT and publish their dirty secrets in the open.we would love to have a list of who ATT "bought". | |
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Lark3po Premium Member join:2003-08-05 Madison, AL |
Lark3po
Premium Member
2011-Jul-14 9:02 am
I'm glad for GLAADnm | |
| n2jtx join:2001-01-13 Glen Head, NY 1 edit |
n2jtx
Member
2011-Jul-14 9:27 am
FCC CommentsHaving read through quite a few comments on the FCC website, it is apparent a lot of politicians and organizations have been bought off. Generally, one finds the organizations and politicians for it and individual consumers against it. What is truly funny is reading almost the same exact text from all the politicians and organizations saying how wonderful this merger will be. Facts that have been shot down on this site and in AT&T own filings with Wall Street investors. I myself am moving from anti-merger to neutral as I see T-Mobile doing so much damage to itself (latest is raising their compliance fee on August 15th) that I am wondering what the reason could possibly be for keeping them around should the merger fail. They seem determined to either get bought out or commit suicide. The link to the GLAAD's updated filing is available at » fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/c ··· 16827306. | |
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Re: FCC CommentsIf T puts themselves out of business for poor management and shear stupidity, then they put themselves out of business.
No one's fault but their own. And them trying to make it appear they "need" this merger to survive is just silly. | |
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Good news but..Well this is certainly good news! AT&T is putting on the full court press though. This morning on CNN there was a commercial saying how great the merger would be for everyone with all these new cell towers etc. Ugg. | |
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en103
Member
2011-Jul-14 11:52 am
Follow the money....For every group that is supporting this purchase of T-Mobile, there is money or some form of kickbacks to be gained. I am pleasantly surprised that a group stood up to this and spoke for themselves, and not the money. | |
| elray join:2000-12-16 Santa Monica, CA |
elray
Member
2011-Jul-14 1:04 pm
AT&T Tactics?Sorry, but this is all on GLAAD.
These "interest" groups are comprised of marketeers who understand how to cater to the emotions of their flock. This time, they were caught - as they sold out so blatantly, but the same scenario has played out across the country for decades with other such lobbying wings, with no consequences for the highly-overpaid "leadership". | |
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HappyAnarchy
Anon
2011-Jul-14 6:29 pm
Re: AT&T Tactics?While some of what you are saying is true, and GLAAD certainly deserves the drubbing it got, in what way is this not a BS move on AT&T's part too? | |
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BiggA Premium Member join:2005-11-23 Central CT |
BiggA
Premium Member
2011-Jul-14 6:34 pm
AT&T needs to stay out of this stuffThe merger stands on its own economic and technical feet without fake support from groups and such. | |
| | TransmasterDon't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus join:2001-06-20 Cheyenne, WY |
$496,400 Dollars worth of AT&T greaseThere are no Republicans on this letter it came strictly from the Democrats. Go here to look up individual Congressmen and Senators. » www.opensecrets.org/indi ··· y=&cand=From » www.opensecrets.org/index.phpThe top two recipients, not surprisingly, were House Speaker John Boehner, the Ohio Republican, who received $77,300; and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, the Nevada Democrat, who received $36,150. Neither signed the letter. Here are the 72 House Democrats who sent the letter, followed by how much each received from the AT&T in the last election. Name Amount (2010 cycle) G. K. Butterfield $10,500 Gene Green $10,000 Peter Welch $6,500 Joe Baca $10,250 John Barrow $10,000 Dan Boren $10,000 Robert Brady $9,000 Ben Chandler $7,000 Silvestre Reyes $8,500 William Lacy Clay, Jr. $10,500 Al Green $10,000 Alcee Hastings $10,000 Nick J. Rahall $10,000 James P. Moran $2,500 Gregory W. Meeks $9,500 Albio Sires $9,000 Tim Holden $8,000 Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. $11,250 Ed Pastor $10,000 Mike Ross $10,250 Rubén Hinojosa $7,500 Henry Cuellar $10,000 Joseph Crowley $10,000 Eddie Bernice Johnson $9,000 Luis Gutierrez $5,500 Adam Schiff $5,500 Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. $3,350 Adam Smith $4,500 Corrine Brown $6,000 Chaka Fattah $8,000 Henry C. Johnson, Jr. $2,000 Michael Michaud $8,500 Loretta Sanchez $11,000 Donna M. Christensen $7,500 Ted Deutch $6,000 Jim Costa $10,500 Betty McCollum $1,000 Ed Perlmutter $5,500 Brad Miller $2,000 Yvette Clarke $7,000 Grace Napolitano $4,000 Steve Cohen $5,000 Ron Kind $7,000 Betty Sutton $4,000 Heath Shuler $10,000 David Scott $11,500 Jared Polis NA Cedric Richmond NA Shelley Berkley $7,000 Frederica Wilson NA Tim Bishop $10,500 Marcia Fudge $9,000 Rosa DeLauro $2,000 Karen Bass NA Christopher S. Murphy $6,800 Frank Pallone $7,500 Laura Richardson $8,000 Dennis Cardoza $10,000 David Cicilline NA Raúl Grijalva $2,000 Danny K. Davis $6,000 Brad Sherman $5,500 Ben Ray Luján $5,000 Dutch Ruppersberger $7,500 Terri Sewell NA John B. Larson $5,500 Charles A. Gonzalez $10,500 James R. Langevin $8,000 Collin C. Peterson $4,500 Jerry McNerney $12,750 Joe Courtney $4,250 Gerald Connolly $9,500 Total $496,400 Source: Center for Responsive Politics | |
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Rekrul join:2007-04-21 Milford, CT |
Rekrul
Member
2011-Jul-15 12:16 am
TypoThere's a typo in the headline for this story. It should read;
"GLAAD Pulls Support For AT&T T-Mobile Merger As Constituents Realize Group Was caught Parroting AT&T Positions" | |
| DaveDudeNo Fear join:1999-09-01 New Jersey |
Hammer grannies for MergerI am surprised they havent courted the hammer granny crowd ? | |
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