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GLAAD Pulls Support For AT&T T-Mobile Merger
As Constituents Realize Group Was Parroting AT&T Positions
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.
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium Member
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD

pnh102

Premium Member

Interesting

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.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

Re: Interesting

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.

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.
talz13
join:2006-03-15
Avon, OH

talz13

Member

Re: Interesting

said 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.

chockfull
@freeproxyserver.ca

chockfull to FFH5

Anon

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

AlterNet’s David Rosen and Bruce Kushnick analyze GLAADgate, which erupted after the president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation’s president Jarrett Barrios was forced to resign after signing a statement of GLAAD’s support for the AT&T/T-Mobile deal with the FCC. He did so despite GLAAD’s board voicing opposition to the acquisition. After the statement was released, it was revealed that AT&T contributed $50,000 to GLAAD in what’s looking like a quid pro quo.

But that’s 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 America’s 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.
MrHappy316
Wish I had my tank
Premium Member
join:2003-01-02
Columbia, SC

MrHappy316

Premium Member

Re: Interesting

The 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.
talz13
join:2006-03-15
Avon, OH

talz13 to pnh102

Member

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?
gorehound
join:2009-06-19
Portland, ME

gorehound to pnh102

Member

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".

Lark3po
Premium Member
join:2003-08-05
Madison, AL

Lark3po

Premium Member

I'm glad for GLAAD

nm

n2jtx
join:2001-01-13
Glen Head, NY

1 edit

n2jtx

Member

FCC Comments

Having 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.
Skippy25
join:2000-09-13
Hazelwood, MO

Skippy25

Member

Re: FCC Comments

If 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.
eqshadimar
Premium Member
join:2004-10-20
Austin, TX

eqshadimar

Premium Member

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.
en103
join:2011-05-02

en103

Member

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

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".

HappyAnarchy
@iauq.com

HappyAnarchy

Anon

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?
BiggA
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
Central CT

BiggA

Premium Member

AT&T needs to stay out of this stuff

The merger stands on its own economic and technical feet without fake support from groups and such.

Transmaster
Don't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus
join:2001-06-20
Cheyenne, WY

Transmaster

Member

$496,400 Dollars worth of AT&T grease

There 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.php

The 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
Rekrul
join:2007-04-21
Milford, CT

Rekrul

Member

Typo

There'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"

DaveDude
No Fear
join:1999-09-01
New Jersey

DaveDude

Member

Hammer grannies for Merger

I am surprised they havent courted the hammer granny crowd ?