The Writers Guild, Consumer’s Union (owners of Consumer Reports), Common Cause and the National Organization for Women this week joined forces to oppose Comcast's $30 billion merger with NBC Universal. According to a joint letter by the groups, the merger "would have a devastating effect on the media marketplace." More interesting perhaps is how Comcast spokesperson Sena Fitzmaurice chose to address the concerns of these groups when speaking to The Wrap (well, after she pretends the deal is pro-consumer if you look at it "objectively"):Fitzmaurice is claiming that the same sort of regulatory powers Comcast lawyers are currently trying to keep away from the Internet will protect TV customers from the anti-competitive impact of the NBC-Universal Comcast merger. So which is it? Either rules preventing anti-competitive prioritization of a company's own content are the worst wort of vile and burdensome regulation, or they help consumers. You don't get to have it both ways when trying to gain regulatory approval. Well ok, actually you do -- if you're wealthy enough and you have really good lobbyists, lawyers, and public relations representatives.

This isn't the first time Comcast has talked out of both sides of their mouth when it comes to consumer protection rules. You'll recall that Comcast's chief lobbying guru David L. Cohen recently tried to argue the company "honors and respects" the FCC's authority on network neutrality. Which, of course, is why they've spent the last two years in court trying to argue the FCC doesn't have any.