After approving NBC buyout, FCC Commish becomes Comcast lobbyist

[jayfish]

Source: Ars Technica

Meredith Attwell Baker, one of the two Republican Commissioners at the Federal Communications Commission, plans to step down—and right into a top lobbying job at Comcast-NBC.

The news, reported this afternoon by the Wall Street Journal, The Hill, and Politico, comes after the hugely controversial merger of Comcast and NBC earlier this year. At the time, Baker objected to FCC attempts to impose conditions on the deal and argued that the "complex and significant transaction" could "bring exciting benefits to consumers that outweigh potential harms."

Read more: http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2011/05/after-approving-comcastnbc-deal-fcc-commish-becomes-comcast-lobbyist.ars

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This behavior should be considered criminal.

[villager]

1. "Change," we hardly knew ye...

n/t

[SpiralHawk]

2. Republicon Family Cesspool Values

as usual

[Ichingcarpenter]

4. She was nominate by Prez Obama

and yes she was a republican.

[pimpbot]

5. 2 out of the 5 have to be from the opposing party

She was selected by the republicans in congress, and then appointed by Obama.

[brentspeak]

6. Incorrect. The only requirement is that no more than 3 commissioners be from the same party

A registered independent could easily have been nominated.

[onenote]

27. "easy" to nominate. impossible to get confirmed.

[No Elephants]

30. So? Wouldn't the Commission just be a smaller number until the confirmations came?

And all Democrats? So, wouldn't Republicans holding up the confirmations be self-defeating?

Besides, Obama has been having trouble getting confirmations, period. If something may be hard, should we just give up? Doesn't seem to be how Republicans operate, whether they have the WH or not, whether they have a majority or not.

And, sometimes even failure to achieve your ostensible objective gets you something.

As just one example, they impeached Bubba, knowing the Senate would never convict. IMO, that's one of the reasons Dummya won--by pretending to be a devout, squeaky clean Christian--after he repented of his decadent past, of course. Not to mention damaging Bubba's legacy and keeping the image of a dog Democratic getting blow jobs in the Oval Office forever in American history.` Yeah, Clinton's approval ratings went up anyway, but I'd say the Republicans got a lot out of that "failure."

On the flip side, Democrats have used Republican recalcitrance to label them the Party of No, obstruction, etc.

However, I'm not sure there's a point to fighting for an Indie. People of all parties can be corrupt. Bernie Sanders types are few and far between. But you can choose better people, regardless of Party.

[onenote]

68. No, it wouldn't be all Democrats

First, the next position to come open is for a Democratic seat -- that of Michael Copps, who will be leaving the Commission at the end of 2011. Now, you might want Obama to appoint an "independent" to fill Baker's slot and a Democrat to fill Copps' slot, but neither nomination is going to move forward unless compromises are struck. For example, the repubs will insist that the nominee filling Baker's seat, whether a repub or an "independent" be an opponent of net neutrality. The Democrats will insist that the person filling Copps' seat be a supporter of net neutrality. Neither will get confirmed unless they are both confirmed.

The "in office" party typically defers substantially (but not fully) to the wishes of the leadership of the other party when it comes to filling the "minority" spots on the Commission. Notably, Commissioner Copps, the one Commissioner to vote against the Comcast/NBCU merger, was appointed (and reappointed)by Bush.

[No Elephants]

38. No, and none of them have to be anti-regulating Reagan acolytes.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

44. Que Obama apologists...

Surely he cares about us. He can't be a cynical conman like the rest of them.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

59. What does Obama have to do with it?

Your post is dripping with cynicism.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

60. Read post 4.

She was nominated by Obama.

[No Elephants]

31. Democrats in government also take jobs in the industries they regulated. Clinton's appointees did.

Obama hired some of them back again.

It's a revolving door. Assuming only one Party has been using it would be a mistake.

Not sure what this has to do with families, though.

[Uben]

3. I agree

You can hold public office or be a lobbyist. Never both....even after years. The potential of fraud is too great. Why doesn't some politician, any politician put forth such a bill?

[PatSeg]

8. Because too many of them

are eyeballing a lobbyist position in their future. The system is seriously broken.

[No Elephants]

37. It's not only lobbyists. Please see Reply 34 as one example.

[Blue_Tires]

7. The legislator-lobbyist-CEO revolving door spins continually in D.C.

What "conflict of interest??" :eyes:

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

9. FF sake, does it ever end? nt

[No Elephants]

33. No, not as long as we don't end it.

[KoKo]

51. We tried....but it hasn't worked out.

Many of us here were active trying to support Free Press since 2000 Selection. We had hoped Michael Copps (who is the only commissioner on the FCC who has advocated for media accountability and responsibility to the viewers)would finally have support with Obama Administration who would appoint those more along Copps views.

Didn't work out...but folks tried. Obama had a different view. He's more for "free trade" and "business first" policies. It is what it is.

But, this is really sickening to see her be so blatent about her jumping to lobbying for Comcast so close to the FCC vote.

[No Elephants]

56. I had interpreted "it" more broadly--corrupt and corporate govt.--but

I do applaud you for trying to do something about something.

[Hestia]

10. I thought people were supposed to wait 2 years before taking type this type of job?

[glinda]

11. So did I.

[former9thward]

13. No. Obama signed an Executive Order that lobbyists

could not be part of the Executive branch for two years after lobbying. He also said that appointed members of the Executive branch could not lobby the White House while he was president. This person technically was not part of the Executive branch and will be lobbying Congress not the White House.

Obama did backtrack somewhat and has appointed some lobbyists to Executive branch positions. He gave them a waiver because they were "uniquely qualified". http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/01/another-obama-n.html

[No Elephants]

34. The same President who appointed the likes of Baker and Schapiro signed that EO? LOL

"She is the immediate past chairperson and CEO of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the securities industry self-regulatory organization for broker-dealers and exchanges in the United States, and served in various roles as a financial services regulator in the administrations of Bill Clinton, George H. W. Bush, and Ronald Reagan.<3>"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_L._Schapiro



Perfect example of the revolving door.


True, she wasn't a lobbyist. CEO of a pivotal player in the industry you used to regulate and now regulates again is worse than a mere lobbyist.

See also, Reply 18.

[No Elephants]

39. P.S. The FCC is very much part of the Executive Branch, as are its Commissioners.

Same as the D of J, the SEC, the EPA, etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_agencies_of_the_United_States_government

[former9thward]

67. The FCC is not in the same catogory as the EPA or DoJ.

The President can fire the head of DoJ or EPA. He can't fire FCC commissionaires. They are independent. Some people have questioned the constitutionality of these agencies for that very reason but that ship has sailed.

[No Elephants]

29. If a member of Congress, but they get around that, too. Ask Daschle.

[defendandprotect]

12. The Mafia couldn't do better in running our government -- !! Government by gangsterism!!

[Octafish]

22. Our government has conducted official business with the Mafia since 1960.

Going by the record: Ike, Dulles and Nixon approached Johnny Roselli for professional help bumping off Fidel Castro.

That's just going back 51 years. There's the business of helping rid the docks of NAZI spies during World War II. But that was OSS...

[defendandprotect]

25. In Operation Gladio at the end of WWII they resurrected the Mafia ...

in Italy to help them ensure that liberal/progressive governments would be kept out --

and rightwing governments kept in place --

In effect, Mafia and our "businessmen" and many government officials are all the same people!!


Keep in mind also that when Wm. Buckley died a couple of memos came floating out which show

that the CIA -- founded with Nazis brought in under Operation Paperclip -- which took money

from any rightwing sources, including the KKK and Nazis was funding the political careers

of rightwing members of Congress. Two mentioned were Sen. Strom Thurmond and Rep. Gerald Ford ---

but there were others. Pat Buchanan also got money from the CIA over his career.



:)

[No Elephants]

35. Jack Ruby?

[FiveGoodMen]

76. The Mafia IS running our government

Maybe not the same families that have their hooks in gambling, prostitution, waste management, etc.

But it's still organized crime.

Justice has been "off the table" for quite a while.

[Downwinder]

14. I have to laugh when I see "after" in the headline.

[No Elephants]

36. Some of us wanted to cry, but you're 100% correct. Great post.

[Blue_Tires]

75. +1

[sarcasmo]

15. Corporate Fascism continues.

[aquamarina]

16. no conflict of interest there.

[tclambert]

43. The Ministry of Truth no longer recognizes the phrase "Conflict of interest."

It has no meaning anymore and will be erased from the history books, along with such terms as "anti-trust," "monopoly," "cartel," "influence-peddling," and "graft." Please black out those entries in your dictionary. Thank you. You know who is watching you.

[Octafish]

17. Senior Vice President of of government affairs for its NBCUniversal unit.

Nice work, if you can stomach it.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/05/comcast-taps-fcc-commissioner-meredith-attwell-baker-for-dc-office.html?cid=6a00d8341c630a53ef014e885f13ac970d

[KoKo]

48. From the article:

"Before her appointment to the FCC by President Obama, Baker was acting assistant secretary of Commerce for communications and information, and acting administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration under President George W. Bush."

[sulphurdunn]

18. This woman was

a communication industry lobbyist (stooge) before Obama appointed her to the FCC. She is merely passing back through the revolving door to from whence she came now that her mission for her corporate clients has been accomplished. Rest assured, one like her will replace her. :hippie:

[defendandprotect]

26. And I imagine we can all recall a time not that long ago when speaking about

things like this was met with tin foil comments --

now, it's more like those who don't get it are wallowing in tin foil!!

[jonthebru]

19. I would love to be on the FCC Board!

Choose me, choose me!!!

[lsewpershad]

20. JC

how f'ed is this country?

[Hissyspit]

21. Update:

Update: Comcast has issued an official announcement. Attwell Baker will report to Kyle McSlarrow, who formerly ran the top cable lobbying group NCTA. McSlarrow said, “Commissioner Baker is one of the nation’s leading authorities on communications policy and we’re thrilled she’s agreed to head the government relations operations for NBCUniversal. Meredith’s executive branch and business experience along with her exceptional relationships in Washington bring Comcast and NBCUniversal the perfect combination of skills.”

http://www.comcast.com/About/PressRelease/PressReleaseDetail.ashx?PRID=1082

[AlbertCat]

46. and we’re thrilled

Shivers run up and down my spine, and the palms of my hands tingle whenever I hear this phrase uttered by big business.

They're "thrilled". I'm scared.

[marasinghe]

23. may as well give up & wait with the fundie kooks for judgment day - come May 21st.

http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy&hl=en&source=hp&q=may+21+2011

[sarcasmo]

24. Lobbyist, one of the many things wrong with the way our government works.

[Rex]

28. I wish we had a country that abided by its own laws, sadly only

the working poor get the lash. Rich people, need not apply.

[Hardrada]

32. Isn't this the very definition of corruption?

Did generations of Americans fight and die so a gang of lobbyists could dictate government policy and be on the gravy train in perpetuity?

[the_chinuk]

40. It WILL bring exciting benefits to a consumer. She just didn't mention it would be her. n/t k/r

[Enthusiast]

41. Yeah, I read this.

"complex and significant transaction" could "bring exciting benefits to consumers that outweigh potential harms."

Outweigh potential harm? We are so screwn. This will end up being extremely harmful to the consumer.

[go west young man]

63. The harm being that "Lockup" could potentially be moved

to an 8 o'clock time slot.

[fasttense]

42. It is nothing more than pure and simple corruption in the federal government.

As long as the American people tolerate it, it will continue.

It's not a revolving door, it's blatant corruption built into our federal government. The euphemisms hide the severity of the corruption.

[Hotler]

47. +1 n/t

[Vinca]

45. Business as usual.

[SemperEadem]

49. can it be more indecent?

how vulgar.

[Bluenorthwest]

50. It should be a crime to do that. It is corruption deluxe

It is how Obama's DC works, which is just like DC has always worked. Change, well, no so much.

[dotymed]

52. I "thought" (I know)

that government employees had to wait one year before they could accept a lobbying position (especially in the same field). I really thought that was a law. Was it a proposed law so this obvious criminal conduct wouldn't be as obvious?
When I helped build bridges, this always happened. The main government inspector for bridges for the state, would inevitably leave that position and take a very lucrative job at the company (bridge company) that he was responsible for overseeing as a government official........

[russspeakeasy]

53. I am very surprised that anyone is surprised.

[barbtries]

54. i thought this was not allowed

with Obama's administration. i agree, it's criminal. in your face bribery.

[onehandle]

55. Changearific. nt

[ArcticFox]

57. Holder should investigate her and NBC for bribery

Send some folks to prison and invalidate that FCC decision.

[onenote]

64. waste of time

First, these companies are careful. I would be floored if they made any overture to her about the job before January. And even more shocked if there was any evidence. As for invalidating the decision, it was 4-1, so even if you knocked out her vote, it still is approved 3-1 (with two Democrats and one Republican in support).

[fatbuckel]

58. Big suprise.

[colsohlibgal]

61. Dots And More Dots

They are becoming even easier to connect but there still must be people with a dot connecting ability deficit.

[Uncle Joe]

62. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, jayfish.

[LiberalFighter]

65. Why isn't there a requirement that employees and members of agencies

cannot be employed by anyone that is a subject of an investigation or ruling?

[SoapBox]

66. Wow! Another fine example of Ultimate SLEEZE!

...skeezy...slimey...stinks...dirty...

But I'm sure that she is just more than happy with herself.

Scum.

[piggy2000]

69. This should be illegal!

It seems that the sell-outs outweigh anyone else in Washington. They have paralyzed our system. We have to stop the 'crabs in the bucket' movement that has taken hold in Washington since Bush was able to jack us for the Presidency.

[truebrit71]

70. I agree, this should be criminal...

I wish I could say I was surprised..but then I'd be lying...

[Marrah_G]

71. This should be illegal

[abelenkpe]

72. Should be against the law

didn't there used to be a waiting period gov officials had to adhere to?

[onenote]

73. There is a waiting period, but it only applies to her with respect to the FCC

She can't appear before or meet with the FCC and its staff. But she can meet with members of Congress and Congressional staff. In part this line reflects the notion that the FCC is an "independent" agency and thus distinct from the legislative branch. The problem to me is less what she will be doing going forward but rather that she took this job so soon after casting a vote on a matter of paramount interest to the company that has hired her. Even if she didn't first talk to Comcast/NBCU about the job until after the vote, there is an appearances issue. Morever, I haven't seen any reports of her having recused herself during the period leading up to her accepting the Comcast/NBCU job and thus there is the question of whether, after she started talking to Comcast/NBCU, she cast any votes or was privy to discussions with the other Commissioners, staff, or anyone else on matters in which her new employer has an interest.

[Blue Owl]

74. Meredith "Soultaker" Baker

n/t