Why is Nucor Steel sponsoring Dylan Ratigan's (Populist Leaning) "Steel on Wheels" tour?

[KoKo]

I did some Googling in this is what I found. A snip of an article and a Press Release from MSNBC.

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Steel Company Nucor Partners with MSNBC’s ‘The Dylan Ratigan Show’ for ‘Steel on Wheels’ Roadshow
By Alex Weprin on December 7, 2010 8:42 AM

In what appears to be a first of its kind partnership, steel company Nucor and MSNBC’s “The Dylan Ratigan Show” are partnering on a cross-country roadshow called “Steel on Wheels.”

Nucor will be providing logistical and financial support for the program, though the exact dollar figures are not being released. Nucor branding is expected to appear in the graphics for the program, and the subject matter being tackled on the tour is right in the company’s wheelhouse.

This looks to be the first time that a partnership of this sort has been struck at MSNBC. The network has done sponsorship agreements before, such as the one between Starbucks and “Morning Joe,” but the Nucor/Ratigan goes beyond simply logos and brand integration.

“I am committed to getting this country back on track for the benefit of all Americans, and ‘Steel on Wheels’ is the perfect vehicle to show how we can make that happen,” said Ratigan in a statement. “There is no better partner for this than Nucor and their visionary CEO Dan DiMicco, a man who is as dedicated to his own extraordinary employees as he is to helping get all of America working again.”
It is reminiscent of the recent partnership between the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and ABC News, which saw the non-profit providing $4.5 million to offset the costs of a yearlong series on health

issues.http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/steel-company-nucor-partners-with-msnbcs-the-dylan-ratigan-show-for-steel-on-wheels-roadshow_b42618


(NOTE TO DU MODS)-----------------PRESS RELEASE FROM MSNBC to MEDIA and PUBLIC----------

“THE DYLAN RATIGAN SHOW” AND NUCOR CORPORATION TEAM UP FOR “STEEL ON WHEELS” BEGINNING DECEMBER 15, 2010

NEW YORK—December 6, 2010—MSNBC’s “The Dylan Ratigan Show” and Nucor Corporation are partnering to create an innovative road show titled “Steel on Wheels,” aiming to bring forth solutions to the most pressing problems facing the American people. The “Steel on Wheels” tour will focus on four major themes: The Spirit Of America, Innovation, The Building Of Our Nation, and The Future Of America’s New Generations.

The “Steel on Wheels” bus, furnished by Trailways Transportation System, will hit the road for three days a month in December, January, February and March, traveling across the country to engage with Americans as they face the economy, determine the nation’s position in the world, and tackle the most important question of all—how do we get out of the mess we’re in?

The first leg of “Steel on Wheels” will stop in Seneca Falls, NY, the birthplace of women’s suffrage and the inspiration for the classic film “It’s a Wonderful Life,” followed by Philadelphia, the city of our Founding Fathers, and finally in St. Louis, the gateway to the frontier that first made America great. Those shows will take place on December 15-17.

January 26-28, “Steel on Wheels” will focus on innovation, featuring specific, efficient ways to solve America’s problems, including the widespread lack of access to healthcare, education, and jobs. February 23-25 will focus on the rebuilding of America, and March 23-25 will focus on the new generation of Americans and the future of our nation. Although dates are fixed, locations are pending at this time.

In addition to the live shows, “Steel on Wheels” will conduct town hall events at several of their stops, the first of which will take place at the University of Rochester on December 15.

“Dylan is incredibly passionate about fixing our nation’s problems, including the hemorrhaging of jobs, and getting Americans back to work,” said Phil Griffin, President of MSNBC. “We’re thrilled to be partnering with Nucor to help move the country forward.”

Said Dan DiMicco, Chairman and CEO of Nucor Corporation, “We are very excited about our partnership with ‘The Dylan Ratigan Show.’ We share with Dylan a deep concern about the state of the American economy and a belief that bold actions must be taken to spur economic growth and create jobs. This partnership will highlight the traits that make America great and how we can harness them to ensure America’s future prosperity.”

“I am committed to getting this country back on track for the benefit of all Americans, and ‘Steel on Wheels’ is the perfect vehicle to show how we can make that happen,” said Dylan Ratigan. “There is no better partner for this than Nucor and their visionary CEO Dan DiMicco, a man who is as dedicated to his own extraordinary employees as he is to helping get all of America working again.”

“The Dylan Ratigan Show” airs weekdays at 4 PM ET on MSNBC. Steve Friedman is Executive Producer.

About MSNBC: MSNBC defines news for the next generation with world-class reporting and a full schedule of live news coverage, political analysis and award-winning documentary programming — 24 hours a day, seven days a week. MSNBC’s home on the Internet is msnbc.com.

About Nucor Corporation: Nucor and affiliates are manufacturers of steel products, with operation facilities primarily in the U.S. and Canada. Products produced include: carbon and alloy steel – in bars, beams, sheet and plate; steel joists and joist girders; steel deck; fabricated concrete reinforcing steel; cold finished steel; steel fasteners; metal building systems; light gauge steel framing; steel grating and expanded metal; and wire and wire mesh. Nucor is North America’s largest recycler.


issues.http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/steel-company-nucor-partners-with-msnbcs-the-dylan-ratigan-show-for-steel-on-wheels-roadshow_b42618

[KoKo]

1. BTW...I've been watching "The Tour" and Dylan's show...it's

been interesting. I'm not sure what to make of it. Today he had on someone from the Nation and the New York Times talking about the new Report from the FCIC Commissions Report about how the Banksters and Greenspan Raped America. And, he toured with a History Professor who talked about the rise of the Populist Movement in America in the late 1800's and how Teddy Roosevelt was so disgusted with the Repugs and Dems that he formed the "Bull Moose Party" (Third Party Challenge) to work for Anti-Trust Laws and Workers Compensation. Then he had two people on who've written books about "Creative Education" rather than Education by "Rote Learning."

It was revealing and something very different from what other cable shows are doing.

[madrchsod]

2. i`ve been following nucor since it opened...

interesting company and owner. they have been able to survive the chinese under cutting of prices that my former employer could`t.

i could be wrong but i think it`s the only steel mill in the usa actually owned by an american. what is left of big sisters are all owned by foreigners. although i despised him for his non union stand he did pay the same as the the mill i worked for.

if obama would has insisted on us content in the stimulus bills we`d have tens if not hundreds of thousand back to work. but he did`t and we don`t.

[KoKo]

3. Thanks, madrchsod, and...

I'm going to do more research on Nucor's CEO and DYLAN....because I think what he's doing with that show is intriguing...but, being an old Du'er (or, Legacy DU'er) I'm always wary.... And, given the times we live in ...we must be wary.

I had read years ago some progressive stuff about NUCOR when I was searching for stocks for our 401-K...and thought it was interesting.. But, that was years ago...and so I need to spend some time figuring out what this whole Populist thing from Dylan is. But, it's fascinating to see that there are a very BIG NUMBER of Financial Bloggers who are as mad about the Bankster Bailouts as we "legacy folks here on DU" were outraged about when Bush stole the Election from Al Gore. These bloggers are well connected and trying to reform the system and go back to the Regulations that FDR put in place that were culled out by Reagan and Clinton's (Greenspan "PUT") I think the Financial Reformers might have more power than we on the "Netroots" ever had. But, some of them have read us.

I'm hopeful something will come that will "Morph a Movement for REAL CHANGE." Not SLOGANS or HERO WORSHIP. (not dissing Obama... because I have to hope he isn't really as deaf and clueless as he seems..but, since none of us for REFORM can count on him....we have to do MORE...to try to change the system than he is constricted with or if he's NOT constricted then it's his core beliefs...(which is scary). Either way....we need to get beyond RW STUFF...TEA BAGGERS SUPPORTED BY KOCH and RW THINK TANKS.

There truly are some folks in the Financial Community who were SHAFTED BY THE SHARKS. And, those of us DU'ers who do still have stuff tied up in 401-K's hoping to hold on to some coins for years in the future should be DAMNED GLAD that we have ALLIES THERE! I don't know if Dylan is one of them...but there's an Olbermann Quality to him. He used to work for CNBC and was a producer of his own show...which is where I first started watching him...and saw something of "integrity" (an old word..one doesn't hear anymore...but it's a good concept to re-visit) and I thought he had "something...some spark that seemed "Progressive or Populist" in his soul.

But...then...I've been mislead so many times (as we Democrats are now seeing) looking for hope in many times the "wrong places"...I am jaded...so I try to do much research these days because I know there are swindlers and charletans all out there for the KILL since there have been no prosecutions for CRIMINAL Behavior so far for this whole Financial Crisis that is killing everyone except the top 1% of the WEALTHY in America and the rest of us should just "eat Twinkies" to survive!

[doc03]

4. I happy they didn't chose Hannity or Beck n/t

[KoKo]

5. I don't think either of them could have carried it off financially, so that's

maybe a reason. :D.. Beck chainsawing a rabbit? Hannity a cypher.....

Gotta have a BIG VOICE and a BIG PRESENCE! I'm still questioning it...because it sounds too good .

I'll try to post the video hear when it comes up..if it's an interest to anyone... I thought it was so fascinating...but, then, I tend to like folks who sound like "Do Gooders" til I find out it's DO GOOD TO THEM...and NOT TO ME. So...as I said, originally....I remain a huge skeptic.