People-Powered Politics vs. Mitch McConnell and Big Media Censorship

The debate in Washington over competition and regulation of the telecommunications industry is hotter than ever. The major industries and trade associations are lobbying hard to protect their massive profit margins. They're holding fundraisers and throwing around money in hopes of coming out on top. Of course, there's a better way to show your loyalty to Congress: political censorship.

Last Thursday, the consequences of the pay-to-play political system became abundantly clear when Insight Communications, a cable television system owner, pulled an ad by Public Campaign Action Fund highlighting Sen. Mitch McConnell's (R-KY) favors to political donors.

Every other television station had no problem with the ad. After all, the facts laid out in the 30 second spot were clearly documented. So Insight's refusal to run the piece at first came as a surprise. But after some digging, we found that Insight executives had given thousands of dollars to McConnell's campaigns -- most recently at a March fundraiser.

Reporters, bloggers, and Kentuckians were all asking one question: Why did all the other stations choose to air the ad without question, and this one did not?

It came down to one thing: political censorship. McConnell doesn't want his constituents in Kentucky to see how he earmarked millions of dollars to benefit his former chief counsel turned lobbyist and major fundraiser. His donors (and hopeful recipients of positive public policy) were happy to oblige by pulling the ad. The point of the ad was to demonstrate that McConnell is cozy with his big donors while ordinary Kentuckians are left out. McConnell and Insight helped to prove our point.

So, we fought back. In just one day, more than 6,000 people signed a petition demanding the ad be put back on the air. Insight executives, McConnell, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee were all being forced to answer questions about their involvement.

And because of this public pressure, we won. On Friday evening, Insight relented. The ad will air tonight in Louisville and Lexington on the ESPN broadcast of the Cincinnati Bengals game. People-powered politics won out this time over big media's censorship.

However, McConnell is hardly throwing in the towel. His political spokesperson declared that they may still try to keep the ad off the air and blamed, "weak-kneed lawyers at the television stations." That's a remarkable statement coming from the office of the nation's leading opponent of campaign finance reform, who has always explained his support of the big money political system as an extension of his deep belief in free speech. Free speech for him apparently, but not for others.

Comments

[FlowerGirl]

Censorship is certainly a promlem for those of us who want a real democracy. Such a thinng is impossible without good honest information. That is why is is mandatory that we put back those rules we once had about media. That gives us a wider array of biased sources to choose from and evaluate. Now all MSM sources are of the same bias.
But we shouldn't be too surprised by that. After all can you name one source that isn't biased? Is there even such a blog around that you can name?

[pelosiforpresident]

I see the point of the story as this: For censorship to be effective, it has to be complete.
If there are a few stations, or web sites, which tell the truth, then the truth gets told.
In this, I see hope for the future. As long as the internet is free.

[Qbear]

Will Mitch McConnell Be The Next Outed Gay Republican?
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/61107/
Four More Top GOP Outings Could Be in the Offing
"Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell Won’t Explain Why He was Expelled from the Army after 10 Days
Minority Leader McConnell has been the object of gay rumors for while, too. In fact, Wonkette has referred to him as “My Old Kentucky Homo.”

Mike Rogers says:

Are the long standing rumors of McConnell’s extra-curricular shower activities in the military true? I believe so, and not just because his office refused to provide me with a copy of his discharge records. I wonder what they are trying to hide.

And Rogers told Counterpunch:

“Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s quick expulsion from the Army –for fondling a private’s privates — is finally being discussed in Kentucky.” He notes that McConnell, discharged after just 10 days in the Army in 1967, “has consistently prevented anyone from seeing his military discharge papers” but a Freedom of Information suit may bring them to light. (After the revelation of Craig’s arrest and confession, McConnell cosigned a statement with other top Republican legislators stating, “This is a serious matter” and indicating he is examining “other aspects of the case to determine if additional action is required.”)
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y49/pspauld/photos-clproseted-gapry-poprls.jpg
http://www.pensitoreview.com/2007/09/04/four-more-gop-outings-could-be-in-the-offing/
"Meanwhile, drop by The Pensito Review for a post on the next GOP closet doors that could be kicked open.
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=2820

[mommadona]

Good one, Qbear....thank you!

[mommadona]

"Well, there they go again...."

SOME more equal than others...

DITCHMITCH!
http://www.ditchmitchky.com/

[Rescisco]

Mitch McConnell is the perfect example of what the present system produces. That alone should be sufficient to make the case for campaign finance reform. Of course, a system that produces Mitch McConnell's will never reform itself!

[Colmore]

I want to see McConnell, Hatch, Lott and Boehner voted out of office. They have been there so long, they make their own rules. Also, are there any judges on the Supreme Court who are ready to apologise to the citizens of this country for making the disasterous mistake of giving the presidency to Georgie? They HAD to know he was a lightweight in the brains dept.

[anastasiabeaverhousen]

Something tells me all the warrantless wiretapping provided some interesting facts about our legilators that the white house is all too eager to use.

Why else would all these old white men (who are up for re-election) carry water for the white house with unquestioning allegiance???

Could there be yet another Don Juan of the johns as Larry Gelbart put it???

[LeftRight]

Read the constitution people! Freedom of speech is reserved for the people! NOT FOR THE CORPORATIONS! If a major executive at a Fortune 500 company wishes to make a donation to a congressman, that is perfectly in the 1st amendment. If his Fortune 500 company wishes to do so, that needs to be stopped. Right here, right now. Why the hell did the supreme court ever agree that corporations are citizens of the US?????

[munkeyfuk]

Corporations have lots of MONEY, I wold love to know the details of the SCOTUS decision that made corporations equal to citizens, I suspect it was not a decision based on legal precedent, it seems much more likely a consequence of some well-connected individuals making sure some justices got funded for whatever in exchange for such an assanine decision.
I am convinced you can trace MANY of our current problems to this HORRIBLE decision and/or precedent.

[SEQUOIABISON]

That ruling by the Supremes, giving corporations the same rights as citizens completely changed the dynamic of politics in America.

We no longer have representatives voting for the betterment of the citizens who put them in office but rather we now have a legalized bribery system where votes go to the highest bidder.

Hopefully we can get rid of the remaining trash in 2008.

[snaggster]

McConnell plays to win. Make no mistake about that. He is corrupt and ruthless. He has, for many years, thought himself bullet-proof. Now he's fighting like a cornered rat. It's way past time to ditch Mitch.