Mitt Romney's Secret Weapon: Clear Channel Radio |
Written by Frank M. Miranda |
Monday, 11 August 2014 10:41 |
Conflict of interest? Checks and balances issue? Meaning of the phrase:
"Counterbalancing influences by which an organization or system is regulated, typically those ensuring that power in political institutions is not concentrated in the hands of particular individuals or groups" Beginning of Daily Kos article::::
In 2008, Bain Capital acquired Clear Channel Radio and 850 radio stations for $24 billion, and records show 14 of the company's directors have contributed more than $700,000 to Romney's campaigns. Romney left the firm in 1999, but still rakes in millions from his sizable share of Bain investments and pays 15 percent tax. Romney's Bain Capital controls the board of directors of Clear Channel. These are people who started giving to Romney in 1994. This is a social and economic network that is deeply involved in Clear Channel and tightly controlled. These are Romney's friends and allies going back to the very beginning of his political career. And now they control Clear Channel Radio, America's largest and most powerful FM and AM radio station corporation. It operates 850 radio stations and reaches 110 million Americans. Clear Channel syndicates most conservative talk radio shows including Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck and Michael Savage. And what about all that "free" advertising that Romney gets every day on hundreds of radio stations across the country on these talk shows? What better way to control the message of conservative talk radio than to BUY it? Rush Limbaugh was given a $400 million contract in 2008 when Bain Capital purchased Clear Channel. He broadcasts on over 600 radio stations. Sean Hannity is heard on over 500 stations by 13.5 million listeners. Hannity also received a new and lucrative contract when Bain purchased Clear Channel in 2008. It's quite a propaganda budget...but if Mitt Romney wins the White House it's worth it, right? In a stunning article from Wayne Barrett of Newsweek and The Daily Beast from March 2012, Romney and Bain were outed as the money behind conservative talk radio. Bain bought Clear Channel in 2008 then took over its board of directors with the goal of influencing public opinion during the presidential campaigns of 2008, 2012 and beyond. With millions of dollars now being donated to the Romney campaign from Clear Channel, Americans should wonder just how much control Mitt Romney and Bain Capital have over conservative talk radio show hosts Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck. These shows reach tens of millions of listeners every day. Sean Hannity reaches even more viewers on his Fox News television show. Conservative talk radio show hosts rely on Bain Capital for their livelihood. That can't be good for fair and honest opinions on their shows. Source: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/05/26/1095014/-Bain-Capital-and-Mitt-Romney-s-Best-Kept-Secret-Clear-Channel-Radio# |
Last Updated on Monday, 11 August 2014 11:06 |