TitanTiger 21,744 Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 ...one of the FCC commissioners who pressed for and approved the deal lands a sweet gig...as a lobbyist for Comcast. And they wonder why no one trusts these a-holes anymore. 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." Four months after approving the massive transaction, Attwell Baker will take a top DC lobbying job for the new Comcast-NBC entity, according to reports. The response of groups like Free Press was expected in its anger, but not without merit. "No wonder the public is so nauseated by business as usual in Washington—where the complete capture of government by industry barely raises any eyebrows," said Free Press' Craig Aaron. "The continuously revolving door at the FCC continues to erode any prospects for good public policy. We hope—but won't hold our breath—that her replacement will be someone who is not just greasing the way for their next industry job." Such cash-ins, of course, are a bipartisan affair in Washington. Attwell Baker this afternoon released a statement once the news broke, explaining that she would leave on June 3 and that she was "privileged to have had the opportunity to serve the country at a time of critical transformation in the telecommunications industry. The continued deployment of our broadband infrastructures will meaningfully impact the lives of all Americans. I am happy to have played a small part in this success." 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://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2011/05/after-approving-comcastnbc-deal-fcc-commish-becomes-comcast-lobbyist.ars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnaldoabru 11 Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 Atlas just Shrugged Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aKaBeasTTT 0 Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 The whole system is corrupt and it's being thrown into our faces little by little. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TitanTiger 21,744 Posted May 12, 2011 Author Share Posted May 12, 2011 Capitalism and democracy are systems that only work when run by a moral people. Otherwise, they just becomes another form of tyranny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolltide316 0 Posted May 15, 2011 Share Posted May 15, 2011 **** COMCAST Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AURaptor 1,137 Posted May 15, 2011 Share Posted May 15, 2011 Atlas just Shrugged Guess you haven't seen the movie, read the book, huh ? That phrase does not mean what you think it means..., or at least how you used it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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