Cable Companies Provide Porn While Funding Politicians

[pamela]

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=478984&page=1

"While the corporations generate millions in profits from providing adult content, their political contributions are often given to those elected, in no small part, because of their stance on "moral values."

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Comcast Cable has given millions in political donations since 1998. The national Republican Party committees are its biggest organizational recipient, with donations totaling $851,000. President Bush is its biggest individual recipient with $109,000 in donations.

Adelphia has given $166,000 to Republican committees, $17,000 to conservative Rep. John Peterson, R-Pa., and $12,000 to Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., one of the most conservative members of the Senate."

[blurp]

1. Wait. Did the CORPS GIVE or did EMPLOYEES OF THE CORP GIVE?

Often times "corporate donations" mean that employees of some corporation made donations. They're required to report who it is they work for when they donate.

This would explain how the corp could broadcast porn (a decision by a few at the top for money) while the rest of the employees remain socially conservative and donate as such.

[pamela]

2. I'm not sure.

The article seems to indicate that it was the companies that gave the money.

[EFerrari]

3. Look at the sourcing: www.opensecrets.org

This is a great site. And, if it's listed there under the corporate name, the corporation donated.

[blurp]

4. Comcast donated nothing according to them.

[blurp]

5. Okay. Found something.

http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.asp?strID=C00248716

Apparently this is the way it works:

A PAC is formed called "COMCAST CORP. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE"

Employees of Comcast give their own money to the PAC. Comcast the company doesn't appear to give much to PAC, though the PAC does exist to promote the interests of the company.

The PAC then gives money to candidates/causes.

What's surprising to me is how evenly the the giving is to both parties. Sure, more is given to Republicans, but not much more (43%dem to 57% repub).

Anyway, it appears that Corporations themselves don't donate, but the PACs representing them do and the PACs get their money from employees.

[hadrons]

6. doesn't Murdock own Direct TV and doesn't Direct TV pump porn ...

into hotel room?

[President Jesus]

7. Campaign contributions of top 100 US CEOs

This is a great list for researching how top executives from the biggest companies donate their own cash.
http://www.newsmeat.com/ceo.php

[berni_mccoy]

8. I don't like the title of the article

The title places blame on the Cable Companies (coming from ABC, I'm not surprised). It should be

"Politicians Misrepresent Moral Values By Accepting Donations From Porn Providers"

There is nothing wrong with cable companies offering porn (free speech) or giving to political organizations.

It's the politicians who are accepting these gifts and are basing their campaigns on a moral message who are misrepresenting themselves to potential voters.

[paineinthearse]

10. Good point.

I have found "public editors" and "ombudsmen" very receptive and communicative when it comes to feedback. Try contacting ABC's, ask why they slanted the coverage in this way, and let us know their response.

[physioex]

12. Good points....

The porn isn't the problem. It's the two faced politicans that take the money.....

[paineinthearse]

9. See the "Adelphia" post in the "women and pornography" thread.

Sorry, I cannot find it, but some one who is a better "searcher" may have better luck.

It basically says that Adelphia used to be hyper right wing, but when it got into financial trouble, decided to offer XXX porn (in the LA area itself).

[Ian David]

11. GOP Donors drip with porn money

GOP Corporate Donors Cash In on Smut

By Terry M. Neal
washingtonpost.com Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 21, 2004; 6:24 AM

Since the election, the e-mails from readers have poured into my mailbox. The common theme from conservatives has been that Nov. 2 was a triumph of values -- embodied by the GOP heartland over the heathens of the coastal elite.

<snip>

In fact, just as the Democratic and Republican elites both profit from creating and selling popular entertainment, red states and blue states don't differ much in their consumption of it.

<snip>
In this world of irony, corporate leaders at companies as diverse as News Corp., Marriott International and Time Warner can profit by selling red state consumers the very material that red state culture is supposed to despise. Those elites then funnel the proceeds to the GOP, which in turn has used the money to successfully convince red state voters that the other political party is solely responsible for the decline of the civilization.

----

Oh, there is so much more:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A15644-2004Dec21.html?nav=most_emailed_emailfriend


See also:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1093853