Mitt "The media is out to get me" Romney, forgets that his biggest backers own Clear Channel

[ftr23532]

A couple of days ago TPM Cafe http://electioncentral.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2007/mar/01/romney_you_know_im_the_real_conservative_because_the_medias_out_to_get_me">had a piece about Mitt Romney's assertion on http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/112076.aspx">Pat Robertson's CBN that his conservative credentials are evident by all the attacks he's received in the "Mainstream Media". Here's the Here's the quote:

"I think it proves that the media has determined who the conservative candidate is, because they're going after me with hammer and tong and that's the way you would expect to go after the conservative candidate," he said. "I'm proud of the fact that the mainstream media isn't wild about my candidacy and that's why I'm going to win."

Apparently the larger owner of radio stations in the country isn't part of the "mainstream media". http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6155284.stm">Clear Channel was bought for almost $19 billion last year by two private equity firms, Bain Capital and Thomas H. Lee Partners. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bain_Capital">Bain Capital was started in 1984 by Mitt Romney. Romney http://www.bizforward.com/bos/issues/2001-07/firstforward/">sold his majority stake in Bain back in 2001 before his gubernatorial bid, but according to this 2005 Boston Globe article, http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/articles/2005/02/13/romney_campaign_coffers_growing?pg=full">Bain's executives are some of his primary political backers:

...
A Globe analysis has found that executives from a handful of Massachusetts-based corporations, including Bain Capital, Fidelity Investments, and several smaller venture capital firms, form the base of the Romney operation. Many of the donors have contributed to at least two of the accounts since Romney took office in early 2003.
...
Until recently, the bulk of the funds has been used to finance Massachusetts candidates and promote Romney's own political fortunes here in Massachusetts. But two of the accounts in particular provide an opportunity to advance Romney's interests outside the state: the newly discovered Commonwealth PAC and a second account overseen by the Republican Governors Association.

Few local Republicans, even some on Romney's own political team, were aware of the Commonwealth PAC, which was formed last summer to distribute money to candidates around the country in an apparent attempt to expand Romney's reach. Paperwork for Commonwealth was filed with the Federal Elections Commission and in four states by an employee of a firm run by Romney strategist Mike Murphy. Its existence became widely known late last month when a South Carolina newspaper discovered the donations to local candidates there.

About 20 Romney loyalists, all men and many in the world of high finance and venture capital, contributed up to $25,000 apiece to the Commonwealth PAC and its affiliates to raise a total of about $250,000 in less than three months. State legislators and US House and Senate members in such states as South Carolina and Michigan -- where presidential primaries are key contests in the GOP race for president -- received money from the Commonwealth PAC.

Executives of Bain Capital, including longtime Romney friend Robert White, contributed $97,000 to the Commonwealth PAC and its affiliated committees in four states, according to campaign finance records reviewed by the Globe. Romney founded Bain, a venture capital firm.
...

So the company that now owns the largest radio presence in the country also forms the foundation of Mitt Romney's political base. That's something to keep in mind should he continue to make claims about media bias.

[Bluzmann57]

1. I believe he introduced coulter at that infamous conference

Yep, that's who I want for President. Some moronic clown who bitches and whines about "liberal media" when arguably the most right wing media company in the USA owns him and he likes coulter. What a shining example of manhood he is.

[ftr23532]

3. He introduced Coulter too? How did he describe her?

oh, and look who she said she would http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/04/us/politics/04coulter.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin">likely support:

...
At the conference, she said she was likely to support Mr. Romney.

The criticisms by the Republican candidates put them in a difficult position because the Conservative Political Action Conference has been gathering for conservative and Republican leaders for over 25 years.
...

Heh.

[MethuenProgressive]

2. This Mitt-stuff is getting curiouser and couriouser...

Good find, thanks.

[ftr23532]

4. yep, and with Jeb directing advisors his way...

...Mitt certainly can't complain about not having http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/02/16/jeb_bush_steers_former_advisers_toward_romney/">plenty of high-level support.