Politics

Drug Industry Front Scares Seniors With Radio Ads

by Laura Miller — July 15, 2003 - 11:00pm

A bipartisan group of lawmakers has condemned a radio scare campaign sponsored by the U.S. pharmaceutical industry. "In a bid to defeat legislation that would allow the 'reimportation' of American-made drugs from Canada and Europe, a lobby group calling itself the Seniors Coalition is questioning the safety of Canadian and European prescription drugs," the Toronto Star reports. Reimported drugs are cheaper for seniors to buy. The legislation is part of the $400 billion, 10-year overhaul of the Medicare.

Main Source: 
Toronto Star, July 16, 2003

Corporate Criminals Give Big

by Sheldon Rampton — July 1, 2003 - 11:00pm

Thirty-one corporate criminals gave more than $9 million to the Democratic and Republican parties during the 2002 election cycle, according to a report by Corporate Crime Reporter. They gave $7.2 million to Republicans (77 percent) and $2.1 million to Democrats (23 percent). The top five corporations, ranked by amount given to politicians, were Archer Daniels Midland ($1.7 million), Pfizer ($1.1 million), Chevron ($875,400), Northrop Grumman ($741,250), and American Airlines ($655,593).

Main Source: 
Corporate Crime Reporter, July 2, 2003

Bush's 9/11 Coverup

by Sheldon Rampton — June 17, 2003 - 11:00pm

"While the administration of President George W. Bush is aggressively positioning itself as the world leader in the war on terrorism, some families of the Sept. 11 victims say that the facts increasingly contradict that script," reports Eric Boehlert. "The White House long opposed the formation of a blue-ribbon Sept. 11 commission, some say, and even now that panel is underfunded and struggling to build momentum.

Main Source: 
Salon.com, June 18, 2003

Stossel's Political Promotion

by Sheldon Rampton — May 22, 2003 - 11:00pm

John Stossel has been promoted to co-anchor of ABC's 20/20 TV program. According to a source within the network, "These are conservative times... the network wants somebody to match the times." Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) points to Stossel's history of "bungled facts and twisted logic" and asks if "a record of credible and accurate reporting" shouldn't be more important than "matching the perceived political climate."

Main Source: 
FAIR/Extra!, May 23, 2003

Money and Politics in Florida

by Sheldon Rampton — May 4, 2003 - 11:00pm

Election campaign records following the past legislative session in Florida show that sugar and telephone companies both gave the most and got the most in return. Loosened pollution restrictions in the Everglades and an impending increase in telephone service rates, the largest in history, appear to be the payoff for more then $3.5 million the industries gave to state-level candidates and committees.

Main Source: 
Miami Herald, May 5, 2003

George Bush, the 9/11 President, Plots His Re-Election

by John Stauber — April 21, 2003 - 11:00pm

President Bush's advisers, led by Karl Rove, are "planning a sprint of a campaign that would start, at least officially, with his acceptance speech at the Republican convention, a speech now set for Sept. 2 [2004]. ... Mr. Bush's advisers said they chose the date so the event would flow into the commemorations of the third anniversary of the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks. ... The strategy ... is intended to highlight what Mr.

Main Source: 
New York Times, April 22, 2003

Anti-Chavez All The Time

by Laura Miller — February 10, 2003 - 12:00am

As the so-called general strike against Venezuelean President Hugo Chavez comes to an end, Venezuelan television will begin broadcasting advertising again. For the two months of the strike, "the only commercials on Venezuelan TV were the opposition's relentless barrage of powerful and often witty "_blank">anti-Chavez spots," Advertising Age reports. Fifteen Venezuelan ad agencies worked together to make over 200 commercials, "although most shops and clients were closed until Feb.

Main Source: 
Advertising Age, February 10, 2003

Congress Merges With Wall Street

by Sheldon Rampton — January 22, 2003 - 2:42pm

A new poster depicts President Bush speaking on the floor of Congress. Or is it the stock exchange trading floor? Or is it really both? Produced by Public Campaign, which works for campaign finance reform, the poster includes thirteen charts detailing how big corporate campaign contributions from leading industries are buying America, what they are getting for their political investments and what the rest of us pay in higher taxes, dirty air and water, billions lost from our retirement funds, and the like.

Main Source: 
http://www.publicampaign.org/stateoftheunion

Lobbyism 101 - How to Get Rich in Politics

by John Stauber — January 6, 2003 - 12:00am

When voters elect a Representative they also are frequently launching the education and career of a future corporate lobbyist. Don't pity the retired or (rarely) defeated incumbent because their truly lucrative political career just begins when they join the ranks of millionaire lobbyists. "Dick
Armey, the departing House majority leader, summarized the
situation in his usual succinct style when he was asked on
Friday how much money he would be making in his new job
starting this week at Piper Rudnick, a law firm with a
large lobbying operation. 'I don't anticipate going hungry,' Mr.

Main Source: 
New York Times, January 6, 2002

'Vote for Me, I'm Not Soft on Terrorism'

by John Stauber — December 26, 2002 - 12:00am

"The expressions of concern about the nation's safety by Mr.
Bush's prospective challengers, voiced in interviews,
speeches and television appearances over the last three
weeks, suggest that the focus of the Democratic White House
candidates in 2004 will go well beyond the traditional
Democratic fare of education, the economy, jobs and health
care.

Main Source: 
New York Times, December 26, 2002
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