Hmmm. Could MSNBC, the "news" organization, the main attack dog against Fox, be the corporate lapdog of the administration?
82% of MSNBC is owned by General Electric Corporation. What does GE do?
"General Electric is one of the world's most diverse companies, dabbling in virtually every industry under the sun. Among other things, it manufactures aircraft engines, locomotives, household appliances, light bulbs and plastics. It builds and operates nuclear reactors, while its consumer finance arm ranks as one of the biggest financial services companies in the nation. GE is also the parent company of the NBC television network. With so many subsidiaries offering so many different products and services, it's no surprise that GE keeps close watch over everything Congress does, from defense appropriations to campaign finance legislation and its effects on broadcasters."
Top Recipients from GE: 2008 Obama, Barack $508,030 Clinton, Hillary $166,121 McCain, John $98,072 Dodd, Chris $63,200
2010 Portman, Rob $54,760 Dodd, Chris $45,100 Himes, Jim $36,550 Neal, Richard E $34,500
On August 4, 2009 the SEC fined General Electric $50 million for breaking accounting rules in two separate cases, misleading investors into believing GE would meet or beat earnings expectations.
"The left sees the corporatist as cheaters, liars and thieves"
But CEO Jeffry Immelt has been on the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board sinfce it was created February 6, 2009
One of the highest spenders on lobbying last quarter was General Electric. Along with its subsidiaries, General Electric spent more than $9.5 million on federal lobbying between April and June -- the most it has incurred in lobbying expenses while Obama has been in office.
Since January, General Electric and its subsidiaries has spent more than $17.6 million on lobbying -- an increase of 50 percent more than what it spent during the first six months of 2009.
Lobbying expenses: 2008 $18,660,000 2009 $25,520,000 2010 $17,824,000 so far
Remember Mr Obama's promise?
"I know these steps won't sit well with the special interests and lobbyists who are invested in the old way of doing business, and I know they're gearing up for a fight as we speak. My message to them is this: So am I. The system we have now might work for the powerful and well-connected interests that have run Washington for far too long, but I don't. I work for the American people. I didn't come here to do the same thing we've been doing or to take small steps forward, I came to provide the sweeping change that this country demanded when it went to the polls in November."
The lobbyists have more control and are spending more than ever. That's the change.