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Lots of Not-Bribery From Telecoms

IHT Link

Executives at the two biggest phone companies contributed more than $42,000 in political donations to Senator John Rockefeller IV this year while seeking his support for legal immunity for businesses participating in National Security Agency eavesdropping.
...
The money came primarily from a fund-raiser that Verizon held for Rockefeller in March in New York and another that AT&T sponsored for him in May in San Antonio.

Rockefeller, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, emerged last week as the most important supporter of immunity in devising a compromise plan with Senate Republicans and the Bush administration.


...


Rockefeller's office said Monday that the sharp increases in contributions from the telecommunications executives had no influence on his support for the immunity provision.

"Any suggestion that Senator Rockefeller would make policy decisions based on campaign contributions is patently false," Wendy Morigi, a spokeswoman for him, said. "He made his decision to support limited immunity based on the Intelligence Committee's careful review of the situation and our national security interests."

So, corporations raise tons of money for politicians but it has no bearing on the decisions they make. Is anyone buying that one? Are they doing it for kicks?

A spokeswoman for AT&T, Claudia Jones, said contributions from its executives related to Rockefeller's role on the Senate Commerce Committee, not immunity or other questions before the Intelligence Committee.

Oh. So, it's not a bribe. It's just a very large "Thank You" that politicians can expect to get if they do things the businesses find favorable.

Hmm....


bribe (brīb)
n.

1. Something, such as money or a favor, offered or given to a person in a position of trust to influence that person's views or conduct.
2. Something serving to influence or persuade.

Sure sounds alot like a bribe to me.

"That these companies are going to focus their lobbying efforts where their business interests are is no revelation," Bennett said. "That's the standard Washington way of doing business."

I see. Since it's nothing new, it's not a bribe. It's a "focus of efforts". Right.

"Mendacity. You know what that is. It's lies and liars."
--Brick Pollitt, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

By min | October 23, 2007, 1:52 PM | Liberal Outrage