Representative Edward J. Markey, a leading contender to replace Senator John F. Kerry, has never been known as an aggressive fund-raiser. He did not need to be.
From 1987 to 2008, his perch atop a powerful congressional committee that oversaw the multibillion-dollar telecommunications and media industries during a period of explosive growth and intense competition helped him build what is now a $3.1 million war chest.
Comments
What a shock, another pol who has been bought.
No, if you read the actual article, you'll see that Markey has *not* been bought.
The media will fawn all over him, praise him, tell lies how great he is. So they will be all for him just like they did for Pres. Obama and look what shape the government is in now....Do we need another spender and business destroyer. The answer is NO. $3 million from the most of the media...who should not be bias, but truth seeking is a laugh with most of them.
Yes, there are reasons to be cynical about this story. But it does sound like this is probably about as good as it can get, given the structure of campaign finance. How is it that you've decided he's a business destroyer? Sounds like the telecoms have been doing just fine. Do you like your cable bill and options? If they were left unchecked, you'd be paying even more.
Hmmmm..big donors only donate to make sure he hears what they have to say. Right. So why has my cable biil continued to go up each year when Markey was supposed to be such a watchdog?
It is NO secret that those in Congress are at the mercy of a system of financing campaigns that is in need of extensive repair. Go to ANY absolutely ANY Republican congressperson and investigate who gives contributions and you will see a list a mile long from a TON of corporate doners. Markey's votes tell the story. His votes are more than good they are excellent.
Go look to Scott Brown's donations and you will see TONS AND TONS of corporate banking money.
Until the system is changed which it probably never will be to one that encourages public financing of campaigns each and every congressperson to a man or woman will have corporate contributions.
Now because of Citizens United it is taken to heights unknown before. they MUST raise money and gobs of it and worse Reps need to do it nearly as soon as they are elected. It's reality.
Ed Markey is great and WILL be the next senator from Mass!!
Money and power are in the hands of the 1%. That 1% is only interested in maintaining the status quo. To do that they finance campaigns of politicians who write laws that give them more money and power. Career politicians only care about being re-elected so they must stay in the pockets of big business.
Campaign reform will only happen when people rise up and demand it. Until that day comes we'll continue to be lemmings going off the cliff.
Nrosen:
And how much Hollywood and outside money did Elizabeth Warren rake in....alot more then Scott Brown. Add Joe III outside money from Hollywood.
Why doesn't my cable bill include an extra envelope to send money directly to Markey, he receives a cut each month?
What?
"The communications and electronics industries have been Markey’s largest sources of campaign cash, handing him $2.4 million of the $12 million he raised from 1989 to 2012"
Let's see over the couse of 23 years these two industries contributed a little less than a half-milion per year.
Compare to the millions that big banks poured into Scott Brown's coffers over few months makes this story about how little they give him, not how much.
Yep_that's the way it goes: Representative Edward J. Markey became a very rich man in Washington. But not rich enough to travel to Massachusetts the state he claims he represents.
Although he oversaw the multibillion-dollar telecommunications and media industries, he did absolutely NOTHING for the consumers_ who still have the most expensive & worst wireless service available anywhere in the world.
The same hold true for television services, with blaring comercials, mandatory black boxes to allow the telecomunication (Comcast, etc) access to consumer viewing choices.
Personal consumer data is now accessed by telecommunication giants. Yep_thats worth more than a few million to Mr.Markey. . . is there any wonder the small town boys move to Washington, and never look back at the dumb-bells that keep on voting for them?
Will this all be the result of an other Democratic victory????? and another Obama Senate voter for the Presidents adgenda of more Government control over the citizens of this country.......and he brings with him his financial supporters??????
I don't know a whole lot about Ed Markey but I do know that he drafted the Telecommunications Act of 1996, an act that ultimately led to the consolidation of media into the hands of huge conglomerates. If you don't know alot about it and the consequences read the executive summary portion, or, if you have time, the whole report of "The Fallout from the Telecommunications Act of 1996" prepared by Common Cause -http://www.commoncause.org/atf/cf/%7BFB3C17E2-CDD1-4DF6-92BE-BD4429893665%7D/FALLOUT_FROM_THE_TELECOMM_ACT_5-9-05.PDF
Maybe his intentions were good at the time but that bill has certainly had a negative impact on consumers with higher prices, less competition and watered down content, to name a few adverse outcomes. It also helped fuel the internet bubble of the late 90's, that I was a part of, which saw a dramatic transfer of wealth to the 1%.
If the 1996 Act didn't help the consumers, it obviously helped Markey!
Cant everyone see how this funding REEKS of corruption? $ millions and millions, all due to his power as a Congressman. Taking funding from regualted insdutries should be illegal, where is Scott brown when we need him? Maybe Granny warren will step up and limit Congress's abuse... right, no way.