Understanding why the Broadcasters hired Gordon Smith
Kari Chisholm
As Carla noted it seems that former Senator Gordon Smith has landed a plum Washington DC gig. He'll be the new president and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters.
Of course, this probably isn't much of a surprise. While in the U.S. Senate, Gordon was a good friend to the broadcasters. As I wrote in April 2006, he even let one of his staffers - who had already announced his resignation and his impending move to Viacom/Paramount - be the point person for the "broadcast flag" bill that Viacom/Paramount had described as their top priority. (I wasn't the only one calling foul - so was the Legal Times and the Electronic Frontier Foundation.)
OK, so what's this "broadcast flag" thing that Smith was so enamored of? Smith's Digital Content Protection Act would have made it even harder for you to electronically record TV, and share clips with friends and online -- even under the already-restrictive Fair Use rules. It would have made it harder for you to copy your CDs to MP3s, even though that's legally allowed. Here, let Boing Boing put it in context:
There are two things to be certain of this century:1. Everything that can be expressed as bits will be expressed as bits
2. Bits will only get easier to copy
The entertainment companies are convinced that their businesses depend on copy-proof bits. This is ridiculous: there's no such thing, there never will be.
Governments that try to protect businesses that demand copy-proof bits are like governments that try to protect businesses on the sides of volcanoes, who demand an immediate end to business-disrupting lava.
If the current entertainment companies can't or won't adapt to a world of bits, that's too bad. Let them die, and let new businesses that thrive in the new technological reality take their place. If you can't stand the heat, get off the volcano.
In short:
Hollywood's crybaby capitalists accuse us of being "communists" with one breath, and in the next, they go begging to Congress to turn the FCC into device czars who keep the market from being disrupted by innovation.
Aha! Now we understand. Gordon Smith is exactly the kind of person that they were looking for. A guy who was crying "socialism!" years before it was fashionable in the GOP - all the while using the power of the government to stifle innovation and pick winners in the market. The kind of guy that proposed a tax-break for multi-national corporations so ridiculous that the Bush Administration said "you might as well have taken a helicopter over 90210 [Beverly Hills] and pushed the money out the door."
Of course, this new job isn't the first time the broadcasters have done nice things for Smith. In 2008, Smith's friendship was handsomely rewarded. Among Republican Senators running for re-election that year, he was the #2 recipient (behind John Sununu, R-NH) of campaign funds from donors associated with "TV/Movies/Music" industry sector, according to OpenSecrets.org. He received a total of $143,068 from that narrowly-defined sector in 2008. Put it this way: That's $50,000 more than Senator Harry Reid got and just slightly more than Senator Mitch McConnell - and most self-interested donors tend to focus on folks in the leadership.
Yeah, they really liked Gordon Smith.
Now that he's out of Oregon politics, I guess we won't have Gordon Smith to kick around anymore. Oh well. Au revoir!
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2:47 p.m.
Sep 20, '09
OK, he wasn't there for them every time. In 2004, he voted - with Senator Wyden - to increase the penalties for profane language on TV. We'll see if he sticks to that position now.
3:13 p.m.
Sep 20, '09
I admit to being conflicted on some of these intellectual property issues but the reality is that TV is facing much the same challenge as newspapers in a world where technology allows their products to be shared freely (in more than one meaning of that word).
I think Gordon will be a good spokesperson for that industry and on those issues and I wish him well.
If there's anything worse than poor losers it's poor winners.
4:11 p.m.
Sep 20, '09
Jack,
I think you scored with the "poor winners" claim.
However,I also think this story illustrates one of the problems with our political system today. Clearly Gordon supported the NAB positions while in Congress and therefore it made sense that they hired him to take advantage of his Congressional connections.
In addition to the Congressman becomes lobbyist problem, it also raises the question of whether he would have been such a strong supporter if they didn't give him so much money and spend so much time with him when he was in office. NAB has people talking to Congressmen all the time, but there is no equivalent money making organization to counter them. The non-profits and individuals that disagree with NAB just don't have the same fire power. Would Smith have sided so strongly with NAB if he wasn't so strongly supported by them or would he have listened more carefully to the opposition?
Sep 20, '09
Smith has always gone for the position that would garner the most votes or money...remember his switch from anti to pro gay?...and how it coincided with Lon Mabon's fall? Sincere or opportunistic, hmmm? "Head of the NAB" equals "Chief lobbyist for the Broadcast Industry", and he'll probably use every tactic he has available to further their interests...the NAB didn't hire him because of his reputation as an ethical campaigner now, did they?
5:37 p.m.
Sep 20, '09
I agree with the premise that information wants to be free. What is now possible and constantly evolving in information technology will outpace traditional systems of information dissemination (and has), but these institutions can adapt and it is critical for the success of the country that they do. Newspaper for example, simply cannot die in the marketplace. They need to be free and fair and vibrant for the sake of the republic.
I suspect the senator to be motivated to “clean up” some of what is being put out there in terms of broadcasting too. Who knows? I thank him for his service even if I disagreed a lot.
Sep 20, '09
Try an Internet search for "robert mcchesney national association of broadcasters" for an "appreciation" of the NAB. Smith should feel at home there.
One of McChesney's quotes: As the mainstream media has become increasingly dependent on advertising revenues for support, it has become an anti-democratic force in society.
Sep 20, '09
If Gordo can arrange to have US television programs show as many naked female breasts as UK television, I will take back every negative thing I have said about him and his frozen food sweat shop.
Otherwise, he would appear to be just another political hack (regardless of party) who parlays a few years in DC into some sort of lobbying job. Who cares!
9:24 p.m.
Sep 20, '09
Maybe somebody on the blue side got Gordo this gig so that he wouldn't run for governor.
9:39 p.m.
Sep 20, '09
In addition to the Congressman becomes lobbyist problem, it also raises the question of whether he would have been such a strong supporter if they didn't give him so much money and spend so much time with him when he was in office.
Not to mention the problem of members of Congress being overly solicitous toward industry groups because they're hoping for a financially rewarding post-congressional career. To Gordon's credit, he only went down this path after he lost - unlike some of the late 90s crowd of GOPers who appear to have run for Congress as a stepping stone to a more lucrative career on K Street.
I prefer the example of Les AuCoin. After nearly two decades in Congress, his post-congressional career has led him to a teaching gig at Southern Oregon and as a writer of both nonfiction and (his soon-to-be-released) fiction.
6:35 a.m.
Sep 21, '09
I prefer the example of Les AuCoin. After nearly two decades in Congress, his post-congressional career has led him to a teaching gig at Southern Oregon and as a writer of both nonfiction and (his soon-to-be-released) fiction.
Okay, but AuCoin left Congress in January 1993 and started teaching at SOU in 1998. My recollection is that he stayed in D.C. and lobbied during the interim period. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Plus, I thought he has been writing fiction all along. :-)
8:56 a.m.
Sep 21, '09
Maybe somebody on the blue side got Gordo this gig so that he wouldn't run for governor.
That seems like a pretty big stretch.
At least on the surface, Smith has appeared to have zero intention to live in Oregon. When he lost the Senate race, he took a job with a high-level DC law firm--and its not like he needed the money.
Gordon Smith bugged out of Oregon and has never looked back.
Sep 21, '09
My two favorite quotes on this thread thus far:
".... blue... got Gordo the job...." hehehehe... yahhhh. Now that is strategic planning and execution worth talking about.
"information wants to be free".... so we talk about racism and all in thread after thread, not only do we ONLY talk about the big 2 or 3 (black, white, hispanic), but we never include poor old information in the discussion! Folks, wake up - we really need to address the fact that we suck at actually practicing diversity concepting.
Sep 21, '09
"Not to mention the problem of members of Congress being overly solicitous toward industry groups because they're hoping for a financially rewarding post-congressional career."
Unfortunately, and perhaps worse, the same applies to people in the upper ranks of our war (aka defense) department and the armed forces hoping for positions within the military-industrial complex.
Sep 21, '09
Ah, Senator Smith, always looking out for the interests of us 'little folks,' here in Oregon.
He'll do well. He looks good in an expensive suit.
Sep 21, '09
Jack Bog sez: "Maybe somebody on the blue side got Gordo this gig so that he wouldn't run for governor."
That's right, Jack, it was Neil Goldschmidt AGAIN!!!!!!!!! That bastard owns this state!!!!!!!!!!
Sep 21, '09
Say now- I smell a Greg Walden connection- yes? It's written all over it- now Gordon is out of the Gov race... Co-incidence?
Sep 21, '09
Say now- I smell a Greg Walden connection- yes?
It was Neil Goldschmidt in cahoots with Greg Walden, dammit! Jack Bog will have the details about this on his blog momentarily.
Sep 21, '09
Are you implying that leaving political office and accepting lucrative top-level positions directly related to an issue area for which you are lobbied is strictly limited to the GOP?
How about...Tom Daschle, for instance:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32604-2005Mar13.html
The article also references Democratic Senator John Breaux(D-LA), who was recruited by Bob Dole and took a very cushy spot at a prestigious K St. firm Patton Boggs, and former Energy and Commerce Chairman W.J. Tauzin (R-LA), who took on the top spot at PhRMA.
Every Senator is lobbied on EVERY issue, regardless of party, so no matter where Gordon Smith or Tom Daschle or John Breaux landed in their post-political careers, you'd be able to dig up articles, records and donations from the corresponding lobbying efforts for and put a negative slant on it.
This is not a partisan issue that Democrats can claim the high ground on.
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