Posted on 09/23/2004 11:13:13 PM PDT by SFConservative
The CEO of CBS's parent company endorses President Bush.
Friday, September 24, 2004 12:01 a.m.
From The Asian Wall Street Journal
With the scandal at CBS still festering, questions are being raised about whether a felony was committed when the network broadcast apparently forged memos in an attempt to discredit George W. Bush. Yesterday, the chairman of CBS's parent company chose Hong Kong as a place to drop a little bomb. Sumner Redstone, who calls himself a "liberal Democrat," said he's supporting President Bush.
The chairman of the entertainment giant Viacom said the reason was simple: Republican values are what U.S. companies need. Speaking to some of America's and Asia's top executives gathered for Forbes magazine's annual Global CEO Conference, Mr. Redstone declared: "I look at the election from what's good for Viacom. I vote for what's good for Viacom. I vote, today, Viacom.
"I don't want to denigrate Kerry," he went on, "but from a Viacom standpoint, the election of a Republican administration is a better deal. Because the Republican administration has stood for many things we believe in, deregulation and so on. The Democrats are not bad people. . . . But from a Viacom standpoint, we believe the election of a Republican administration is better for our company."
Sharing the stage with Mr. Redstone was Steve Forbes, CEO, president and editor in chief of Forbes and a former Republican presidential aspirant, who quipped: "Obviously you're a very enlightened CEO."
Mr. Redstone's unexpected declaration came at a time when an unwelcome spotlight is directed at him and his board because of the CBS airing of what everyone now believes was a fake memo alleging that Mr. Bush shirked his duties three decades ago in the Texas Air National Guard. On Tuesday, Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie alleged a leftist bias at Viacom. While it was well known that Mary Mapes, the producer who did most of the reporting on the memos, is a liberal, and that anchorman Dan Rather, has always been much tougher on Republicans, the Viacom board had heretofore remained in the background.
Mr. Gillespie said, "This demonstrates a serious lack of judgment separate and apart from the lack of judgment demonstrated in running a report based on discredited documents. Did this producer's own political viewpoint cloud her judgment? Is CBS News's decision to neither suspend nor release the producer in question a result of judgment clouded by Viacom and CBS owner Sumner Redstone's role as a Kerry fundraiser, or Viacom President Tom Freston's public support of John Kerry for President?"
Mr. Redstone's office immediately went into overdrive, denying on Wednesday that he's a raised funds for the Democratic presidential nominee. Then came yesterday's "I vote Republican" vow in Hong Kong.
It was all the more surprising because the Boston-born Mr. Redstone was co-chairman of Edmund Muskie's presidential campaign in 1972. He's also a close friend of the other Massachusetts senator, Ted Kennedy. Monday's New York Sun, quoting the Federal Election Commission, said that since 1998 Mr. Redstone had given $50,000 to the Democratic Party. He's also donated the maximum $2,000 to the Kerry campaign, after supporting Al Gore in 2000.
In his book, "A Passion to Win," Mr. Redstone wrote, "From my early days I have considered myself a liberal Democrat. . . . I had no respect for Nixon. . . . My efforts on Senator Muskie's behalf apparently landed me on Nixon's notorious 'enemies list.' I took that as a badge of honor."
Of his 13-member board, two are former cabinet members for Democratic presidents. It is this board that will ponder what to do about the Rather-Mapes-CBS mess. The bombshell from Hong Kong will not come as welcome news to those responsible for "memogate."
My Deaniac relative works in Sumner's office and will be in deep depression about this ...
Welcome abord, Mr. Redstone. Will you be kicking in a little cash?
Bull. Total bull. This was said in an attempt to control some of the damage brought on by Rathergate. Why is every arm of Viacom vocally anti-Bush??
Ohhh I'm sure this is a sincere gesture. . .
could I get a direct link to the article please.
Well, well, well.... I think we are seeing the Viacom damage control team in action.
I don't believe him. Kick in a few hundred thou to the RNC or the Swift Vets and I'll change my mind
Well, well, well.... I think we are seeing the Viacom damage control team in action.......
SHOW ME THE MONEY REDSTONE. Talk is cheap, how about a hefty contribution to GWBush re-election campaign.
I think he is lying; so comfortable and smooth for liberals.
It is in their genes. Some outgrow it. Most do not.
I see Dan isn't the only fiction writer working at CBS
if you read what he actually says, he is just saying republicans are better for his company. Maybe he wants Democrats to stop blocking tort reform, who knows.
According to www.fundrace.org, Redstone's two political contributions ($1000 each) went to John Kerry.
I'm sure he wrote all of that up in some kind of memo ages ago.
REDSTONE, SUMMER M DEDHAM,MA 02026 VIACOM INC/CHAIR MAN OF THE BOARD
5/3/2004 $1,000 Kerry, John
REDSTONE, SUMNER DEDHAM,MA 02026 VIACOM/CHAIRMAN AND CEO
4/5/2004 $5,000 Viacom Inc
REDSTONE, SUMNER NEW YORK,NY 10036 VIACOM INC
9/26/2003 $2,000 Daschle, Tom
REDSTONE, SUMNER NEWTON,MA 02459 VIACOM
5/13/2004 $1,000 Kennedy, Edward M
REDSTONE, SUMNER DEDHAM,MA 02026 VIACOM/CHAIRMAN AND CEO
2/23/2001 $5,000 Viacom Inc
REDSTONE, SUMNER NEW YORK,NY 10036 VIACOM INC
6/3/2002 $1,000 Daschle, Tom
REDSTONE, SUMNER NEW YORK,NY 10036 VIACOM/CHAIRMAN & CEO
1/23/2002 $2,000 National Cable & Telecommunications Assn
REDSTONE, SUMNER DEDHAM,MA 02026 VIACOM
2/25/1999 $3,000 National Cable Television Assn
REDSTONE, SUMNER DEDHAM,MA 02026 VIACOM
4/4/2000 $200 Handgun Control Inc
REDSTONE, SUMNER NEW YORK,NY 10036 VIACOM
2/18/2000 $3,000 National Cable Television Assn
REDSTONE, SUMNER NEWTON,MA 02459 NAT'L AMUSEMENTS INC
3/31/2000 $500 Moakley, Joe
REDSTONE, SUMNER NEWTON CENTER,MA 02459 VIACOM INC/CHAIRMAN AND CEO
3/15/1999 $1,000 Gore, Al
REDSTONE, SUMNER DEDHAM,MA 02026
2/3/2004 $1,000 Kerry, John
REDSTONE, SUMNER NEW YORK,NY 10036 VIACOM INC
9/26/2003 $1,000 Daschle, Tom
REDSTONE, SUMNER NEW YORK,NY 10036 VIACOM INTERNATIONAL
4/10/2003 $5,000 Democratic Senatorial Campaign Cmte
REDSTONE, SUMNER NEW YORK,NY 10036 VIACOM
9/21/2002 $1,000 Torricelli, Robert G
REDSTONE, SUMNER NEW YORK,NY 10036 VIACOM/CHAIRMAN & CEO
5/8/2001 $2,000 National Cable & Telecommunications Assn
REDSTONE, SUMNER DEDHAM,MA 02026 VIACOM
2/10/1999 $5,000 Viacom Inc
REDSTONE, SUMNER DEDHAM,MA 02026 VIACOM
2/17/2000 $5,000 Viacom Inc
REDSTONE, SUMNER DEDHAM,MA 02027 NAT'L AMUSEMENTS INC
4/14/1999 $500 Moakley, Joe
REDSTONE, SUMNER NEW YORK,NY 10036 VIACOM INC
8/28/2000 $4,000 DNC Services Corp
REDSTONE, SUMNER NEWTON CENTER,MA 02459 VIACOM INC
3/15/1999 $1,000 Gore, Al
REDSTONE, SUMNER M DEDHAM,MA 02027 NATIONAL AMUSEMENTS INC. & VAAEM I/
12/5/2003 $1,000 Kerry, John
REDSTONE, SUMNER M NEW YORK,NY 10036 VIACOM
3/28/2003 $1,000 Leahy, Patrick
REDSTONE, SUMNER M NEW YORK,NY 10036 VIACOM INC./CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
4/11/2003 $5,000 National Cable & Telecommunications Assn
REDSTONE, SUMNER M DEDHAM,MA 02026 VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC./CHAIRMAN
7/24/2001 $1,000 Markey, Edward J
REDSTONE, SUMNER M NEW YORK,NY 10036 VIACOM
11/24/2001 $1,000 Leahy, Patrick
REDSTONE, SUMNER M NEW YORK,NY 10036 VIACOM
7/24/2000 $1,000 Hollings, Fritz
REDSTONE, SUMNER M NEW YORK,NY 10036 VIACOM INC
12/13/2000 $1,000 Schumer, Charles E
REDSTONE, SUMNER M NEW YORK,NY 10036 VIACOM
3/28/2003 $1,000 Leahy, Patrick
REDSTONE, SUMNER M NEW YORK,NY 10036 VIACOM
5/5/2003 $2,000 Hatch, Orrin G
REDSTONE, SUMNER M NEW YORK,NY 10036 VIACOM INC./CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
4/14/2004 $5,000 National Cable & Telecommunications Assn
REDSTONE, SUMNER M DEDHAM,MA 02026 VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC./CHAIRMAN
7/24/2001 $1,000 Markey, Edward J
REDSTONE, SUMNER M NEWTON,MA 02459 NATIONAL AMUSEMENTS INC./MEDIA EXEC
4/25/2002 $1,000 Dingell, John D
REDSTONE, SUMNER M DEDHAM,MA 02026 VIACOM
10/11/2000 $20,000 DCCC/Non-Federal Account 5
REDSTONE, SUMNER M NEW YORK,NY 10036 VIACOM INC
12/13/2000 $1,000 Schumer, Charles E
REDSTONE, SUMNER M NEWTON,MA 02459 VIACOM
11/30/2000 $1,000 Kerry, John
REDSTONE, SUMNER MR DEDHAM,MA 02026 VIACOM INC
3/19/1999 $1,000 McCain, John
See my post above.
(turns head to reception area) ... Marian!! Get me the Selectric!!
If I were John McCain, I'd be embarrassed to be on that list.
Sumner M Redstone
Chairman National Amusements Inc.
$1,000 200 Elm St
Dedham, MA 02027
John Kerry
Sumner Redstone
200 Elm St
Dedham, MA 02026
John Kerry
$1,000
Mr. JohnC. Malone
Retired
RNC
$1,000 P O Box 2630
Elizabeth, CO 80107
Dr. John C Malone
Retired
Tele-Communications, Inc. RNC
$1,000 P O Box 2630
Elizabeth, CO 80107
I used to work for john malone! (about 50 managers/exectives below him..haha)
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