Political Affiliations of Viacom Board Could Impact CBS Case (most are Democrats! and heavy donors)

NY Sun ^ | 9/21/04 | JOSH GERSTEIN

[Cableguy]

Experts in corporate governance say the directors of CBS's parent company, Viacom, are obliged to assume some role in resolving the fiasco over CBS News's use of what appear to be fake documents about President Bush's military record.

The political affiliations of Viacom's board and senior management, however, could undercut the credibility of any action the board may take.

Viacom's chairman and chief executive, Sumner Redstone, is a self-described "liberal Democrat" and a prolific donor to Democratic campaigns. Of the company's 13 board members, eight contribute primarily to Democratic candidates and party committees. Two other members of the board, Joseph Califano and William Cohen, held cabinet posts under Democratic presidents.

"The board needs to be involved, so to speak, prophylactically," a business ethics specialist at the Conference Board, Ronald Berenbeim, said.

"The exposure to risk for Viacom, even though CBS News is just one of many things that it owns, is very substantial," he said. "There's substantial risk to a major business operation for which they have ultimate oversight and responsibility."

An attorney who conducts independent investigations like the one CBS ordered up yesterday said the board members have a duty to make sure the CBS brand is not tarnished, or not tarnished further.

[Cableguy]

Long but worth reading the whole thing

[TheBigB]

"The board needs to be involved, so to speak, prophylactically,"

Appropriate, since they spend most of their time f*cking the good folks, anyway.

[atomicpossum]

This must be that 'conservative' corporate ownership the DUers are always saying makes the press so 'conservatively-biased...'

[EdReform]

BTTT

[Grampa Dave]

The link below takes us to the rat donations by Karmazin, Mel

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?st=NY&last=KARMAZIN&first=MEL

[EdReform]

VIACOM CEO DUMPS $12M IN STOCK OPTIONS - w/ link to SEC

[MeekOneGOP]

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Media Research Center:
Dan Rather on Bill Clinton:
"I think he’s an honest man."

   O’Reilly: "I want to ask you flat out, do you think President Clinton’s an honest man?"
    Rather: "Yes, I think he’s an honest man."
    O’Reilly: "Do you, really?"
    Rather: "I do."
    O’Reilly: "Even though he lied to Jim Lehrer’s face about the Lewinsky case?"
    Rather: "Who among us has not lied about something?"
    O’Reilly: "Well, I didn’t lie to anybody’s face on national television. I don’t think you have, have you?"
    Rather: "I don’t think I ever have. I hope I never have. But, look, it’s one thing-"
    O’Reilly, jumping in: "How can you say he’s an honest guy then?"
    Rather: "Well, because I think he is. I think at core he’s an honest person. I know that you have a different view. I know that you consider it sort of astonishing anybody would say so, but I think you can be an honest person and lie about any number of things."
    O’Reilly: "Really?!?"
    Rather: "Yeah, I do."
    O’Reilly: "See, I can’t. I want my government to be honest across-the-board. I don’t want people lying."

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[Paleo Conservative]

Viacom owner of C^BS: MTV Running Ad Saying Kids Will Be Drafted!!"

[PhilipFreneau]

No matter. I have already quit watching JAG, the CSI's, Without A Trace, and the occasional CBS golf tournament. I don't miss them. Online talk radio filled the void, nicely!