Posted on 07/02/2007 4:17:47 PM PDT by AFA-Michigan
Some anti-pornography groups are demanding answers as to how much presidential candidate Mitt Romney knew about the Marriott hotel chain's profits of pornography sales during his nearly ten years on the Board of Directors in the 1990's.
The hotel chain is one of many that offer pay per view sex videos for sale through in-room entertainment.
Though Marriott doesn't release their revenues when it comes to X-rated videos, industry analysts estimate it is in the tens of millions of dollars.
During his run for President, Romney has campaigned on a platform of "family values" recently telling a graduation class, "Pornography and violence poison our music and movies and television and video games."
Some of these conservative grassroots activists want to know whether he spoke up or tried to put a stop to Marriott's business dealings back then.
Phil Burress, founder of Citizens for Community Values, has been fighting hotel chains for decades on this issue. He tells The Brody File that every month a group of roughly 15 anti-pornography leaders meet in Washington to discuss the latest happenings.
Mitt Romney's Marriott connection has come up repeatedly. "Ever since he announced for president, it's been a topic of discussion."
Mitt Romney's campaign told CBN the following: "Governor Romney's role as board member was in an advisory capacity on financial matters related to the company and, obviously, he did not have a role in the day-to-day operations or decisions of individual franchise holders."
John Harmer, president of the anti-pornography group The Lighted Candle Society and the former Lieutenant Governor of California under Ronald Reagan isn't buying it. He wants to hear more.
"My attitude toward board members is that they are fully responsible. They knew exactly what they were receiving. I don't think any board member under any rationale could claim ignorance. You're either a board member or not. I can't imagine a board member going a full year and not receiving a revenue report from the company."
Previous news accounts researched by The Brody File show that Romney was paid more than $100,000 per year while on the board of Marriott.
When he left in 2002, J.W. Marriott, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Marriott International, called him, "an active, hands-on Director… From his first days on our Board nine years ago, Mitt has been an extraordinarily effective director and visionary leader."
Mitt Romney has a very close relationship with the Marriott family.
Romney's father, George Romney was best friends with Marriott's original founder J. Willard Marriott. Mitt Romney's first name is Willard, in honor of the Marriott founder. The Marriott family gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to Mitt Romney's campaign when he ran for the U.S. Senate in 1994.
So far during Romney's presidential run, they have given close to $80,000.
When asked about Romney's time on the board of directors, Marriott Spokesman Roger Conner told CBN, "We don't comment on board level matters."
Conner wouldn't speculate whether Romney had any knowledge about the fight to get rid of pornography in room entertainment or whether he did anything about it. He would only say, "This area would not have been a board area…"
Conner is quick to point out that voting on in room entertainment packages would not have been something the board would have voted on. Rather, he says, this is an operations matter.
Moreover, he says that many of Marriott hotels are either owned by others or franchised.
"We have to respect the business decisions and needs of owners. The guest has a choice to opt out of the adult entertainment options."
The Brody File made repeated calls to LodgeNet, one of the main providers for hotel in-room entertainment. We asked whether hotels have the option to opt out of the X-rated films if they would like.
They did not return our phone calls. On their website, it does say that they work "closely with its hotel partners to determine the best mix of titles to maximize viewing levels. Unlike most systems, On Command Video has the ability to tailor the programming at individual hotels to match the demographic profile of that particular property's guests.
Conservative pro-family groups have been putting pressure on hotel chains for years to change their ways.
In a letter to Bill Johnson of the American Decency Association, Marriott's Chairman of the Board wrote in June of 2000, "The in-room entertainment operators who provide our systems rely upon a certain volume of movie types in order to be economically viable. If we were to eliminate the R and non rated offerings, the systems would not be economic."
Industry analysts estimate that roughly 60% of hotel chains provide in room entertainment with the X-rated pornography movie option. Yet, some have decided to drop the adult videos.
In 1999, Omni Hotels announced that it would remove adult pay-per-view movies from its guest room televisions. It took a financial hit but Peter Strebel, Omni Hotels vice president of marketing, said in a press release at the time, "
"Money is not the issue in this matter. Not all business decisions should be fiscally driven. We believe that this is the right thing to do; the right thing for Omni Hotels, our associates and our customers."
Gary Glenn, a well known pro-family activist in Michigan recently sent an email to Justin Hart, one of Mitt Romney's Faith and Values Steering Committee members. Hart also works for the The Lighted Candle Society.
Glenn writes, "It is a matter of record that during the time Romney served as a 'hands on' member of its board of directors, the Marriott Corporation sold tens of millions of dollars worth of hardcore pornographic videos… as a candidate for president, Gov. Romney has a bully pulpit from which he could greatly assist your organization and others in applying sufficient public pressure to Marriott and other white-collar porn peddlers to 'dry up some of that funding'…we encourage you to urge the Romney campaign to initiate public discussion of the above concerns and questions in a proactive fashion, for which he may receive some credit for initiative and leadership on an issue that speaks both to his personal and political integrity and to his trustworthiness should he be elected as the chief law enforcement officer of the United States."
The Brody File contacted Justin Hart who said "In this important fight against pornography there are those people who are determined to make enemies and effect zero change and there are those who propose to use their influence to create serious lasting change - Romney is in this latter camp…pure societal turnaround can only happen when people of influence find the right moment in time to lead change…In my opinion, Romney's record shows that he could very well effect that change to happen. The fact that he included a serious anti-pornography group on his Faith and Values committee suggests this as well."
That's not satisfying to Phil Buress. He wants answers from Romney. "This man is very knowledgeable about the issues, but for him to not know anything about what Marriott is selling, I found that very interesting."
The Romney campaign won't go beyond their initial statement.
Instead they point out that Governor Romney is actively talking about pornography issues and today's culture wars.
In a speech Romney gave nearly three months ago, he said, "I have great faith in the American people. I have faith in our children, and in our grandchildren. But at the same time, I am deeply troubled by the culture that surrounds them today.I'd like to keep pornography from coming up on kid's computers. I'd like to keep drugs off the streets. I'd like to see less violence and sex on TV and in movies and in video games…I believe that the most important work being done to strengthen America's future is the work that is being done within the 4 walls of the American home."
Here you go resty... some basic financial facts
for you about porn in hotel rooms and the bonanza
it brings the hotels...
“Marriott, Westin, and Hilton
These major hotel chains all offer in-room X-rated movies delivered to the hotel by one of two major distribution companies, LodgeNet or On Command. Some analysts say these in-room sex movies generate more money for the hotel chains than revenue from the hotels’ mini-bars.
“The 5 percent or 10 percent of revenue that the hotel chain gets, that’s pure profit to them because they have no cost,” says Dennis McAlpine, an entertainment industry analyst. “They didn’t put in the wiring system, they didn’t supply the programming.” (Read more of McAlpine’s analysis.)
A Hotel Chain That Said ‘No’
In late 1999, Omni Hotels announced that it would no longer offer adult pay-per-view movies in its rooms. The company’s statement noted that it made the decision “in response to what it perceives as a growing need for corporate America to support pro-family issues.”
Based near Dallas,Texas, Omni has hotels and resorts throughout North America and ranks 45th in the list of the top 50 U.S. hotel chains.
In an October 2000 New York Times article, Omni’s president, Jim Caldwell, said that his company’s decision to remove the sex-videos would cost it an estimated $1.8 million per year. The company stated that “[t]he anticipated loss in revenue demonstrates the company’s commitment to the issue. Omni Hotels has already removed adult magazines from the gift shops at its owned and managed properties.”
NOW, RESTY...
This is what the discussion is about THE 5-10% OF THE
REVENUE THAT MARRIOTT GETS EACH TIME A GUEST CHOOSES
TO PAY EXTRA FOR PORN.
THAT is what Mitt knew about as a Board Member of
Marriott Hotels. That is the question... “Did it
bother him to be a paid board member and to know
that the hotel chain he oversaw was paying him with
money from PORN sales.
Now, you can continue to defend porn sales and Mitt
all you want. But now you know the FACTS - 5-10% of
the profit from those porn sales go to Marriott. Maybe
that doesn’t bother you, who knows.
In any case, Mitt should answer, if he has nothing
to hide.
Who do you think purchase cable in my home or anyone here on Free Republic who enjoy FoxNews or the DC, TLC or moives etc!
If you feel this strong about it you should not have any cable service for it is they who has these set packages, and you would be enabling them with any package deal you might subscribe too!
Let get Real!
BTW if you haven't noticed in the world today Evil had found a way to join itself into every avenue of our lives unless you want to gone back to pony express days for your communitcations!
Here’s an article about the same thing
that says Marriott’s take on PORN sales
is in the tens of millions of dollars...
http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/188311.aspx
ampu
OK, I get it. You are in denial. I’m not
sure why. I never took you for anything but
a decent person resty. Now I find out you
will go to great lengths to shield your
guy Mitt - even denying that Marriott
profits in the tens of millions of dollars
every year from PORN. Please don’t write
to me in support of porn anymore. Yech.
Oh please that been running around the internet so what!
It still is an opinion not fact you talk about a More Perfect Union ya if you can imposed your will!
The Earth Universal Plan has gradually changed over the last 50 years, Satan has more than his foot in the door he has a partnership. I don't like to co-existing with him any more than you or any good person would.
Matt 10
15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
16 ¶ Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Like I told the other you better do away with all forms of communication for your dollars are going to vote for their activities in the smut business, so you can either go back to the pony express for you news, or choose the better parts of communications!
OK Resty, let’s try it this way:
1. Hotels like Marriott make 5-10% from each
sale of a movie through the on command service -
much of the revenue from sales of PORN.
2. For Marriott Corporation, this accounts for
tens of millions of dollars of revenue each year
with almost no cost.
3. Mitt Romney was on the Board of Directors of
Marriott Corporation and was paid for what he
did in that role.
4. It seems likely he knew that porn sales were
going right to the bottom line. Some of us wonder
if he knew and how much he knew.
OK, now friend. Which of these four points do
you not understand or disagree with?
Which ones?
best,
ampu
The Bush family has extensive ownership in large Movie Theatre chains and in cable channels. Some of these do show and facilitate pornography. Why are the attack is only focusing on Romney? I think there is a double standard at play.
I think if Bush accepted money from a company
profiting from porn, it would be an issue of
discussion. Apparently, he did. He also claims
that his mormon religion is a defining thing
in his life. The media will be on the hunt for
every smell of hypocrisy. He should just answer.
Maybe he never saw the break out of numbers?
Carlyle Group has Pornography interests. Yep, the Bush family has profited from Porn.
Because Mitt’s the only candidate for president who was paid to serve on the board of a white-collar porn-peddler for a decade...and thus shared in the porn profits.
Read the new Associated Press story on this subject, just released:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1861366/posts
Bush family has actual ownership interests which even worse!
Correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t you think
if he was in this coming primary, and the issue
was raised, he’d address it?
Does the Bush Family connection (and I’m not
sure what that means? A family trust?), mean
Romney shouldn’t answer any questions?
Does it mean anything n?
Should Romney just address the issue and put
it behind him? If he didn’t know, he has
nothing to hide.
If not, it will go away as an issue.
ampu
This garbage has now made Fox News. I think Mitt has handled it appropriately.
“Carlyle Group has Pornography interests”
What are those interests, btw?
Bush is not the person touted as a high priest in Mormonism. Is profiting from porn okay for a high priest of Mormonism?... Don’t you see how that duplicitous position will be exploited by the sycophantic media should Romney pose a threat to the media’s leftist choice for president? Such contradictions make Romney a disaster as the conservative party candidate. [That’s your Mormonism Apologist cue to now try and paint the Republican party as not so conservative in order to make room for Oven Mitt.]
BOSTON — Republican presidential contender , who rails against the "cesspool" of pornography [which is why this story has legs], is being criticized by social conservatives who argue that he should have tried to halt hardcore hotel movie offerings during his near-decade on the Marriott board.
Two anti-pornography crusaders, as well as two conservative activists of the type Romney is courting, say the distribution of such graphic adult movies runs counter to the family image cultivated by Romney, the Marriotts and their shared Mormon faith.
"Marriott is a major pornographer. And even though he may have fought it, everyone on that board is a hypocrite for presenting themselves as family values when their hotels offer 70 different types of hardcore pornography," said Phil Burress, president of Citizens for Community Values, an anti-pornography group based on Ohio.
Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, a leading conservative group in Washington, said: "They have to assume some responsibility. It's their hotels, it's their television sets."
During a recent Associated Press interview, Romney said he did not recall pornography coming up for discussion while he was on the Marriott board from 1992 to 2001. Despite being chairman of the board's audit committee, he also said he was unaware of how much revenue pornography may have generated for the hotel chain. [is this likely?]...
Marriott and other major hoteliers say they offer pay-per-view pornography because their customers demand it ["Customer at front desk: "AND I DEMAND PORN!"] and entertainment service contracts require it to underwrite first-run movies and free television.
"It certainly would have been wrong to impose his own personal beliefs if they were contrary to the financial interests of the company," [maybe that's the whole story there. Money trumps Mormonism] Marriott spokesman Roger Conner said of Romney.
...
Marriott refused to say if its contract with On Command was ever discussed or voted upon by the board, saying the directors' votes and meeting minutes are proprietary.
Marriott now contracts with LodgeNet Entertainment Corp., which bought On Command last year...
Romney, 60, has close links to the corporation, which opened its first hotel in 1957. Not only did he serve on its board of directors, but his given first name — "Willard" — is in honor of the hotel chain's founder, J. Willard Marriott. Marriott and Romney's father, former Michigan Gov. George Romney, were friends and rose through industry together.
In June 2000, J.W. "Bill" Marriott Jr., the son of Marriott's founder, defended the distribution of pornographic movies, saying they were inseparable from the rest of the chain's TV offerings.
"The in-room entertainment operators who provide our systems rely upon a certain volume of movie types in order to be economically viable," Bill Marriott wrote to Bill Johnson, executive director of the Michigan-based American Decency Association. "If we were to eliminate the 'R' and non-rated offerings, the systems would not be economic."
No all hotel chains have the same policy. Omni Hotels announced in late 1999 it would no longer offer pay-per-view movies in its rooms. Ritz-Carlton, the hotel name synonymous with luxury, also does not offer in-room pornography — even though it is owned by Marriott International.
Daniel Weiss, media analyst for James Dobson's "Focus on the Family," said this week in a radio broadcast to Focus members: "If (Romney) made money off pornography in the past, is he going to turn a blind eye to it if he's president? Because as chief executive of the nation, it's his responsibility to make sure our nation's obscenity laws are efficiently and vigorously enforced."
..."Pornography and violence poison our music and movies and TV and video games," Romney said May 5 during a commencement address at Regent University, the evangelical Christian school run by Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson.
"The Virginia Tech shooter, like the Columbine shooters before him, had drunk from this cesspool."
Sorry, Freepers are prohibited from reading today’s Associated Press story on this issue here on Free Republic, since my posting of the AP story has been pulled, i.e., censored, by the moderator.
However, just watch tomorrow’s newspaper, or read the AP story at the link below, since you can no longer read it on Freep:
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