Google ready to pursue its agenda in Washington

LA Times ^ | January 24, 2009 | By Jim Puzzanghera and Jessica Guynn

[Gordon Greene]

Reporting from Washington -- Another inauguration took place in Washington this week -- Google Inc. officially became a political power player...

..."Google is not just a benign corporate entity. It has a variety of special interests," said Jeff Chester, the executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy, who has sparred with Google over data-privacy issues. "They're in a great position to push their agenda through with the support of the president and the Democrats in Congress."

But Google's newfound political ties heighten concerns about its grip on the online advertising market. The company could play better defense against strong competitors trying to curb its influence.

Competitors worry about Google's close relationship with the Obama administration, said Bill Whalen, a research fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution.

"The question going forward is: Will Google turn into just another business entity looking for favors in Washington, or will it manage to keep the 767 flying at 30,000 feet above the political din?" he said, a reference to the Google founders' private plane.

White House officials did not respond to requests for comment. Obama vowed generally this week that his administration would not be beholden to anyone...

...Symbolizing its new stature, the company co-hosted a glitzy Inauguration Day party here. The event was studded with celebrities, including Ben Affleck, Jessica Alba and Glenn Close. Though Obama did not make an appearance, the event drew influential political figures such as Obama transition chief John Podesta and Sens. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and John F. Kerry (D-Mass.).

"A lot of people are united to create a grass-roots service democracy, and Google is playing a bigger role in that than anyone knows," Craigslist founder Craig Newmark said as dance music echoed through the grand Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium.

[Gordon Greene]

So, we need to hold politicians accountable, and according to this article there are some big special interests that have not only climbed into bed with Obama, but they are having his children... "God, I pray they don't look like their daddy."

[Wiseghy]

Google does have huge ambitions. They are one to watch.

They see themselves single handedly ushering in a new information age. They are well on their way to doing so. This means big money and BIG power as indexing and controlling information gets harder to figure out.

On the other hand, it is hard to blame them for getting political. Bill Gates learned the hard way that being disengaged can be costly.

[SweetCaroline]

My ultra liberal niece works for Google and in 07 we went to a Christmas party at her house. It was wall to wall Googlers talking about Global Warming, the environment, vegan diets...etc. The only conservatives there were my husband and myself and needless to say, we left early.

[thecodont]

There’s a public interest group called cdt.org that (one would think) would counter the tentacles of such a company as Google, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

[dianed]

About cdt...google helps fund this organization. You can check their funding page on their website.

They would have a lot of conflicts of interest.