Business Week Publishes Democratic Party Hit-Piece As News

Power Line Blog ^ | 9/12/05 | John Hinderaker

[Masada]

Today's example of MSM bias: this Business Week article by Leo Hindery, Jr., titled "Tragedy and Telecom." The article is subtitled, "How the Bush Administration's antiregulation stance contributed to the post-Katrina communications collapse -- and what should be done now." Mr. Hindery's indictment of the Bush administration is the latest effort to blame the President for just about everything associated with Hurricane Katrina. Its reasoning is so fragmentary, however, that Hindery never does explain why "the Bush administration's antiregulation stance" had anything to do with the hurricane or its aftermath. That doesn't stop Hindery from dropping the usual snide comments. Here is his conclusion:

Should the Bush Administration adopt for telecom a regulatory posture that better takes into account the common good and welfare instead of its current "no regulation unless we really have to" stance? It must -- around such matters as quality standards, universal service and emergency preparedness -- if it is ever to be an Administration "of all the people" (and not of just the K Street lobbyists), and if it really does want those 911 calls answered.

And after the tragic battle for New Orleans, should the Bush Administration, in the realms of telecom reform and infrastructure development, abandon the mantra it borrowed from Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform: "I don't want to abolish government -- I simply want to reduce it to the size where I can drown it in the bathtub"?

As to this last question, knowing what you now know, what do you think?

That's quite an indictment. But whom does it come from? Business Week describes Leo Hindery, Jr. this way:

Leo Hindery Jr. is managing partner of InterMedia Partners, a private investment firm. He is former CEO of the YES Network and CEO of TCI and its successor, AT&T Broadband.

Oddly, Business Week omits Hindery's most notable experience in the telecom world: as CEO of Global Crossing. Yes, that Global Crossing--the company that made a number of investors rich, including former DNC chairman Terry McAuliffe, but turned out to be riddled with fraud, and collapsed into one of the biggest bankruptcies ever.

Is Hindery's involvement in Global Crossing the only connection between him and McAuliffe? Well, no. In fact, Hindery was a contender to succeed McAuliffe as Chairman of the Democratic National Committee:

The person Mr. Daschle has been touting as the other chairman is a Manhattan financier and cable-television executive, Leo Hindery Jr. A major Democratic fund-raiser, Mr. Hindery has met with Democratic lawmakers to discuss the option.

Hindery is a major Democratic contributor as well as fundraiser; so far he's donated over $60,000 to the Democrats for the 2006 election cycle, and he contributed over $160,000 to the Democrats in 2004.

Hindery is an activist as well as a money-man; he serves on the Board of Advisors of left-wing Democracy Radio, and was awarded the "Oates-Shrum Leadership Award of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund."

So there you have it: Business Week published a vicious attack on President Bush by a man whom the magazine blandly represented as a telecom executive, writing in his field of expertise. But the magazine not only forgot to mention that Hindery was the CEO of Global Crossing; it also omitted the highly-relevant facts that Hindery is a Democratic Party activist and fundraiser, and was, fact, a contender for the Chairmanship of the Democratic Party.

But--you may protest--magazines sometimes get fooled. Maybe Business Week got a submission from Leo Hindery and printed it without realizing that it was nothing but a Democratic Party hit-job. Um, no. In fact, Business Week reported on Mr. Hindery just last December: "The Democrats Go Scouting For A Savior":

For Democrats who long to see the DNC run more like a business, there's Hindery, an ex-Tele-Communications Inc. president and AT&T Broadband & Internet Services (T ) CEO. But some worry about Hindery's later tenure at scandal-plagued Global Crossing Ltd. (GLBC ), a company to which McAuliffe also had connections.

Funny how much Business Week could forget in such a short time.

[Masada]

Further proof that the two credential needed for a career in MSM are (a) pathological lies and (b) the belief that readers are even dumber than you are.

Business Week's editor would love to hear from you: steve_adler@businessweek.com

[zarf]

SLAM DUNK!! GAME OVER!

Great job by the Powerline guys.

[Odyssey-x]

I'm reading this article and thinking, is that all they could come up with on Bush? Sure its a hit piece but what a total loser of a hit piece.

[clee1]

Business Weak has always been a mouthpeice for the LibRats.

Eff 'em. Eff 'em running.

[Once-Ler]

Greg Packer, man on the street, says "Leo Hindery Jr may have been a long time operative for the Democratic Party and liberal causes, but that doesn't mean he can't be unbiased and fair...like Dan Rather. The only reason why Hindrey is being persecuted by Powerline is because he is telling the truth about the evil and despicable Republicans."

[CBart95]

You Libs are in unimaginable denial. At this juncture it's pointless to intercede in the downward spiral of raw self defeating,blind hatred you have for your own country,institutions, history,foundations, traditions,way of life,Our government,our administration, our service men and women, and just about any thing American.
You literally have no agenda,no platform and zero eligible candidates for 2006 or 2008.
By you word and deed,you have joined our enemy.

[tophat9000]

Oddley I had to go to a meeting at Global Crossing Beverley Hill headquarters just off Rodeo Dr. in 2001 when Global Crossing was looking to buy the telcom company I was working for (and then GC went BK two weeks later)...Do you want to know where the money went?... there place looked like Versailles ..and why does a telcom company even need to be in Beverley Hill...

Global Crossing spent other people money like water and was nothing but a giant Ponzi scheme

[ozzymandus]

In other words, he's a lying RAT crook.

[Once-Ler]

You Libs are in unimaginable denial.

Just so we are clear...I didn't say it. Greg Packer did.
The Times' Designated Man in the Street (Coulter outs Times)

I agree with your assesment of the rats.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Oddly, Business Week omits Hindery's most notable experience in the telecom world: as CEO of Global Crossing. Yes, that Global Crossing--the company that made a number of investors rich, including former DNC chairman Terry McAuliffe, but turned out to be riddled with fraud, and collapsed into one of the biggest bankruptcies ever.

Oh conveeeeeeeeeeeenient of Biznis Weak to not mention Hindery's liberal connections.

Of course, Biznis WEAK only cares about touting the ambitions of their RICH LIBERAL BUSINESS FRIENDS, and not about being balanced in their reporting.

[Caipirabob]

I just dont' see how anyone can buy this crap. Who wants to buy a news source that's outdated as soon as it hits the shelf and on top of it makes you want to lose your breakfast?

The MSM is so dead...

[RonDog]

Today's example of MSM bias: this Business Week article by Leo Hindery, Jr., titled "Tragedy and Telecom."

From the vast right wing www.motherjones.com:

	RANK		IN 1998		DONOR NAME		INDUSTRY		TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS		PARTY
	29				Leo J. Hindery Jr. (with Deborah) Chairman & CEO, GlobalCenter, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA		Communications		$591,902

Leo J. Hindery Jr. (with Deborah) March 5, 2001

Leo Hindery Jr. has long been a legislative liaison for the cable industry on Capitol Hill. A former chairman of the National Cable Television Association, he was a strong proponent of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which deregulated much of the industry. In 1997 and 1998 he testified before Congress three times, arguing for less government regulation and relaxed oversight of industry mergers. It's an issue Hindery knows something about: He was president of telecommunications giant TCI when it merged with AT&T, and negotiated AT&T's acquisition of the MediaOne Group.

More recently, Hindery served a seven-month stint as chief executive Global Crossing, a fast-growing firm specializing in underseas cables and wireless communications. He stepped down to head the company's Internet division, Global Center, while it completed its sale to Exodus Communications.

Despite his rapid turnover in job titles, Hindery has remained a consistent political booster, even appearing on television last year to promote Al Gore's plans for the economy...

[BamaAndy]

May the weight of their lying bury them.

[RonDog]

...But--you may protest--magazines sometimes get fooled. Maybe Business Week got a submission from Leo Hindery and printed it without realizing that it was nothing but a Democratic Party hit-job.

Um, no. In fact, Business Week reported on Mr. Hindery just last December: "The Democrats Go Scouting For A Savior"

From www.businessweek.com:

DECEMBER 6, 2004

WASHINGTON OUTLOOK

The Democrats Go Scouting For A Savior

Win and the world smiles with you. Lose in politics, and you're a bum. So it's no wonder that the loudest Bronx cheer in Washington goes to lame-duck Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe, who has presided over two disastrous election setbacks in 24 months. "Terry McAuliffe proved that raising money isn't enough," says Democratic moneyman Andrew S. Rappaport, a general partner at August Capital Associates LP in Menlo Park, Calif. "[He] is the person who is most responsible for the predicament the Democrats are in."

That may be a bit hyperbolic, but as the Dems try to pick up the pieces after a shattering election, they're looking to replace McAuliffe in February with a party boss who not only talks a big game but actually delivers. Indeed, the crowded campaign for DNC chief is fast becoming a battle for the future direction of the party -- not to mention a possible early test for putative 2008 Presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton.

-- If the party wants bash-Bush, man-the-barricades liberalism mixed with the latest in Internet-fueled fund-raising and organizing, it can tie its fortunes to former Vermont Governor Howard Dean.

-- If it seeks a hard-charging centrist who reaches out to swing voters, including the growing Latino population, it can embrace Simon B. Rosenberg, founder of the New Democrat Network.

-- If the party wants its chair to raise wads of money and build bridges to business, it has a contender in longtime telecom exec Leo J. Hindery Jr...