What Cindy wants, Cindy gets
The only problem with the McCain's idyllic digs in Sedona was no cell phone signal. So back in 07 Cindy requested they build her a cell phone tower or two. Both Verizon and AT&T were only too happy to wheel in a couple of portables until they could negotiate the permitting to build permanent ones. I'm sure this had nothing to do with the fact that "John McCain is a senior member of the Senate Commerce Committee, which oversees the Federal Communications Commission and the telecommunications industry" who "has been a leading advocate for industry-backed legislation, fighting regulations and taxes on telecommunications services."
Neither did the raft of industry lobbyists on the McCain team factor into the telecom's largess and I'm certain the $1.3 million in industry donations to the campaign were also just a coincidence. That's certainly the way the McCain spokespeople tell it.
[More posts daily at The Newshoggers and The Detroit News.]
Neither did the raft of industry lobbyists on the McCain team factor into the telecom's largess and I'm certain the $1.3 million in industry donations to the campaign were also just a coincidence. That's certainly the way the McCain spokespeople tell it.
"Mrs. McCain's staff went through the Website as any member of the general public would -- no string pulling, no phone calls, no involvement of Senate staff," Rogers said. "Just because she is married to a senator doesn't mean she forfeits her right to ask for cell service as any other Verizon customer can."Exactly. I just know if I called them up and asked them to build a tower or two for my mountain hideaway in New England, at a cost of six figures, that would serve about a dozen people, they would be wheeling in the temporary portables in a New York minute.
[More posts daily at The Newshoggers and The Detroit News.]
Labels: Corporatocracy, crony corruption, legislation, McCain
posted by Libby Spencer at 7:17 PM
3 Comments:
I wonder how many Verizon customers have "staff."
And I wonder how often Verizon and AT&T have complied with just one customer's request. Usually you have to get a fucking grassroots campaign going.
Marc Ambinder has the statement from Verizon. I doesn't look like there's a story here.
Peter Thonis, Verizon's chief communications officer, e-mails:
The Washington Post story regarding Verizon providing a cell tower to the McCain Ranch is wrong. Verizon received a request from Mrs. McCain, but declined. Subsequent to that, the Secret Service made a legitimate request for a temporary tower for its work and Verizon complied as is required by our contract with the agency. The Secret Service request, made on May 28, specifically said it needed the service urgently and requested that Verizon "explore every possible means of providing an alternative cellular or data communications source in the referenced area and provide any short term implementation of any type as a solution in the interim."
http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/10/verizon_denies_post_story.php
That's very plausible, but of course Verizon is not the most trustworthy source of information about what Verizon does - and the Government likes it that way. We don't get to ask and they don't have to tell.
The SS does have other communications options as well as calling Verizon, but in the absence of details I can't refute their scenario. When it comes to official explanations however, de omnibus dubitandum remains my credo.
Post a Comment
<< Home