Hypocrisy Grows in Sunlight
by Capitol ConfidentialLast week, we reported on the undisclosed funding and conflicts of interest behind the pro-regulatory “research” being peddled by The Sunlight Foundation and picked up by the New York Times. Following that Big Government report, Sunlight scurried to put up a post mentioning that pro-net neutrality companies also hire government officials and spend money on lobbying and disclosing that “Google senior manager Kim Scott sits on the Advisory Board of the Sunlight Foundation.”
The most interesting aspect of this story is not really about Internet regulation, though.
The real issue is how the Sunlight Foundation, which says it exists to push “transparency in government,” actually has a stunningly hypocritical stance with its own funding and self-interest.
All you have to do is to look at its Board of Directors and major donors (often one and the same). Start with Craig Newmark, founder of the eponymous Craig’s List. His foundations gave Sunlight $10,000 in 2009 (Craig Newmark Philanthropic Fund) and $50,000 in 2010 (Craigslist Charitable Fund). Craig Newmark sits on the Board of the Sunlight Foundation, and has been one of the leaders in lobbying for heightened government regulations on broadband.
Next, you have Google, which has joined Newmark in financing pro-Net neutrality lobbying for years and which has a senior executive on Sunlight’s Advisory Board. It wasn’t until our post that the Sunlight Foundation thought it relevant to mention that their Advisory Board and major donors contain people with a direct financial interest in regulation for which Sunlight is providing helpful “transparency research”. The New York Times didn’t mention that, either.
Apparently transparency is only for those on the other side of the political aisle.
But what really takes the cake for an organization that criticizes others for lack of transparency is that Harvard Prof. Larry Lessig sits on Sunlight’s board. This is roughly like having Bernie Madoff on the board of an accounting firm.
As described by Andrew Orlowski at The Register recently, Professor Lessig (a professor of ethics, no less!) seems to have made a killing advocating on behalf of the gambling industry. Orlowski’s remarkably detailed reporting shows how Lessig’s for-profit iCommons attracted more than a million dollars in contributions from “newly-formed and secretive off-shore trusts” about three years ago, shortly after a new U.S. law took effect that curtailed online gambling.
As for current funders of Lessig’s group, that’s anyone’s guess since Lessig’s London-based nonprofit Creative Commons does not disclose a list of its donors.
The issue here is not the politics. It’s the hypocrisy. The Sunlight Foundation is being funded to advocate for left-wing policies, while claiming to be a non-partisan “transparency” organization. Transparency has become a shield for overtly left wing lobbying.
The media, of course, doesn’t ask these questions.
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NASA being ordered to make Muslim countries "Feel good" about the failure of their savagery, er civilization …
Net neutrality being pushed as "Free Speech" …
New black panthers being videoed intimidating people is not enough evidence to convict…
Biden promoting the fact that they don't know what to do about the economy …
Obama "Kicking" some a'ss while the east coast is being destroyed by oil gushing from a company they gave a safety waiver to…
Gorebot getting sexed up in high priced hotels by unwilling leftist sympathizers …
Stupidity is apparently the newest political performance art craze of the left!
If the conservative movement cannot win this one then we deserve to be beaten
A left wing advocacy group not playing by the rules. In their eyes, rules are for others, after all they are justing doing what is best for us. We are too stupid to understand these issues, and need these liberal groups to think for us.
It is very difficult to completely avoid GOOGLE but now that I'm aware of this Craig Newmark character, I will avoid CraigsList like the plague. In my experience it's only valuable for fraudsters, scamsters, and spamsters.
Calling this Net Nutrality group the "Sunligtht Foundation" is tantamount to calling the Mafia, "Friends of Italy". Sounds nice but hardly accurate.
.
Please, write a letter (email) to your Congressperson and scream "bloody murder" about the potential for censorship and annoying PC mentality, as the guber'ment tries more and more to interfere in our lives.
The more light we shine on Leftist Organizations in "sheeps clothing" such as the "Sunlight Foundation" the better it is for America.
We need to know that regulation of Internet, and other Communications, and other enterprises is being overseen by such a non Transparent Organization, and is being funded by the Executives of Large Corporations such as
-Google's Kim Scott,
-Craig Newmark of "Craigs List",
-Larry Lessig, of Harvard, associated with Gambling enterprises.
At least we are aware of the covert activities transpiring while we are out here working so hard. I DON'T TRUST MY GOVERNMENT to protect me anymore!
[...] BigGovernment.com [...]
"If the conservative movement cannot win this one then we deserve to be beaten"
This newly awakened conservative movement is still pretty young. It didn't evolve over a long period of time. It erupted, simultaneously, in a thousand places. Yes, we SHOULD win pretty sizable victories, based purely on American politics. But the other side of winning elections is how well coordinated your movement is. Right now, the conservative movement has not coalesced around any real platform. There's no "Contract With America" type rallying point.
Besides that, we also have to remember that ever since the 2008 election. the Republicans have had NO ONE "in power." No one has emerged as a "Conservative Leader" because the (seldom deserved) natural home of conservatives, the Republican Party, is struggling with itself over who's leadership and platform they're going to present to the electorate.
So work hard, but don't put all your eggs in this basket. We may win, and politically we should, but unless some brilliant, secret Republican strategy gets revealed by about mid-summer, we are on our own for winning any majorities. Either way, 2010 is really just the start of the work. We need to help solidify a liberty based, conservative platform and scores of new leaders within the Republican Party. Make them EARN the support of freedom loving, small government Conservatives, Independents, Reagan Democrats, etc.
So take a deep breath. This is a work in progress. The conservatives will coalesce at some point and, most likely, save the nation. We always have. We always will.
Hypocrisy grows in sunlight?
The solution to pollution, is dilution.
"The issue here is not the politics. It’s the hypocrisy."
Look at you, you go by the name "Capitol Confidential" and then proceed to throw stones at anonymity.
-Craig Newmark, the creator of a blockbuster free-service, in Craigslist.
-Professor Lessig, getting contributions by limiting online gambling.
…psst, I think its about the politics, not the "hypocrisy".
Government supported Wi-Fi, assuming they can beat the Teleco lobby, will create opportunity for people to either fail, or succeed. It's almost as simple as access to the public library.
You are an idiot. The government does not "Beat" anyone in a free market system, they simply tax or print when they it does not work and support itself, thanks for pointing out the problem though.
Try again retard, but try somewhere else.
Whenever you contemplate any movement, you must always ask yourself (even better, ask them…who knows…you might get an honest answer) the following: "What is their end goal?"
When one does this, even the most "reasonable" measures and goals – once placed in the context of the big picture – clearly becoming nothing unto themselves other than incremental steps towards the "extreme".
I'm 100% anti-abortion. Any law or measure that makes it more difficult for one to happen, I am in favor of. If said incremental step towards the end-goal of banning the practice, outright, can be wrapped in a "reasonable sounding" shroud…great. The idea is to move the goal posts accordingly.
I freely admit this – because this is how change is accomplished.
The Left, however, consistently denies the existence of any sort of greater agenda.
The gays "just want to marry [right now]" – but the truth is they won't be "happy" until they are not only a protected minority class, but until homosexuality is held in [at least] as high regard as heterosexuality which, to them, means the dismantling of any and all advantages/traditions/institutions tied to heterosexuality. All minor victories are but a step to that end.
The same dynamic applies to these "progressives" and any goal they have of which I can think.
Transparency is an impediment to progressives because it has a habit of exposing ultimate goals – showing what the world would look like if the leftists could wave a proverbial magic wand and transform everything in a day. Any pushes for transparency from the Left must be looked at in the Orwellian sense – because their version of transparency casts a distinct shadow of obfuscation. Leftism does not thrive in the light – it only "works" when the intellectual "elite" among us are allowed to make things happen without the common rabble interfering. This is why the Internet must be regulated. This is why there are calls to subsidize the old media allies of the left (i.e. failing newspapers). This is why trash like the (delightfully named) "Fairness Doctrine" isn't laughed out of the room.
Transparency is no friend to the Left. Information is the enemy to leftist ideas.
Any calls for such on the part of progressives must be looked at in the stark Orwellian sense.
Good points. Ithink you are spot on. I am hoping for Christie in 2012. I think he could galvanize the troops and still win over independents.
But whatever you do, don't get in the way of any national corporation seeking to attain "ownership" of information traveling over the web. They, with their marketing departments, are the best solution to how you should think, what you should see and how much you will pay for it. Hands down. Now, give me those ads.
OK Genius,
And these days the lines between government and the "free market" are where? We're not talking about Mom & Pop on Main Street, or whatever daddy told you. Times have changed, just a little.
The only "beating" going on against the 'telco lobby' is the one that "private" industries are facing from union thugs and Chairman O. The purpose of this "net neutering" legislation is to stifle free thought and public discourse at a time when the DNC despots are fearful of losing power to American patriots. By "federalizing" the internet the only arbiter of "accuracy" in media becomes the government and the only information becomes "official information" free of scrutiny or opposition.
Lo and behold the companies taken over via "net neutering" (10's of thousands of employees) will also be forced into union contracts, how conveeeeenient….
I would think that even a democrat/progressive/liberal would understand the inherent danger in allowing this much control over private industry and individual speech but I have never accused liberals of being logical.
Remember November .http://remembernovember.com/
You see no clear and present danger in the government involving itself in private industry or in regulation of speech and opinion?
I would love to hear the explanation of how this much power wrested in so few hands could be beneficial to our individual liberties…
Missy..
Lots of O-bogies coming at us from all angles and directions
Need a scorecard with RADAR to keep track of it all…or a media that does it's job…
Poor Obama, if he were a normal American, not a Stalinist/Marxist,
his head would explode from self-induced stress… …
I am more than a little amused when I ask a Huffing-paint Post/Kos/Media Murders weasel a straight up question and they simply avoid proffering a response. They're nervous as hell about November and their only game is attack the messenger and divert from the original topic. I love it when I knock them back on their heels so far they fall over and crap their pants. Sadly, none of them could pass the basic civics exam if their lives depended on it.
To COG:
If you are referring to SPAM from scammers and private business, I'm able to deal with that.
But when the gov'ment tells search engines what to put in the front of the line in a search, than that is a big problem, especially if one is youthful/naive/trusting or brainwashed and unable to discern "leftist" pap from what is "right".
You must be one of those trolls I keep hearing about.
A bunch of socialist sitting on boards, huh? It seems they have learned their capitalism lessons well. It does prove however, that for all their claptrap about “for the people”, they are really in it for themselves. They are liars, children of the devil.
On a more disturbing note, despite that inherent lefty lack of basic American history and civics knowledge they are allowed to decide my future at the ballot box. I'm all for creating an exam based solely on the constitution and American civics to determine voting eligibility prior to high school graduation or obtaining a GED. If the US imposed a standard of historical knowledge to qualify voters in advance of actually voting the quality of our leaders would exponentially improve.
Don't count on it though, democrats would likely call it racist…
Trolls, weasels, cellar dwellers, imps, harpies and zombies are what we usually call them or by their more appropriate name, antagonists.
HeHe you funny–Missy..
The election workers are not even allowed to ask for ID to vote…!
You do realize ear plug would be needed to drown out the screaming and caterwauling
that the ACLU would do if testing to vote would be required…?
Need the schools back and in 15 years all will be well.
Yessir, that'd do it!
Missy ,I've seen the term "shape shifter" used to describe "nonsense" in a palpitable, almost, honest fashion.—To those who are ignorrant of leftist tactics, it can be seductive like the "living hologram" we have as TOTUS/POTUS/CIC
You are far too kind to Chairman O… lol
"…..And these days the lines between government and the "free market" are where?,………
Hence,……. lets all go work for the government.
ever since this lefty has ben in office up until 2012,…..
all these little front organizations will get well funded,….
by us the tax payers,……….
this is the Obama administration's objective,….
wow,..this crude clean up is really going to be tough.
Come to think of it Missy, I'm not so sad afterall…hehee
What we seek are clearer lines between the free market and government as well as a heightened self-awareness of business ethics. But those ethical lessons will never be learned if government bails out n'er do wells as this and the previous administration have. I for one do enough work for the government.
Clearly the foxes have put themselves in charge of the hen house. The government's hands must be kept off the internet.
"This newly awakened conservative movement … "
It should never have gone to sleep, and for that I blame us all (conservatives and sane (real) libertarians) that were wooed to sleep with circumstantial prosperity.
There is a limited window of opportunity here, we don't have time for losing one and winning one, it has to be a blow out on both sides (2010 and 2012) the Left keeps giving us the op's we just need to use them better.
Local camps seem to be reving up and doing well, national no so much in my opinion.
Here is a great Conservative web sight, from a former member of the Republican Revolution of the mid nineties. A true man of honor.
http://www.freedomworks.org/
I strongly suggest that we guard our communications freedoms with our lives. This obama intrusive administration believes, as do all Narcissists and Dictators, that they are entitled to control everything. I'm fighting for Obama and his gang to keep their hands off of the Internet! and Radio & TV. ———-
*** I heard that Axelrod called in Fox's Roger Ailes for a chat. It that's true, I would say that Obama is indeed an Obsessive Dictator and cannot stand Free Speech and Communications, especially if any of it criticizes him!
[...] » Hypocrisy Grows in Sunlight – Big Government [...]
[...] » Hypocrisy Grows in Sunlight – Big Government [...]
Kevin, I am referring to the results we can expect without "Chairman O". That would be satelite-only internet for many places, which is akin to the imposition of the digital ATSC standard by the FCC. I'll let readers decide whether the FCC is "big government", or a captive of Verizon and Comcast. The boxes sold to receive over the air (OTA) broadcasts digitally are leaving many without any TV because they don't always work. This worked out well for fee-based cable providers, who openly want to eliminate OTA TV for the more profitable "cable business model".
We can argue 'til we're blue about left guided media, or corporately owned, or right guided media polluting search results. But Its not the left that is "innovating" revenue streams and preventing access to that media in the first place.
"I would love to hear the explanation of how this much power wrested in so few hands could be beneficial to our individual liberties… "
Hi Missy,
Before I answer, consider how the best way to cripple a government is to foster distrust. When someone succeeds in spoon feeding you in an echo chamber, you take part and call it success when you shut it down. You want that. Don't you? We farm the media to give us what we want. CNBC/FOX. It's all quite agreeable depending on your point of view. Fear and wonder makes us good Roman subjects, afterall.
I would answer the BBC, over in the UK. They're much more affiliated with the government's "few hands" and seem to do a much better job at objective journalism. PBS, while having its influences, is also much better than the theatric alternatives we now call news. But all this gets back to that Public=Government equation that in this place is taboo.
You avoided the central question, stick to the topic at hand if you aren't quite that high…
HOW is "net neutering" beneficial to the "individual liberties" and "self determination" demanded by a civil society?
Be specific, this is for posterity…
Thank you for your considered response.
I find most of this above my pay grade but with my understanding of the current Administration, the corporatists and the left in general, tells me that more control and regulation is not in the best interest of freedom, liberty, and the right to make our own decisions.
I'm for a more laissez-faire approach to the Internet; as it has become an important alternative to television, which, IMO, has been hi-jacked by the left as an indoctrination tool..
So, nice try, but I'm not buying…
[...] » Hypocrisy Grows in Sunlight – Big Government [...]
[...] But the story goes on at BigGovernment, as we expect over there. Hypocrisy Grows in Sunlight, they say. Starting with a disclosure post at Sunlight which only showed up after the Breitbart crew exposed them, it’s clear that Sunlight doesn’t live by the standards of transparency and openness they expect from others. [...]
I really don't understand how the issue of "Net Neutrality" as I understand it (preventing private companies/government from slowing/blocking or speeding access to certain websites based on content or a fee) is a partisan issue. Do you really want the future Comcast/NBC/Universal behemouth slowing down access to Fox new's website. Do you want them slowing down your connection to Netflix or Hulu so that you will use OnDemand instead?
Net neutrality is not allowing the government to take control of the internet. That is a completely different issue from net neutrality. Net neutrality in its purest sense says no one except the consumer determines what the consumer sees on the internet.
Oppose a government takeover of the internet, but don't cast that issue as net neutrality. The intent of net neutrality is to keep both the Government's and corporations' hands off my internet. No net neutrality would actually hurt alternative internet media, not help it. The rules just have to be crafted as to permit no interference from the government.
That is something I can support.
[...] close to this reading was what Capitol Confidential got from Orlowski’s piece. Here’s CC’s account: As described by Andrew Orlowski at The Register recently, Professor Lessig (a professor of ethics, [...]
[...] » Hypocrisy Grows іח Sunlight – Hυɡе Government [...]
[...] is not really about Internet regulation, though. The real issue is how the Sunlight Foundation, … Read More RECOMMENDED BOOKS REVIEWS AND OPINIONS Crawl Across the Ocean: 58. Politics [...]
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