Apparently it’s John McCain day with the news that both AT&T and Verizon Wireless have installed free portable cellular towers on one of the McCain estates. This project superceded a nixed plan to erect a stationary tower to improve coverage in the McCain neck of the woods. While the notion of US telecom groveling before politicians is not new (but certainly worthy of a raised brow), the conflict of interest this represents is surely worth some raised hackles.
You see, John McCain is on the Senate Commerce Committee which oversees the FCC which oversees telecommunications companies. This includes, you guessed it, AT&T and Verizon. If this weren’t bad enough, Verizon has funnelled $1.3 million into the McCain campaign via five campaign officials that have been or now are lobbyists for Verizon. AT&T is worse with $2.3 million dumped into the McCain campaign via lobbyists that are McCain’s top three campaign contributors of all time.
Apparently all it takes to get free cellular equipment is a chance at the presidential office and corporate belief that the price of your dignity is $3.5 million.
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