Art Machine
Just another former infatuation junkie

Further information is surfacing about the recent attempts to cut the funds for Public Broadcasting. It appears that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is investigating its own chairman. Why?

Well, there’s the little matter of $15,000 spent on lobbyists last year without the board’s consent or knowledge. This is problematic, because the CPB is not supposed to hire lobbyists. Not only that, but it appears that Tomlinson used CPB funds to hire lobbyists to oppose a bill that would have strengthened public broadcasting.

Corporation officials said the two lobbyists did not approach lawmakers but provided strategic advice on handling a bill last year that would have given public radio and television stations more representation on the corporation’s board. The measure, which died, was opposed by the White House and Mr. Tomlinson but was supported by stations.

One of the lobbyists, Brian Darling, was paid $10,000 for his insights into Senator Conrad Burns, a Montana Republican who sponsored the provision. This year, he briefly served as a top aide to Senator Mel Martinez, Republican of Florida, but resigned after the disclosure that he had written a memorandum describing how to exploit politically the life-support case of Terri Schiavo.

Mr. Darling did not return a telephone call seeking comment.

The other lobbyist, Mark Buse, a former top aide to Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, said he provided advice on the legislative process over a month and did not talk to any lawmakers. Mr. Buse, who was paid $5,000, said he was hired at the suggestion of Katherine M. Anderson, a former chairwoman of the corporation and a current board member.

Oh, it gets better.

Tomlinson has argued since he took the position as chairman to make public radio and television “less liberal” and “more balanced.” Of course, we know what the conservative concept of “balanced” is from Rupert Murdoch and Fox News – fifteen loud conservatives for every quiet, moderate liberal.

But Tomlinson hasn’t just stopped there. He’s actually been checking the political backgrounds of guests on a popular public television show. Again, using CPB money without the board’s knowledge or consent.

The investigators, in the corporation’s inspector general’s office, are also examining $14,170 in payments made under contracts – which Mr. Tomlinson took the unusual step of signing personally, also without the knowledge of board members – with a man in Indiana who provided him with reports about the political leanings of guests on the “Now” program when its host was Bill Moyers.

Additionally, Tomlinson has refused to sign off on strong statements condemning the slashing of funding to public broadcasting – instead issuing a statement that he is “concerned” and will “be joining with our colleagues in the public broadcasting community to make the case for a higher level of funding as the appropriations measure makes its way through Congress.”

Bush is not a fool. He knows a thing or two about running organizations into the ground and walking away with a fat wallet – and as a former editor of Reader’s Digest, Tomlinson knows a thing or two about flexing editorial muscle. And they both know how to tear something down from the inside. Amid the resignations from public broadcasting over disputes with Tomlinson, it’s interesting to note that Kathleen Cox’ contract was not renewed in April, leaving the CPB without a president. Tomlinson has an idea for who he wants:

Fromer co-chairwoman of the RNC Patricia Harrison.

This is not going to be pretty.

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 16th, 2005 at 11:33 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.