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Virginia GOP: Obama's FCC Nominee Highlights Terry McAuliffe's Past(Targeted News Service Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) RICHMOND, Va., May 1 -- The Virginia Republican Party issued the following news release: Despite Terry McAuliffe's attempts to re-brand himself as a champion of campaign finance reform, today's headlines provide yet another reminder of Terry's extensive history of linking powerful special interests with elected officials. Today, President Barack Obama nominated Tom Wheeler to head the FCC, the same Tom Wheeler who sat down for coffee at the White House in 1995 with Terry McAuliffe, one of McAuliffe's former lobbying associates, and the former finance director of the Democratic National Committee. "Terry McAuliffe wants Virginia voters to think he believes 'there's just too much money in politics,' but his record clearly illustrates he's part of the problem," said RPV Communications Director Garren Shipley. "Try as he might, Terry McAuliffe will never shake his reputation as a political moneyman who traded access for cash." BACKGROUND ... President Obama Nominated Former Wireless Industry Trade Group Head Tom Wheeler To Head The FCC President Obama Nominates Tom Wheeler To Head The FCC. "President Barack Obama on Wednesday nominated venture capitalist and former wireless and cable lobbyist Tom Wheeler to be the top media and telecommunications regulator. If approved by the Senate, Wheeler would become chairman of the Federal Communications Commission at a time when the agency prepares for a major reshuffling of ownership of radio airwaves and tries to catch up to rapidly changing technology." ("Obama Taps Ally, Former Lobbyist Wheeler For Telecoms Regulator," Reuters, 5/1/13) In 1995, McAuliffe Attended A White House Coffee With Wheeler When He Headed The CTIA As Of 1991, The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association Was A Client Of McAuliffe, Kelly And Raffaelli. "McAuliffe is a lawyer with McAuliffe, Kelly and Raffaelli, a firm that is registered to lobby for such corporate clients as the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, Electronic Data Systems Corp., and Nevada Power Company." (Pamela Brogan, "Who's for Whom: Lobbyists Aid White House Candidates," Roll Call, 11/14/91) On August 3, 1995, McAuliffe Attended A Coffee In The White House Map Room With Thomas Wheeler, President Of The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association.("White House Coffee Guest List: August 3, 1995," The Washington Post, Accessed 3/30/13) A Lobbyist From McAuliffe's Former Lobbying Firm, Who Had Once Represented CTIA, Also Attended The Coffee The August 3, 1995 Coffee Was Attended By Wayne Smith Of McAuliffe's Former Lobbying Firm. ("White House Coffee Guest List: August 3, 1995," The Washington Post (http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp e=001g-odKWn1al_3hkwngIDbW7M1xYPgKcm8o0WLwumRiW1-IMmnhgcX8lCsV9uS9GmQw1mR5BgM1GSjJ1svxw_WEI0GJb0_TKyaEOHHL7pFi2um4WJHHMg6Ybie-c5Sx5NBnyzkh5FO7CwYaZLhneIG0MCmtJ7OvrqAYA3Mx0IkqN-cGomF7aesOlkiEkU9S-pUaG9ticf8adA=), Accessed 3/30/13) The Former Finance Director Of The Democratic National Committee, Also Attended The Coffee The August 3, 1995 Coffee Was Attended By Laura Hartigan, The Former Finance Director Of The Democratic National Committee.("White House Coffee Guest List: August 3, 1995," The Washington Post (http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp e=001g-odKWn1al_3hkwngIDbW7M1xYPgKcm8o0WLwumRiW1-IMmnhgcX8lCsV9uS9GmQw1mR5BgM1GSjJ1svxw_WEI0GJb0_TKyaEOHHL7pFi2um4WJHHMg6Ybie-c5Sx5NBnyzkh5FO7CwYaZLhneIG0MCmtJ7OvrqAYA3Mx0IkqN-cGomF7aesOlkiEkU9S-pUaG9ticf8adA=), Accessed 3/30/13) One Week Later, President Clinton Ordered Regulatory Relief For The Cellular Industry That CTIA Praised On August 10, 1995, President Clinton Directed The Federal Government To Craft A Policy Within 90 Days To "Give Companies Easier Access To Federal Land To Locate Transmission Towers." "Clinton on Thursday directed the federal government to craft a policy within 90 days to give companies easier access to federal land to locate transmission towers." (Jeannine Aversa, "Clinton Plan to Help Providers of New Mobile Phone, Data Services," The Associated Press, 8/10/95) The Action Provided Regulatory Relief From One Of The Cellular Telecommunications Industry's "Biggest Headaches." "Companies building the next generation of cellular phone and paging systems may get some relief from President Clinton on one of their biggest headaches: finding sites to put up transmission towers." (Jeannine Aversa, "Clinton Plan to Help Providers of New Mobile Phone, Data Services," The Associated Press, 8/10/95) The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association "Hailed Clinton's Action." "The cellular industry hailed Clinton's action. 'This will speed up the deployment of personal communications services throughout the country,' said Michael Houghton, spokesman for Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association." (Jeannine Aversa, "Clinton Plan to Help Providers of New Mobile Phone, Data Services," The Associated Press, 8/10/95) TNS mv45 130502-4326911 (c) 2013 Targeted News Service |