lobbying
GRITtv: Feb. 8, 2011
"A tiger doesn't change his stripes and the U.S. Chamber is not going to start working with the President," says Christy Setzer of U.S. Chamber Watch. But that didn't keep Obama from trying, as he gave a speech to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which Christy reminds us is a massive lobbying organization, by far the biggest in the country, for right-wing causes. Christy joins us in studio to discuss Obama's speech to the Chamber, why it matters, and why we might be making too big a deal out of it. And don't forget to check out our original investigative series, The Loaded Chamber, at the links here. "Corporate America hasn't been thinking about this country for a number of years," says Richard Trumka, President of the AFL-CIO. And one might argue that politicians have been thinking too much about corporate America and not enough about working America. Unemployment is still too high, and new conservative governors are taking advantage of the recession to bust public unions. But Trumka and the AFL-CIO are fighting back, and that's even led to some strange partnerships--a statement recently, co-authored with U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donohue. Trumka joins us from D.C. via Skype to tell us what he and Donohue agree on--and what they don't. The U.S. media seems to have found a new language for the economy. There's been talk of “solidarity” and even “class war,” and a focus on corruption and inequality like we haven't seen in who knows how long. The only problem? They're talking about Egypt. Distributed by Tubemogul.
Email this pageGRITtv: Christy Setzer: President Obama Goes to the Chamber
"A tiger doesn't change his stripes and the U.S. Chamber is not going to start working with the President," says Christy Setzer of U.S. Chamber Watch. But that didn't keep Obama from trying, as he gave a speech to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which Christy reminds us is a massive lobbying organization, by far the biggest in the country, for right-wing causes. Christy joins us in studio to discuss Obama's speech to the Chamber, why it matters, and why we might be making too big a deal out of it. And don't forget to check out our original investigative series, The Loaded Chamber, at the links here.
GRITtv: Got Docs: The Best Government Money Can Buy
We've talked a lot here about the influence of Citizens United on our elections, but now that the election is over most of that corporate cash will be going to influence Congress through lobbyists -- there are an average of 26 of them per member of Congress! With the cost of elections skyrocketing, Francis Megahy's documentary The Best Government Money Can Buy, an investigation into the secret world of Washington lobbyists. This look at the influence of lobbyists on the decisions the government makes couldn't be more timely.
GRITtv: The Loaded Chamber: Views for Dues
In the first two parts of our investigative series, The Loaded Chamber, we met the faces behind the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, its shadowy fundraising for the election cycle, and the government entities that are supposed to be keeping an eye on it. In part three, we look at the foreign money flowing into the chamber--and the connections between that cash and the Chamber's support for outsourcing jobs. And is that foreign money going to pay for elections? Want to see more investigations like this from us? You can support us--and watch the first two parts--at our website, http://grittv.org! Distributed by Tubemogul.
GRITtv: The Loaded Chamber: The Watchdog Doesn't Bite
The election is getting closer, and the money keeps on flowing. Today we're bringing you part two of Harry Hanbury’s investigative series for GRITtv's new investigative series, GRITtv Digs. In part one, we looked at the Chamber of Commerce's contributions to the campaign cycle--now, we ask, who's watching the Chamber? Why does it get away with this? Want to see more investigations like this from us? You can support us at our website, http://grittv.org! Distributed by Tubemogul.
GRITtv: The Loaded Chamber: Secret Money
"The chamber’s increasingly aggressive role — including record spending ; in the midterm elections that supports Republicans more than 90 percent
GRITtv: Alex Gibney and Bob Ney: Casino Jack and Corruption in Congress
Get the money out of Washington. It's an ongoing refrain now, from the left and even from those in the Tea Party movement.
GRITtv: Bernie Sanders: Not Far Enough on Regulation
Republicans might have dropped their filibuster and agreed to allow a debate on financial reform, but with the amount of money that Wall Street firms have sunk into both Republicans and Democrats, does it make a difference? And what kind of reform do we really need, anyway? Independent Senator Bernie Sanders joins us via Skype from Washington to tell us what he thinks about financial regulations, too-big-to-fail banks, and transparency at the Federal Reserve. GRITtv with Laura Flanders brings participatory democracy onto your computer screen and into your living room, bridging the gap between audience and advocates. Watch any show, at any time: http://grittv.org Distributed by Tubemogul.
GRITtv: What's Missing In Today's Media?
Every week on GRITtv, we discuss the week in news: stories that made a splash, stories that were ignored, stories that were covered well, or stories that were covered badly. This week, guest host Esther Armah is joined by Rosalind McLymont, Editor in Chief of The Network Journal and author of Africa: Strictly Business, The Steady March to Prosperity, Karen Hunter, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of the upcoming Stop Being Niggardly: And Nine Other Things Black People Need to Stop Doing, and Akiba Solomon, freelance reporter and author of Naked: Black Women Bare All About Their Skin, Hair, Hips, Lips, and Other Parts. They discuss Black History Month and Raina Kelley's Newsweek piece, The Nation's piece on the media-lobbying complex, and Ishmael Reed's New York Times op-ed about the film Precious.
GRITtv: The F Word: Why Do We Trust The Church On Health?
For over forty years, power-drunk Catholic leaders have accused independently-minded women of committing all manner of crimes and immoralities. It's ironic, considering church leaders' role in pervasive, prolonged and systematic child abuse. Not for universal coverage, they pushed a measure that seeks to strip millions of women of affordable health coverage and reproductive choice. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky vowed in a speech Monday that the so-called Stupak-Pitts amendment wouldn't make it into the final bill, but the Church is all over Washington, and it's shown that it still has a hold on our politics. Can some one please explain: why is that? … Tell me again: Why are we listening to those who cover for child abusers tell us anything, anything at all, about health? … And you might add -- and why are they tax-exempt? -- Laura Flanders
