O'lielly called this the liberal mafia; it must be a good thing

[dajoki]

WP
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/16/AR2006071600882.html?nav=hcmodule

A New Alliance Of Democrats Spreads Funding
But Some in Party Bristle At Secrecy and Liberal Tilt

By Jim VandeHei and Chris Cillizza
Washington Post Staff Writers
Monday, July 17, 2006; Page A01

An alliance of nearly a hundred of the nation's wealthiest donors is roiling Democratic political circles, directing more than $50 million in the past nine months to liberal think tanks and advocacy groups in what organizers say is the first installment of a long-term campaign to compete more aggressively against conservatives.

A year after its founding, Democracy Alliance has followed up on its pledge to become a major power in the liberal movement. It has lavished millions on groups that have been willing to submit to its extensive screening process and its demands for secrecy.

These include the Center for American Progress, a think tank with an unabashed partisan edge, as well as Media Matters for America, which tracks what it sees as conservative bias in the news media. Several alliance donors are negotiating a major investment in Air America, a liberal talk-radio network.

But the large checks and demanding style wielded by Democracy Alliance organizers in recent months have caused unease among Washington's community of Democratic-linked organizations. The alliance has required organizations that receive its endorsement to sign agreements shielding the identity of donors. Public interest groups said the alliance represents a large source of undisclosed and unaccountable political influence.

Democracy Alliance also has left some Washington political activists concerned about what they perceive as a distinctly liberal tilt to the group's funding decisions. Some activists said they worry that the alliance's new clout may lead to groups with a more centrist ideology becoming starved for resources.

[marmar]

1. "Several alliance donors are negotiating a major investment in Air America

That factoid alone is enough to drive O'Liely to the bottle.

[dajoki]

2. Don't you just love it?

[CottonBear]

6. They need to help to buy an Atlanta Air America station

because 1690 am was bought and Air Atlanta is now history. :(

[wanpete]

9. I mourn the lost of Air Atlanta...just in time for the elections.

Had to get XM because I need Randi to help me get home in the afternoons after a long day at work! I would love to see AA back on in Atlanta.

[oasis]

3. I love it, except for the "starving centrist" part.

Centrists need love too.:cry::-(

[William Seger]

4. "...more centrist ideology becoming starved for resources."

:applause: :bounce: :woohoo: :toast: etc.

[Stinky The Clown]

5. Now **that's** more like it!

Not one word of bad news in that excerpt.

Now .... if these movers and shakers want to do some REAL good ... invest in a teevee network that tells the truth. I'd see that not so much as a political move but as a mart - damned smart - business move. An honest (if not left of center) teevee network would have a huge unmet market drooling to tune in.

And to anyone who bemoans 'liberal rich people donating to liberal causes' ..... three words:

Richard
Mellon
Sciafe

[dajoki]

10. Not a bad idea n/t

[LincolnMcGrath]

7. The Center for American Progress isn't exactly a bunch of leftists. lol

[tsuki]

8. What is more centrist today than Democratic Party Liberals?

Even John Dean who admits to being a lifelong conservative says that by today's stardards, he is slightly left of center.