renta-tamale
see renta-toms
https://www.techdirt.com/2014/07/25/net-neutrality-astroturfing-stirs-up-conflict-between-latinominority-groups/
no lnx
Net Neutrality Astroturfing Stirs Up Conflict Between Latino/Minority Groups
Politics
Fri, Jul 25th2014- Mike Masnick
We’ve written a few times about the highly cynical astroturfing practice in Washington DC, in which certain lobbyist groups basically have “deals” with certain public interest groups.The basic deal is that the lobbyists guarantee big cash donations from their big company clients, and then the lobbyists get to write letters “on behalf of” those organizations for whatever policy they want enacted (or blocked). We quoted a story from Declan McCullagh in 2008 which included this classic line from a lobbyist who worked in one of these shops:
“You go down the Latino people, the deaf people, the farmers, and choose them…. You say, ‘I can’t use this one–I already used them last time…’ We had their letterhead. We’d just write the letter. We’d fax it to them and tell them, ‘You’re in favor of this.'”
That first option, “the Latino people” turned out to be rather prescient. During the last net neutrality fight, in 2009, it was revealed that a bunch of Latino groups magically supported the telco position — leaving out the bit about how they were funded by the telcos. Here’s Matthew Lasar, back in 2009, revealing some details:
Take the go-slow on net neutrality commentary filed in late September by the Hispanic Technology and Telecommunications Partnership (HTTP) and 19 other civil rights groups. Their statement warns that net neutrality policies could inhibit investment and “leave disenfranchised communities further behind.” The coalition describes themselves as having a common purpose, serving communities “that are among the most severely impacted by a lack of access to technology.” And indeed the list includes signers from venerable organizations like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).
But the groups signing the letter have something else in common: financial support from AT&T (and sometimes Verizon and Comcast).These advocates don’t hide this. For example, the website of one of the signers, the Japanese American Citizens League, says “Website made possible by the generous sponsorship of AT&T.” 100 Black Men lists AT&T as a “partner” and “sponsor” of the group. AT&T Foundation’s 2007 tax returns show that 100 Black Men received $100,000 that year and $75,000 in 2006.
Similarly, the NAACP, which also signed the statement, lists AT&T and Verizon on its Centennial Event sponsors page. LULAC’s website indicates that it received a $1.5 million Technology Access Grant from AT&T. Comcast Foundation’s records indicate that it gave the LULAC Institute $60,000 in 2007. And in 2006 the AT&T Foundation gave LULAC numerous grants to support computer education centers across the United States.
And some of these groups have even more direct ties to the telcos. The Asian American Justice Center’s Advisory Council includes Anne H. Chow, listed as “AT&T Chair” on the group’s website. In 2006, AT&T identified her as a senior vice president for the company. Her AAJC bio says that Chow “played a key role in the AT&T/SBC merger with overall responsibility for the Sales and Marketing integration planning effort.”
And then, jump forward to 2011, when AT&T was trying to buy T-Mobile. The merger received some unexpected support:
The Hispanic Institute and the Latino Coalition have decided that supporting the merger of AT&T with T-Mobile is of utmost importance to them.
A further report noted:
One DC insider informs us that rumblings on K Street suggest AT&T had called every civil rights group in the United States for support within fifteen minutes of the deal being announced. Fearful of losing AT&T donations — most of these groups quickly got to parroting prepared AT&T statements, unconcerned about the actual impact of a T-Mobile deal. Getting funding for a new events center apparently dulls any ethical pangs felt using your organization as a hired stage prop.
Then, last year, the Center for Public Integrity decided to explore the nature of these various “civil rights groups” and their ties to the big broadband players, and found the situation to be quite suspect, especially with regards to theMinority Media and Telecommunications Council (MMTC), which helps coordinate many of these filings for the FCC:
From 2009 through 2011 MMTC received at least $725,000 in contributions and sponsorships from network neutrality foes including Verizon, Time Warner, and the National Cable and Telecommunications Association, according to MMTC tax filings and sponsorship lists.
MMTC?s relationship with Verizon demonstrates the group's various methods of obtaining industry revenue. In 2009, at the height of the net neutrality debate, Verizon made a direct $40,000 contribution to MMTC. From 2010 to 2013, MMTC documents list Verizon as funding at least $160,000 in MMTC conference sponsorships.
Additionally, MMTC worked with Verizon on a $189 million sale of wireless spectrum licenses to minority-owned Grain Management this year ? a deal announced in conjunction with a larger $1.9 billion license sale to AT&T. A spokesman for Verizon says money paid to MMTC wasn't intended to influence its policies but to support its mission of promoting inclusion in the industry.
So it should come as little to no surprise that a bunch of these same groups, once again, filed a pro-telco comment with the FCC, arguing that reclassifying broadband under Title II would somehow be harmful to minorities. Note that the filing was coordinated by HTTP and MMTC — both groups discussed above as taking money from the big broadband guys. The argument they’re presenting makes absolutely no sense, but no one cares how sensible the argument is.
HTTP partnered with the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council (MMTC) and 35 other national minority organizations to file comments in the FCC?s proceeding to protect and promote the open Internet. The group urged the Commission to focus its broadband policies on promoting adoption, engagement, and informed broadband use by minorities, and to exercise its Section 706 authority to protect all consumers? rights to an open Internet. In the filing, the organizations opposed Title II reclassification of the Internet under the 1934 Telecommunications Act, arguing that it would stifle broadband adoption among vulnerable populations, and would limit investment and innovation that have benefitted its constituents. Six HTTP member organizations also joined independently in the filing: Dialogue on Diversity; LISTA; MANA: A National Latina Organization; the National Puerto Rican Coalition; SER Jobs for Progress; and The Latino Coalition.
The difference this time, however, is that other groups, representing Latinos, Hispanics and other minority groups who are not funded by the big broadband guys, are now paying attention. And they filed their own FCC comments supporting Title II reclassification:
On Friday, the Voices for Internet Freedom coalition filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on behalf of more than 50 civil rights, human rights, community-based and media organizations in support of strong Net Neutrality rules that protect the digital rights of communities of color.
In the filing, the groups called on the FCC to treat Internet Service Providers (ISPs) as common carriers, which would allow the Commission to reestablish its legal authority to adopt Net Neutrality rules that prevent telecommunications companies from blocking, discriminating against and interfering with Web traffic. The coalition also called on the agency to ensure Net Neutrality protections are applied equally to both wireline and wireless Internet access.
The group opposes the framework for FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler's proposed rules, which would allow ISPs to discriminate by creating fast and slow lanes online….
Voices for Internet Freedom is a coalition of nearly 30 organizations advocating for communities of color in the fight to protect Internet freedom from corporate and government discrimination. The coalition is led by the National Hispanic Media Coalition, the Center for Media Justice, Free Press and ColorOfChange.
And now the fight seems to be getting personal. Alex Nogales, the head of the National Hispanic Media Coalition, called out the Congressional Hispanic Leadership (which has come out in support of the broadband company’s plan to kill net neutrality) by pointing out that they held a briefing that was sponsored by the telcos and totally one-sided. The event was so over-the-top biased that even some in the mainstream media highlighted how ridiculous it was.
Martin Chavez, from the telco-supported Hispanic Technology & Telecommunications Partnership, posted a blog post that purports to be a “can’t we all just get along” type post, but which really personally slams Alex Nogales for what Chavez claims was an “angry outburst and lapse of judgment.” Nogales isn’t taking that sitting down and responded by pointing out that Chavez seems to conveniently leave out who pays his salary:
What is most interesting about Marty?s statement is what it doesn?t say. Notably, he did not address his employment with Ibarra Strategy Group, a lobbying firm whose clients include Verizon ? the main opponent to strong and enforceable Open Internet rules. One would think that a person with such an egregious conflict of interest would, at least, disclose it in his public statements. Marty, unfortunately, does not.
Regrettably, what Marty did say in his statement is just as deceptive as what he conveniently left out. Of the many fabrications, Marty said that ?most Latino organizations? oppose the FCC using the sound legal authority found in Title II of the Communications Act to restrict blocking or discrimination online. This is patently false. A number of highly respected Latino organizations have sided with the community and come out in favor of strong Open Internet rules based on Title II authority, including: the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), LatinoJustice PRLDEF, the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP), the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation (MAOF), Presente.org, the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, the National Institute for Latino Policy, News Taco, Latino Rebels, and more.
It certainly is disappointing to see groups like this fight, but it’s worth noting that there certainly does seem to be a clear pattern, as noted years ago, that the groups with funding from the broadband guys magically support the broadband players’ position, while the ones who are not funded that way actually seem to recognize the importance of not giving in to the broadband guys’ plans to kill net neutrality.
Filed Under: astroturfing, fcc, latino groups, lobbying, minority groups, net neutrality, open internet, title ii
Companies: at&t, comcast, hhtp, hispanic institute, latino coalition,lulac, mmtc, naacp, nhmc, t-mobile, verizon, voices for internet freedom
see renta tamale API explore offshore
Elia Quintana, Director of Stakeholder Relations will lead API’s Energy Research Collaborative (ERC) with strategic partners focused on workforce development and engagement with non-traditional allies. Elia was an ERC participant, representing the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR) where she served as Vice President of Corporate Relations. Prior to HACR, Elia served as Director of Corporate Relations with LULACNational Education Service Centers (LNESC), championing diversity and inclusion initiatives and focusing on recruitment, retention, career readiness training and leadership development programming for underserved communities.
bush boy(s) married latinas, one spoke a bit of spanish; some keynote spkr // AA, gop postmortem demographic demise; some geniune conserv anti-castro cuban, family Catholic church; but also hustlers; Tarrio proud boys florida;
API
Steven Sisneros
Vice President
External Mobilization
Steve Sisneros serves as Vice President of External Mobilization, leading API's efforts to expand and engage a national network of industry advocates who help advance pro-energy policies and promote the critical role energy plays in daily life.
Steve comes to API after having spent the last two election cycles at theDCCC as the Director of Campaigns and Voter Contact, and in 2014 as National Field Director. It was in these positions that Steve honed his skills as a leader in field tactics, digital advertising, direct mail, print and radio advertising, and television. A key architect of the team that designed and executed the Democratic strategy of retaking the House majority in 2018, he is one of today’s top strategists for advocacy mobilization.
Steve brings a depth of knowledge of federal, state, and local-level campaign style tactics. Previously, he worked on numerous campaigns including the 2014 Ohio coordinated campaign, President Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign, Senator Reid’s 2010 re-election campaign, and issue advocacy work for the DNC in 2009 and for Organizing for Action in 2013. In addition to campaign and advocacy work, Sisneros also worked the 2009 and 2013 bi-annual Nevada legislative sessions.
Steve is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and proud New Mexican. He lives in Virginia with his wife and their two children.
JUNE 22, 2018
UPDATED 3 YEARS AGO
Big Oil eyes U.S. minority groups to build offshore drilling support
By Valerie Volcovici
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The largest U.S. oil and gas lobby group is seeking to convince Hispanic and black communities to support the Trump administration’s proposed expansion of offshore drilling, arguing it would create high paying jobs, including for storm-displaced Puerto Ricans.
The American Petroleum Institute (API) launched its “Explore Offshore” campaign earlier this month to counter offshore drilling foes in coastal southeast states from Virginia to Florida, where lawmakers and governors on both sides of the aisle have expressed fear an oil spill could ruin tourism.
“We want to build support in minority communities because the message that increasing the supply of affordable energy and good paying jobs will resonate,” said Erik Milito, API’s director of Upstream and Industry Operations.
As part of the campaign, API has partnered with a number of black and Hispanic business groups, including the Virginia, Florida and North Carolina Hispanic Chambers of Commerce and the Florida Black Chamber of Commerce and South Carolina African American Chamber of Commerce.
A Pew Research poll published in January showed that 56 percent of Hispanics and 54 percent of blacks opposed offshore drilling, compared to 48 percent of white people.
The Interior Department in January announced a proposal to open up nearly all U.S. offshore waters to drilling, triggering a backlash from coastal states that rely on tourism.
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke told a Senate panel in April that he is likely to scale back the proposal following meetings with coastal governors. Shortly after he unveiled his offshore drilling proposal, Zinke offered an exemption for Florida after he held a private meeting with Republican Governor Rick Scott.
The oil and gas industry is keen to pursue seismic testing in areas they believe hold the largest reserves along the southern Atlantic coast and to Florida’s eastern Gulf shorelines.
The API campaign published op-eds in local newspapers this week, including one by Stephen Gilchrist, chair of South Carolina’s African American Chamber of Commerce. In it he touts API’s major talking point that oil and gas exploration jobs offer locals an average salary of $116,000 without requiring a college degree.
“It’s a myth that communities of color are not interested in supporting offshore exploration,” he wrote in South Carolina’s Post and Courier. “I’ve personally attended town hall meetings up and down South Carolina’s coast where there has been significant support for the economic opportunity offshore exploration holds - especially in communities that have been historically disenfranchised.”
JOBS OUTWEIGH ENVIRONMENT
API, however, acknowledged it needs to hold community meetings and improve local outreach to sway minority communities that have been inclined to oppose offshore drilling.
Miriam Ramirez, a co-chair of the API’s Florida campaign and a former Puerto Rico state senator said she thinks the lure of higher-paying jobs, especially for victims of 2017’s Hurricane Maria, would create economic opportunities that outweigh environmental concerns.
“We have an influx of thousands of Puerto Ricans in Florida, including doctors and engineers who plan to relocate permanently,” Ramirez said.
A study released in March by Oceana, an Ocean conservancy group, found Interior’s offshore drilling plan would put more than 2.6 million jobs and nearly $180 billion in gross domestic product at risk for only two year’s-worth of oil and just over one year’s-worth of gas at current consumption.
“Jobs that come from offshore drilling do not guarantee local good paying jobs compared to the tourism industry, which can keep jobs local,” said Pricey Harrison, a North Carolina state representative and president of the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators.
Julio Fuentes, president of Florida’s Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said he is reaching out to new Puerto Rican evacuees, as well as existing local communities that are skeptical of offshore drilling, by hosting roundtables with business leaders and community organizations.
“I always like to talk about the safety aspect of it,” Fuentes said.
“Since the BP oil spill, there have been over 100 new industry standards put in place,” he said, referring to the devastating Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 that caused tremendous damage to beaches and coastlines in Gulf coast states.
But environmental justice advocates counter that there is no way to guarantee safe offshore drilling.
Marce Gutierrez-Graudins, president of conservation group Azul, said it takes only one spill or accident to deprive lower-income Hispanic communities access to the shore, which she argues is an important form of escape from the stress of urban areas where many minorities live.
Reporting By Valerie Volcovici; Editing by Bill Berkrot
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles
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convention commie apocalypse
https://www.alternet.org/2020/08/kimberly-guilfoyles-rnc-speech-was-6-minutes-of-sheer-hell-ill-never-get-back-gop-strategist/
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https://www.rev.com/blog/transcripts/kimberly-guilfoyle-2020-rnc-speech-transcript
Kimberly Guilfoyle: (00:05)
Good evening, America. I’m Kimberly Guilfoyle. I speak to you tonight as amother, a former prosecutor, a Latina, and a proud American, and yes, a proud supporter of President Donald J. Trump. Why? He is the President who delivers for America. He built the greatest economy the world has ever known, for the strivers, the working class, and middle class. As Commander in Chief, he always puts America first. President Trump is the law and order President.
Kimberly Guilfoyle: (00:41)
Now, Presidential leadership is not guaranteed. It is a choice. Biden, Harris, and the rest of the Socialistswill fundamentally change this nation. They wantopen borders, closed schools, dangerous amnesty, and will selfishly send your jobs back to China while they get rich. They will defund, dismantle, and destroy America’s law enforcement. When you are in trouble and need police, don’t count on the Democrats.
Kimberly Guilfoyle: (01:14)
As a first-generation American, I know how dangerous their Socialist agenda is. My mother, Mercedes, was a special education teacher from Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. My father, also an immigrant, came to this nation in pursuit of the American Dream. Now, I consider it my duty to fight to protect that dream. Rioters must not be allowed to destroy our cities. Human sex drug traffickers should not be allowed to cross our border. The same Socialist policies which destroyedplaces likeCuba and Venezuela must not take root in our cities and our schools.
Kimberly Guilfoyle: (01:58)
If you want to see the Socialist Biden/Harris future for our country, just take a look at California. It is a place of immense wealth, immeasurable innovation, and immaculate environment, and the Democrats turned it into a land of discarded heroin needles in parks, riots in streets, and blackouts in homes. In President Trump’s America, we light things up. We don’t dim them down. We build things up, we don’t burn them down. We kneel in prayer and we stand for our flag.
Kimberly Guilfoyle: (02:42)
This election is a battle for the soul of America. Your choice is clear. Do you support the cancel culture? Thecosmopolitan elites of Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, and Joe Biden, who blame America first? Do you think America is to blame? Or, do you believe in American greatness? Believe in yourself? In President Trump? In individual and personal responsibility? They want to destroy this country and everything that we have fought for and hold dear. They want tosteal your liberty, your freedom. They want to controlwhat you see and think and believe so that they can control how you live. They want toenslave youto the weak, dependent, liberal victim ideology to the point that you will not recognize this country or yourself.
Kimberly Guilfoyle: (03:44)
From the beginning, when President Trump spoke about making American Great Again, he was speaking about thatshining city on a hill and restoring thebeacon of light that once shined so bright. His promise was to put America first and he has. When President Trump cut middle class taxes, putting tens of thousands of dollars back in the pockets of working class Americans, that beacon began to flicker once again. When President Trump commanded the defeat of ISIS,took out al-Baghdadi and Soleimani and paved the way for peace in the Middle East, that beacon started to glow. When he negotiated historic trade deals with Canada, Mexico, Japan, and China, bringing back thousands of manufacturing jobs to America, that beacon shined bright once again for the world to see.
Kimberly Guilfoyle: (04:45)
America, it’s all on the line. President Trump believes in you. He emancipates and lifts you up to live your American Dream. You are capable. You are qualified. You are powerful and you have the ability to choose your life and determine your destiny. Don’t let the Democrats take you for granted. Don’t let them step on you.Don’t let them destroy your families, your lives, and your future. Don’t let them kill future generations because they told you and brainwashed you and fed you lies that you weren’t good enough.
Kimberly Guilfoyle: (05:25)
Like my parents, you can achieve your American Dream. You can be that shining example to the world. Manifest and be the change in this country that you dream, that you hope, that you believe in. Stand foran American President who is fearless, who believes in you, and who loves this country and will fight for her.President Trump is the leader who will rebuild the promise of America and ensure that every citizen can realize their American Dream. Ladies and gentlemen,leaders and fighters for freedom and liberty and the American Dream, thebest is yet to come!
hispanic leadership fund, open ltrs, net neutral, PARIS accords, AVA
Mercedes Viana Schlapp
Mercedes Viana Schlapp is co-founder of Cove Strategies, a governmental and public affairs firm based in Alexand
ria, Virginia. She works as a consultant for clients from Fortune 500 corporations and nonprofit organizations. Mercedes serves as the interface between the clients and mainstream and Spanish-language media outlets as well as develops media strategy including message development and implementation plans that identifies the most effective way to reach targeted audiences nationally and/or locally. With more than 10 years of experience, Mercedes has developed strong regional, national and international relationships with reporters in the Spanish press. Mercedes served in the White House for President George W. Bush as a a spokesperson for Spanish-language media outlets in the United States, Spain and Latin America as well as worked with other specialty media outlets including religious press. In 2006 Mercedes hosted the Republican National Committee’s cutting-edge web show, In the Know, where she delivered current Republican news and interviewed Republican political leaders and policy makers for both Spanish and English audiences. In addition, Mercedes frequently participates in radio and television interviews as a political strategist and has recently appeared on Univision, Telemundo, CNN en Español and on Hannity’s America on FOX News.
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no lnx
FOIA requests find 95 newly undisclosed Trump appointees
Written by Derek Kravitz / ProPublica December 24, 2018
We have obtained a list of 95 new Trump administration appointees made over the past six months. Following a pattern we’ve detailed before, many of the hires previously worked on President Donald Trump’s campaign or at conservative think tanks such as the Heritage Foundation. In other cases, appointees seem to have little work experience at all.
We compiled the information from Freedom of Information Act requests and have added the appointees to our Trump Town app, which lets you search the disclosures of nearly 3,000 of them.
Here are a few of the recent appointments:
Lynn DeKleva, who worked for decades at chemical giant DuPont, was appointed to a job as an environmental engineer in the Environmental Protection Agency’s chemical safety and pollution prevention office in October. Typically, environmental engineering positions are not political appointments. DeKleva did not respond to ProPublica’s requests for comments. The EPA said in a statement that DeKleva “brings considerable product stewardship experience and knowledge with her to assist” the agency.
Ileana Garcia, a co-founder of the campaign’s Latinas for Trump, was appointed in October as deputy press secretary in the Department of Homeland Security.
Todd Thurman, a Heritage Foundation staffer who used to write for the Daily Signal and Breitbart, was appointed as the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s digital strategy specialist in September.
https://projects.propublica.org/trump-town/staffers/ileana-ydolia-garcia
Antonin Scalia, the namesake grandson of the late Supreme Court justice, was appointed in September as a temporary assistant in the State Department. Scalia graduated from college last year. Scalia and the State Department did not respond to ProPublica’s requests for comments.
Do you know something about one of the Trump administration staffers in Trump Town? Send us an email at trump@propublica.org or send a Signal message to 347-244-2134.
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Ileana Ydolia Garcia DEPARTED MARCH 8, 2019
Homeland Security (joined: Oct. 14, 2018)
Deputy Press Secretary | $114,590
Bio, via NBC News:
Ileana García, who created Latinas for Trump to express "freedom" and counter antagonism against Hispanic supporters of Donald Trump, was hired recently by the Trump campaign and is spending the week at the Republican National Convention to act as a liaison with Latino media
pretty minor ppl
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/year-trump-presidency-these-latino-republicans-remain-hopeful-determined-n839396
abbot wife, spkr cos
GOP Hispanics | GOP
https://gop.com/groups/gop-hispanics/
1.
How the GOP is winning over Hispanic voters - Washington Examiner
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/how-the-gop-is-winning-over-hispanic-voters
1.
GOP to Latinos: Drop Dead - The American Prospect
prospect.org/article/gop-latinos-drop-dead
1.
List of Latino Republicans - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Latino_Republicans
2.
Hispanic Republicans (@LatinoGop) | Twitter
https://twitter.com/latinogop?lang=en
1.
The GOP's Latino Outreach : NPR
https://www.npr.org/2018/01/14/577969708/the-gops-latino-outreach
Jan 14, 2018 - The conservative LIBRE Initiative lobbies on behalf of Latino groups. NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro speaks with LIBRE's Daniel Garza about what ...
If the GOP is going to survive, it can't abandon Hispanic Republicans ...
thehill.com/.../357093-if-the-gop-is-going-to-survive-it-cant-abandon-hispanic-republ...
1.
A year into Trump presidency, these Latino Republicans remain ...
https://www.nbcnews.com/.../latino/year-trump-presidency-these-latino-republicans-re...
1.
Trump to Latinos: The GOP supports you mor...
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greenwash splc
new wave of greenwashing attempts, in particular the formation of Progressives for Immigration Reform as a purported group of “liberals,” is only the latest attempt by nativist forces to appear as something they are not. The white-dominated Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), the most important of the groups founded by Tanton, has been behind the creation of three other front groups that supposedly represented African Americans (Choose Black America), Latino Americans (You Don’t Speak for Me!) and labor (Coalition for the Future American Worker). In fact, FAIR had its own white spokesman double as a press representative for the first two organizations. Another group unrelated to FAIR, Vietnamese for Fair Immigration, turned out to be led by a white man who used a fake Vietnamese surname and whose only connection to that country was that he liked the food.
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