Approve a buyout, get a sinecure?
posted at 10:12 am on May 12, 2011 by Ed Morrissey
Meet NBC Universal’s newest executive, Atwell Baker. She’ll soon be leading the government-relations unit for the new subsidiary of Comcast after the cable giant bought the network from GE. Fortunately, the position exists because the FCC approved the buyout earlier this year; otherwise, Ms. Baker might have been stuck in her previous job for the next several years.
And what was her previous job? Why, Baker served on the FCC as one of its five commissioners — and approved Comcast’s purchase of NBC:
Meredith Attwell Baker, one of the two Republican Commissioners at the Federal Communications Commission, plans to step down—and right into a top lobbying job at Comcast-NBC.
The news, reported this afternoon by the Wall Street Journal, The Hill, andPolitico, comes after the hugely controversial merger of Comcast and NBC earlier this year. At the time, Baker objected to FCC attempts to impose conditions on the deal and argued that the “complex and significant transaction” could “bring exciting benefits to consumers that outweigh potential harms.”
Four months after approving the massive transaction, Attwell Baker will take a top DC lobbying job for the new Comcast-NBC entity, according to reports.
Apparently, Baker couldn’t wait to jump ship. She was widely expected to get a nomination for another term on the FCC. As Politico points out, though, two months ago Baker was griping that the buyout was taking too long:
While Baker is barred from lobbying the commission for two years, her decision to leave the commission so soon after it approved the merger of Comcast with NBCUniversal raised some eyebrows.
“As recently as March, Commissioner Baker gave a speech lamenting that review of the Comcast-NBC deal ‘took too long.’ What we didn’t know then was that she was in such a rush to start picking out the drapes in her new corner office,” Free Press President and CEO Craig Aaron said in a release.
Unfortunately for Republicans, Baker was one of their strongest voices inside the executive branch in opposition to Net Neutrality. Regardless of the circumstances, her unseemly haste in cashing in on the Comcast decision will make it more difficult for her replacement, who by statute cannot be another Democrat, to frame that opposition as principled rather than self-interest.
And that assumes that President Obama will appoint a Republican who opposes Net Neutrality, or a Republican at all. He could appoint a Green, for instance, or technically even an “unaffiliated” candidate would qualify. After Baker’s career boost, expect Obama to take full advantage of the opening.
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Winner!
totherightofthem on May 15, 2013 at 1:29 PM
Now, combine the recent scandals, and Axelrod’s words with this famous quote from RWR:
“The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.”
Chris of Rights on May 15, 2013 at 1:32 PM
There is a difference between intestinal fortitude and unmitigated gall.
thatsafactjack on May 15, 2013 at 1:32 PM
Happy Nomad on May 15, 2013 at 1:29 PM
No doubt.
And, it will be just as satifying to see him and Mooch board Marine One for the final time.
kingsjester on May 15, 2013 at 1:32 PM
There’s no way this IRS thing ends well for Obama. Either he’s a corrupt, Nixonian thug who weilds the power of the government to punish his political enemies… Or, he’s an incompetent chief executive whose government agencies run wild because he’s too lazy and lackadaisical to exert control. And there ain’t no Door Number Three.
Hayabusa on May 15, 2013 at 1:36 PM
Was Richard Nixon accountable for Watergate and the harrassment of the people on his enemies list?
lea on May 15, 2013 at 1:37 PM
Who would have expected that Obama would be in over his head, I mean it’s not like he’s ever had experience leading anything before.
kirkill on May 15, 2013 at 1:37 PM
When has Conyers not been a babbling idiot? You’d expect more from somebody in their 25th term.
But don’t blame all Michigan for what is really Detroit’s fault. One of the biggest concentrations of parasites in the nation. It’s so bad Mayor Bing is not going to run for another term and he was doing a halfway decent job with really bad realities. Detroit is all America if we do not change our current trajectory toward European socialism.
Happy Nomad on May 15, 2013 at 1:37 PM
Charlie Rangel: Obama should come clean
Seems Charlie Rangel is repaying Obama in kind for Obama’s decision to say that he should retire to preserve his dignity when Rangel was being investigated and censured for tax irregularities.
thatsafactjack on May 15, 2013 at 1:38 PM
We knew the Democrats were corrupt Nixonian thugs when Joe the Plumber’s private information was leaked when he told Obama he didn’t agree with “spreading the wealth around”.
The Democrats have stacked our basic civil services with partisan activists. We can’t trust the departments in our own local governments anymore if Democrats are in charge.
crosspatch on May 15, 2013 at 1:39 PM
Now we are going to have a commission under Obamacare that decides if you get a medical treatment and how much they will pay for it. Think they might look up your political affiliation or donation history or membership in a tea party organization (since now they have the information on membership and donations to those groups) before they decide on your treatment?
This is HUGE. It exposes a fundamental philosophy, a basic strategy, primary principles of how they operate. We MUST purge them.
crosspatch on May 15, 2013 at 1:41 PM
Is he drooling, yet? Cuz, if he’s not drooling, as a Michigander, I’d have to consider this a good day for him. ;-)
totherightofthem on May 15, 2013 at 1:44 PM
Why? He’s in friendly territory here and is pocketing a nice paycheck. Big freaking deal.
If he acts the exact same way in front of a grand jury, with his life hanging in the balance, THEN I won’t question the size of his balls.
Myron Falwell on May 15, 2013 at 1:45 PM
Don’t tell that to Stevetroll. It’s his only way to defend his savior, Barack Obama. At least the other trolls use the talking points of the day. This one is working off of year-old talking points that are completely irrelevant.
totherightofthem on May 15, 2013 at 1:46 PM
Hi Jackie – good points on Rangel’s pay back time. Obama has no friends, not even on his side.
———-
Senate goes R in 2014
Schadenfreude on May 15, 2013 at 1:46 PM
crosspatch on May 15, 2013 at 1:41 PM
Oh crap yeah, they are going to use the IRS to administer ObamaCare. What could go wrong?
kirkill on May 15, 2013 at 1:47 PM
At what price victory?
Myron Falwell on May 15, 2013 at 1:49 PM
Don’t jump out ahead, savor the moment. You can’t trust the media to let it last.
Cindy Munford on May 15, 2013 at 1:49 PM
Benghazigate,Sebiliusgate,APgate,and IRSgate-Obama either knew and is complicit,or is just totally incompetent.If he is the former he should be impeached and removed from office,if he is the latter,he should resign!
redware on May 15, 2013 at 1:50 PM
The buck stops nowhere !!!
Lew in Colorado on May 15, 2013 at 1:51 PM
Oh Barry, well you came, never gave, but you’ve taken. Now we send you awayyyyyy oh Barry….
GhoulAid on May 15, 2013 at 1:53 PM
I don’t trust the media but I do trust the public to have a longer attention span about some of this stuff than the media expects. And, Dems running in 2014 are going have to either denounce the administration or defend Fast & Furious, Benghazi, IRS setting up units to target conservatives and Jews, EPA selectively harrassing groups, and all the rest of this dirt.
And I think this whole thing re-energizes the Tea Party movement. By which I mean grass roots activism.
Happy Nomad on May 15, 2013 at 1:56 PM
Sorry grama, you can’t get your insulin shots anymore, you used to be a member of TEA Party !! What ? Your feet hurt ? We could give you some meds but since you love the Constitution so much, we’ll cut them legs off for free if you say sorry to Hussein .
burrata on May 15, 2013 at 1:56 PM
“government is too big?” he must be a paranoid tea partier. (also, racist.)
Sachiko on May 15, 2013 at 1:57 PM
Some people suggested the President of the United States should have actually done something in life before being elected.
I suppose rousing folks with a bullhorn in front of a bank that won’t loan people money simply because they can’t pay it back doesn’t prep one for running Planet Earth.
Who would’a thunk it?
IndieDogg on May 15, 2013 at 1:57 PM
…and lost, due to Mittgang incompetence and media dereliction. May all go to Hades, especially the RP voters and those who stayed home, and let this thug rule and destroy longer. The troika, of the latter, Obama and his capos and Mitt’s incompetence ruin the land.
I hope it is exponential so that there be some hope. If not, to the abyss, and well deserved. Rome lasted longer.
Schadenfreude on May 15, 2013 at 1:59 PM
I agree that the Tea Party is being given a boast but would these people(IRS) have had the nerve to do this if the Tea Party hadn’t been made into a power villain by the media? It’s tough to make the victim of government corruption back into the boogey man but I believe they will try.
Cindy Munford on May 15, 2013 at 2:01 PM
I agree with Axelrod in his unspoken point: Obama just isn’t up to the job.
And the calls on IRS officials to “resign” by Sen. Levin are nice, but they should all be FIRED instead – with prejudice, never again eligible for a federal paycheck. And then a Special Prosecutor should determine what laws were broken and by whom.
Face it: if there were any evidence in any of these scandals that made Obama look good, or look innocent of wrongdoing, his aides would be falling all over themselves to get them out there. They would throw Hillary under the bus in a second – hey, if it’s good enough for Grandma . . .
They are stalling for a reason, and the reason is the more we see, the worse it will be for Obama, not the opposite.
Adjoran on May 15, 2013 at 2:02 PM
Obama should be THANKING those seeking smaller government to make his job EASIER.
Now if only Mr. Haxelrod would realize that is what he is saying.
ajacksonian on May 15, 2013 at 2:05 PM
Of course Obama had to know. All of the scandals can be connected to the reelection campaign. And we still don’t know where Obama was on 9/11/12.
Benghazi and AP gate both destroyed the Al-Quaida is defeated meme. If the CIA was busting up plots in May 2012 and we were attacked four months later on 9/11 – clearly Al-Quaida was very much alive and voting Americans couldn’t know that.
Sebelliusgate and IRSgate are scandals that intended to silence opposition to Obama and Obamacare – another trainwreck.
I’d like to see these scandals foment for a while. Some of the targets of the IRS scrutiny – college kids, campus speech, independent women etc. may actually resonate. The drip drip drip could be very enlightening and educating.
monalisa on May 15, 2013 at 2:10 PM
Well, Mr Axlerod, if the president doesn’t have the time, do you think it was a good idea to appoint a tax cheat as the Cabinet officer in charge of the IRS?
Deafdog on May 15, 2013 at 2:13 PM
ITguy on May 15, 2013 at 2:15 PM
Send in the Clowns to Defend. If yes? Then Who allowed the government to Grow out of control?
jpcpt03 on May 15, 2013 at 2:21 PM
I’m confused – Axlerod is now a closet tea-partying, anti big government guy?
ghostwalker1 on May 15, 2013 at 2:22 PM
Coming soon on an Ebay near you:
Foam Grecian pillars for sale. Will accept a $10 starting bid.
Ask about our extensive collection of Obama posters with genuine Photoshopped haloes.
Don L on May 15, 2013 at 2:23 PM
Glad that Axelrod wasn’t around to use this Minority Set aside Defense on Churchill, Eisenhower, MacArthur or Patton.
jpcpt03 on May 15, 2013 at 2:25 PM
Lol Don l
Excellent
cmsinaz on May 15, 2013 at 2:31 PM
All,
Me thinks we should keep all of the Obama scandals front and center on every thread. In additional to IRSGate, SebiliusGate, BenghaziGate, and APGate, don’t forget FastandFuriousGate, SolyndraGate, EPAGate, PigfordGate, and StimulusGate, to name a few. Lest they fall off the radar. Too many people are wrapped up in their personal lives to pay attention to all of these. We need to let them know that this is the most corrupt, lying, extra-constitutional administration every. Can in point: my wife is a local elected official. If I asked her to state in one paragraph what the details are on any of the above scandals, she would draw a blank. And she’s a smart lady. But she’s too busy doing her job (full-time township clerk, responsible for elections, budget, HR, ordnances, fees, etc) to pay much attention to all the scandals.
Someone should post a quick recap of the Obama scandals (maybe its out there somewhere already) that we could cut and paste to an email to send to our friends and family so they are aware of what’s going on.
GAlpha10 on May 15, 2013 at 2:31 PM
Cue the inevitable newspaper columns with the main subject being:
Is the Presidency now too big a job for one man.
They were floating around when he took office and the media foisted an inexperienced candidate on the electorate.
Spit triple spit
can_con on May 15, 2013 at 2:32 PM
And to think that Government is so big that President Obama doesn’t have a frigging clue as to what is going on and he is getting frustrated… – oh cry me a river! Congratulations libtards and Obama, you got exactly what you asked for, big government. But wait, it’s still growing even bigger with the looming SOBamaCare. As in Corporate America, when there is trouble, the CEO is directly to blame. The CEO ensures that they know what is going on because the very success of the company depends on such knowledge! Why should government be treated any differently? I know, he’s just a Community Organizer who thought he could run our government between rounds of golf.
stuartm80127 on May 15, 2013 at 2:34 PM
Am I to understand then that only Republican presidents are competent enough to be held responsible for everything that occurs in the federal government?
I recall that Ronald Reagan was blamed for a low level Department of Agriculture employee asking if ketchup could be counted as a serving of vegetable in school lunches.
kozmocostello on May 15, 2013 at 2:34 PM
Alert IRS is pinning this scandal on 2 rogue agents
cmsinaz on May 15, 2013 at 2:35 PM
Yes, ‘cuz Romney twice voted against BIAPA.
Of course, you are the nut, who said this:
Resist We Much on May 15, 2013 at 2:36 PM
The I-word! The I-word!
Well, I dunno. Partisan GOP overreach in the impeachment of Clinton poisoned that well for at least another generation. Much as I think he and his whole administration ought to be sealed in a drum and declared a Superfund site for a number of reasons, we’re not going to see him removed from office for anything short of smoking-gun-quality evidence of something that qualifies as a criminal felony.
And even so…we know Obama’s stick-a-fork-in-him-done the first week of 2017. If prior to that time he hands Biden the keys to the Oval Office and skulks onto Marine One at 2AM for a one-way trip outta Dodge, we’re faced with the prospect that Joey Stumbles might prove good enough to get re-elected in 2016.
Don’t laugh – he’s been in government forever and people like to work with the guy. All he has to do is apply a boot to Valerie Jarrett’s backside, smile a lot and not make any big mistakes, and NOT Ford-style pre-emptively pardon the JEF and incumbency alone would make him the front-runner.
JEM on May 15, 2013 at 2:37 PM
Using military metaphors describing the Obama Administration–the privates are not only fighting the war but controlling and directing it as well. Blame the privates. The generals know nothing and are entirely blameless. 1 In Benghazi, we did nothing wrong, but just in case something egregious occurred, the privates (and maybe a corporal or two) did it. 2 AP Snooping–necessary because of the “most pervasive leaking in history” (ho ho ho)–but just in case there is censor involved for this Stalinesque invasion of privacy, privates initiated and directed the operation. 3 IRS Scandal–privates in Cincinnati were entirely responsible–WAIT–it was a couple of ROGUE PRIVATES–disobeying direct orders from “straight” privates–who were responsible.
WHERE ARE THE GENERALS??????? When it comes time to accept responsibility “Run like a Deere.”
MaiDee on May 15, 2013 at 2:37 PM
censure not censor of course.
MaiDee on May 15, 2013 at 2:39 PM
kozmocostello on May 15, 2013 at 2:34 PM
We’re not talking about Reagan.
Are you seriously comparing these sweeping Scandals to Ketchup?
Amb, Stevens, Sean Smith, Glen Doherty, and Tyrone Woods would disagree with you. If, they were here to do so.
Yikes.
kingsjester on May 15, 2013 at 2:39 PM
The Obama administration appears to be activating “The Following” strategy for dealing with all of their scandals; the head of the pyramid scheme is the spiritual advisor that inspires his “followers” who then take action to fulfill his totalitarian dream. As the scandals bubble to the surface, Obama absolves himself from wrongdoing because he is not necessarily the one who actually did anything, or perhaps even knew about it. His “followers” fall on their swords for him and another takes their place.
Tripwhipper on May 15, 2013 at 2:39 PM
axelrod square circle
workingclass artist on May 15, 2013 at 2:42 PM
What the REB is going to find out is that it’s hard to hire new people into a failing and scandal-ridden presentduncy. Who wants a job where you might have to hire a personal lawyer?
slickwillie2001 on May 15, 2013 at 2:47 PM
It’s odd. Obama cannot possibly know what his underlings are up to. But those underlings know just about everything we, their underlings, are doing at any given moment.
NOMOBO on May 15, 2013 at 2:49 PM
Well then you recall wrong. It was an easy target for a proposed change to school food nutrition rules that would have allowed certain unconventional items to be counted for nutritional standards. The policy was never implemented. Ketchup was never considered a vegetable. But Reagan’s enemies went with it and made it into a national joke.
But, really what the hell does a proposed change in policy have to do with something like government incompetence in Benghazi or warrantless seizure of phone records detailing the activities of journalists and their sources? What does a policy have to do with confidential IRS documents being leaked to administration friendly advocacy groups engaged in political activism.
Happy Nomad on May 15, 2013 at 2:52 PM
ON MJoe this morning the obvious question(s) was never asked -”David, have you ever seen Romney’s or any other political supporter of his tax returns?”,or “how did you seem to know so much about them during the election cycle?”
Tater Salad on May 15, 2013 at 2:52 PM
This has to be a disciple of former Rep. Paul.
Cindy Munford on May 15, 2013 at 2:53 PM
Yet, when women were questioned…
you can finish the rest. (:
SparkPlug on May 15, 2013 at 2:55 PM
Perfect reason to shrink it. Thanks Dave.
Saltyron on May 15, 2013 at 2:56 PM
Well MSM, you wrought the tin man, now you oil his rusty azz.
SparkPlug on May 15, 2013 at 2:58 PM
haha. Spot on.
SparkPlug on May 15, 2013 at 2:59 PM
Hello President Biden!
……………wait…
BL@KBIRD on May 15, 2013 at 3:03 PM
Remember all the times Obama told his administration to “see what you do can do” to effect change without needing the Republican controlled House?
Well, this was his response. EPA, IRS, HHS, etc.
blink on May 15, 2013 at 3:07 PM
lol that is a political ad waiting to happen..
sadsushi on May 15, 2013 at 3:11 PM
Exactly. Obama sets the expectations for how things will be done and then absolves himself of any specific knowledge of any specific incident. It’s the Chicago Way.
crosspatch on May 15, 2013 at 3:18 PM
The fact of the matter is, OUR government is STACKED with Democrat operatives, disproportionately so. It is becoming increasingly obvious even to the low information citizen that there is an US and a THEM. To pretend that this is not going on is disingenuous of the President…. It appears to me that President Barack Obama doesn’t “KNOW” anything about anything, but of course why should that be a problem we didn’t even know anything about him when he was elected either, and what we are learning is worse than we could have ever imagined.
Have any of you seen the Phoenix University College degree commercial where there’s a guy applying for a job and they are showing all these “red Socks” that identify other like minded graduates of the Phoenix University…. Our modern day government employees are like that now….. so, the question of the day and the NEW SCANDAL for tomorrow will be: When a potential Government employee is looking for a job, are they wearing brown shirts or using code words in their applications to get hired?
ActinUpinTexas on May 15, 2013 at 3:19 PM
Leave Barry alone! He’s not responsible for anything! Other than his White House parties and his golf game.
GarandFan on May 15, 2013 at 3:35 PM
That’s just not fair, poster. I have heard from reliable sources that he is totally responsible for designing the menu for fundraisers.
slickwillie2001 on May 15, 2013 at 3:52 PM
Truman: The buck stops here.
Obama: The buck never gets here. But I need lots of yours!!! Especially from you rich folks makin’ $
250,000 a year!Steve Z on May 15, 2013 at 4:10 PM
Remember a certain canididate who said he had “judgment to lead”?
How can he lead if he doesn’t know what his followers are doing?
Steve Z on May 15, 2013 at 4:14 PM
Might not be so bad. When Biden either sticks his foot in his mouth or shoots it with a double-barreled shotgun, we could have President Boehner!
Steve Z on May 15, 2013 at 4:16 PM
I love these unintentional moments of honesty from Democrats. They’re few and far between but when they strike, it’s like lightning.
Yakko77 on May 15, 2013 at 4:23 PM
A$$hole-Rod’s logic didn’t seem to extend to Operation Tailhook’s decorated naval commander, who was actually a warrior and a patriot.
NoPain on May 15, 2013 at 5:31 PM
Illuminates the entire landscape in a flash, like Harry Reid’s “apparent slip” on “the anti-gun bill.”
de rigueur on May 15, 2013 at 5:53 PM
Okay, so why do you have a cabinet? So why should we elect someone with “management experience”? So why do we get a community organizer with no real world experience? Why is everything bad that happens. Someone else’s responsibility? Why, when things are so bad, can this guy spend an inordinate time playing golf with his really close friend Mr, Love? How can a president who claims jobs are his primary concer spend moe time playing golf and vacationing than meeting with his jobs comission? Why does he speak great words but acts in total contradiction to those words? Why, why, why……..
Pardonme on May 15, 2013 at 6:20 PM
Government is too big for the President to manage properly. Hang on a second….. …..
Okay, back. I just sent Axelrod a fruit-cake and thank you card on behalf of the Tea Party and everyone who ever voted against Obama or wanted to, ever.
DrDeano on May 15, 2013 at 6:29 PM
G.E. is pretty big too, but operating and financial details seem to get through to Jeff Immelt. The company’s comporate income tax provision, e.g. Perhaps “management” is the obscure concept that’s eluding you, Dave.
Barnestormer on May 15, 2013 at 6:55 PM
If the government is too big for the Chief Executive to know whats going on…..
THE GOVERNMENT IS TOO BIG.
How can these people’s heads not implode of sheer vacuousness?
alecj on May 15, 2013 at 7:23 PM
Is Axelrod really this dumb? The tone is set from the top (I imagine a lot of the tone was set by Emanuel). With the press giving Obama a free ride, there were a bunch of people (probably Obama included) who thought they could get away with anything.
Let’s face it, the election was close and every little bit helps. How much did they stop the tea party from doing because their fund-raising was inhibited by not having tax-exempt status? It doesn’t take much to throw an election one way or the other. Axelrod knows this.
bflat879 on May 15, 2013 at 9:41 PM
“Ignorance” is the new “Leadership” Allah.
What is it about this simple construction that you fail to understand??
/s
dissent555 on May 16, 2013 at 12:59 AM
Hey I got it! If Billy Jeff’s theme song was Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop (Thinkin’ about Tommorow)”, then Maybe Barry O could settle on Mac’s “Over My Head”?
dissent555 on May 16, 2013 at 1:08 AM
Good one.
It doesn’t seem to be “Drowning in the Sea of Love” lately. How can any lib piss off the NY Times and AP? Rare talent.
NoPain on May 16, 2013 at 12:13 PM
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