Did Rick Perry's Clear Channel Connections Sink Debra Medina?

by: Phillip Martin

Thu Feb 18, 2010 at 10:07 AM CST

Last week, I argued that Debra Medina was set-up by Glenn Beck and Rick Perry ("Gut Reaction: Team Rick Perry Used Glenn Beck to Attack Debra Medina"). As you'll recall, Medina was skyrocketing in the polls -- it was certain she would force a runoff, and becoming increasingly possible that she would be in that runoff herself. For Medina, a quick appearance on Glenn Beck's radio show probably seemed like a terrific idea -- Beck's constant promotion of extreme right-wing views appealed to the type of people who were supporting Debra Medina.

But Medina was not talking to Glenn Beck the activist -- because there is no such thing. Especially not when Beck's boss is such a major supporter of Rick Perry. According to the Texas Ethics Commission, Clear Channel CEO and Chairman Lowry Mays has donated almost $300,000 to Rick Perry.

Clear Channel CEO Donations to Perry
Year	Donation
2001-2002	$51,400
2003-2004	$55,000
2005-2006	$80,000
2007-2008	$50,000
2009	$50,000
Total	$286,400
Source: Texas Ethics Commission

Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and countless other right-wing radio station personalities are owned by Clear Channel. Beck is paid $10 million by a Clear Channel subsidiary for his radio show (Source: Forbes). Is it any surprise, then, that he ambushed Medina the way he did -- and subsequently told all of his radio listeners to support Perry? After he finished his interview with Medina, Beck went on to pronounce his love for Rick Perry (Source: Radio Interview Transcript):

GLENN: I think I can write her off the list. Let me take another look at Kay Bailey Hutchison if I have to. Rick, I think you and I could French kiss right now.

PAT: Let me tell you something. He's a damn handsome man.

GLENN: He's a damn handsome man.

PAT: Looks good in a pair of jeans.

GLENN: Wow.

PAT: He's a handsome man.

GLENN: Wow. The fastest way back to 4%.

The set-up by Beck was quickly echoed throughout the mainstream media. The Dallas Morning News went on to immediately call it a "game-ending-gaffe." Few in the media, however, noted Perry's financial ties to Clear Channel and Glenn Beck -- or took any moments to repeat the absolutely bizarre conspiracy theories Beck puts out on his own. After all, this is Glenn Beck:

It sadly is not surprising that violence can result when Beck proclaims that our government is marching towards fascism, or when he salivates at the thought of the rising up of a militias, or when he warns that "we are a county heading towards socialism, totalitarianism, beyond your wildest imagination". Distrust and hatred of government are not unforeseeable results when Beck tells his audience that "everything" reported on by the traditional media "is a lie", or when he claims that the AmericCorps bill "indoctrinates your child into community service through the federal government". When Beck muses aloud about the various ways he could kill Michael Moore, or lashes out at the "the war against the American way", and when he claims that the president's budget is enslaving and "out and out evil" (more evil than extraordinary rendition, according to Beck), he cannot feign surprise if and when the seeds of hatred and panic he sows bear fruit.

When he flatly and unequivocally states that the "destruction of the West is happening", or when he shows photos of the president transitioning to photos of Hitler, Lenin, and Stalin and asks "is this where we're headed?", he is not merely playing the role, as he puts it, of the "rodeo clown."

Debra Medina's gaffe -- set-up by a suspicious line of questioning from an employee of one of Rick Perry's top contributors -- could end up being the turning point from the election going to a runoff to Perry winning the primary outright

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Rush Limbaugh's Support of Rep. Mike McCaul Coming in Loud and Clear

by: Karl-Thomas Musselman

Wed May 27, 2009 at 00:16 PM CDT

This Thursday, at an undisclosed location in Houston, the de facto chair of the Republican Party is headlining a fundraiser for Congressman Mike McCaul (TX-10). That's none other than Rush Liimbaugh of course.

Limbaugh and McCaul share a closer connection which his campaign is working to obscure by not even the location of the fundraiser to people invited to it. Let's walk through that close relationship courtesy of the Lone Star Project.

Limbaugh is employed by Clear Channel Communications, which was founded by McCaul's father-in-law, Lowry Mays. Mays pays Limbaugh a reported $38 million per year and gave him a $100 million signing bonus in 2008. (Source: The Wall Street Journal, July 3, 2008)

And there's good reason that McCaul is known as Congressman Clear Channel as evidenced by how well their management and employees line his campaign coffers.

McCaul's Top Contributors:
1) Clear Channel - $140,450
2) Dell Inc - $52,696
3) Zachry Construction - $45,100
4) AT&T Inc - $37,000
5) Loeffler Group - $33,800
(As of May 26, 2009, Source: OpenSecrets.org)

McCaul has shown that he's perfectly happy to accept the public support of Clear Channel and Rush Limbaugh as well as the money from donors who believe that Limbaugh is the GOP's "One True Chairman". Hiding the location of the fundraiser Dick Cheney style isn't going to do anything to cover up the ties between Limbaugh and McCaul. Their desire to see Barack Obama and American fail are still coming in loud and clear(channel).

But we do have a choice. Democrat Jack McDonald is exploring the race at the time so visit his website to learn more.

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TX-10: Grant Calls on Opponent to Put Texas Taxpayers First, Clear Channel Last

by: Dan Grant

Wed Oct 31, 2007 at 10:00 AM CDT

The Federal Communications Commission is moving ahead with plans to help big media get bigger. A rally happening right now in front of FCC headquarters in Washington, D.C., is designed to slow the rush toward even more consolidation.

My opponent should break his silence on this important issue and explain whether he is working for the Texas taxpayers who own the public airwaves or Clear Channel, his family's mega-media company.

Call McCaul at 202-225-2401 and remind him who owns the public airwaves.

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Does Mike McCaul Agree With His Brother-in-Law?

by: Dan Grant

Wed Oct 03, 2007 at 02:18 PM CDT

( - promoted by Matt Glazer)

The junior Congressman From Clear Channel has been notably silent during the uproar over rightwing talk show host Rush Limbaugh's attack on U.S. troops who oppose the White House's misadventure in Iraq as "phony soldiers."

Now Rep. McCaul's brother-in-law, the CEO of the company that broadcast Limbaugh's diatribe, is defending the indefensible.

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