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:
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
Rush Limbaugh and Clear Channel Communications Lowry Mays, who is McCaul's father-in-law, will host a fundraiser for Mike McCaul in San Antonio next month.
The McCaul campaign is doing its pathetic best to distance McCaul from Limbaugh even though the hate-filled commentator will be raising money for the congressman.
Jack Ladd, McCaul’s campaign spokesman, said, “Just because Rush Limbaugh is attending a fundraiser for Michael doesn’t mean they agree on every issue and we believe Michael’s voting record speaks for itself.”
Asked to name an issue on which they disagree, Ladd repeated, “I think Michael’s voting record speaks for itself.”
Mike McCaul's record does speak for itself. He puts the special interests above the people's interests and continues the pay-to-play politics he learned from Tom DeLay.
