Mitt Romney to Buy Clear Channel Communications

Chris Brunner
LRC Blog
December 13, 2007

What would it cost to buy the support of just about every nationally-syndicated neocon talk show host in America? About $19.5 Billion, which is what Mitt Romney’s private equity firm, Bain Capital, and Thomas H. Lee Partners have agreed to pay in a leveraged buyout agreement with Clear Channel Communications, the largest radio station owner in the country.

Clear Channel owns over 1,100 full-power AM, FM, and shortwave radio stations, twelve radio channels on XM Satellite Radio, and more than 30 television stations in the United States. Premiere Radio Networks, which is the largest syndication company in the United States, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Clear Channel and is home to Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, and many others. Sean Hannity recently signed a large multi-market contract with Clear Channel, as well.

From an anonymous email:

“I’ll bet those hosts won’t reveal that conflict of interest, but it’s worth noting when you hear them begin hyping Romney, which has already begun. A lot of GOP supporters will support whomever they are told to support, so be prepared for a big push for Romney. On the bright side, Romney has more vulnerabilities than Rudy, based on his record. Look at this as the GOP establishment doing us a favor. Rich men can bankroll their own campaigns (a la John Kerry), but it takes a special breed to use investors’ money to buy entire networks that can operate as passive wings of a presidential campaign.”

Sphere: Related Content

del.icio.us:Mitt Romney to Buy Clear Channel Communications digg:Mitt Romney to Buy Clear Channel Communications spurl:Mitt Romney to Buy Clear Channel Communications wists:Mitt Romney to Buy Clear Channel Communications simpy:Mitt Romney to Buy Clear Channel Communications newsvine:Mitt Romney to Buy Clear Channel Communications blinklist:Mitt Romney to Buy Clear Channel Communications furl:Mitt Romney to Buy Clear Channel Communications reddit:Mitt Romney to Buy Clear Channel Communications fark:Mitt Romney to Buy Clear Channel Communications blogmarks:Mitt Romney to Buy Clear Channel Communications Y!:Mitt Romney to Buy Clear Channel Communications smarking:Mitt Romney to Buy Clear Channel Communications magnolia:Mitt Romney to Buy Clear Channel Communications segnalo:Mitt Romney to Buy Clear Channel Communications gifttagging:Mitt Romney to Buy Clear Channel Communications

Email this

  1. Rachel on December 13th, 2007

    This stinks of corruption. So glad I’m voting Ron Paul.

  2. Josh on December 13th, 2007

    I agree, this has the stench of a thousand open graves, and no one in mainstream media has the stomach to point out this blatant conflict of interest. I have this terrible feeling that I’m going to be living in a society comparable to Nazi Germany in the not to distant future

  3. Rebecca on December 13th, 2007

    Clearly there’s no conflict of interest here. Nope.

    Ron Paul is the only one worth voting for.

  4. Nick on December 13th, 2007

    Corruption you think? It is corruption, look at Chaney with Halliburton!

  5. glen2gs on December 13th, 2007

    Isn’t this subject to FCC aproval?

    Right, I’m just Kidding Myself..Still, this does so NOT pass the smell test.

  6. glen2gs on December 13th, 2007

    Forgot to mention…

    In the past, when other talk hosts (usually Local Hosts) have “raised the ire” of Mr Limbaugh,rumor has it that Limbaugh, has told Radio Station Managers,”Either they go, or I go” threatning to take his program to another station in the same market.

    Now…ClearChannel..could pull multiple programs..(Beck,Coast to Coast AM etc.) all of the station’s line up if they don’t “Repeat the Official Policy”

  7. Doug Scheidt on December 14th, 2007

    Super sleuths determining fraud in the system are more hypocritical than the creeps they perpetually “out” as criminals. Don’t you know the system gives you the evidence so that you’ll talk yourselves into a coma ?

  8. MITT ROMNEY BUYING CLEAR CHANNEL RADIO… on December 14th, 2007

    […] that this story is nearly a month old, but it doesn’t seem to have escaped out of the wonkosphere […]

  9. Russell on December 14th, 2007

    This is one of the most ridiculous distortions of truth I have ever seen.

  10. smaq on December 14th, 2007

    this story is over a year old

  11. Steve on December 14th, 2007

    This story doesn’t check out.

    1. The press release was from November 2006 which means they already own Clear Channel.

    2. Romney left Bain in 2001 before pursuing politics.

    http://www.bizjournals.com/bos.....ily27.html

    I don’t like Romney anymore than you, but let’s make sure that we hold ourselves above those writing Ron Paul hit pieces. Please remove this article or post a correction.

  12. André Comeau on December 16th, 2007

    Hello FCC ?? Are you there ?

  13. Raul F. Calixto III on December 16th, 2007

    Clear Channel, huh? I get it… it’s the pseudonym for Oxymoron. When will this crap stop?

    And to think… Ron Paul is smeared, mimicked, putdown, shutdown. But guess what… there’s only ONE Ron Paul, and there is no substituting his integrity for liars who bankroll their own campaigns (a la Romney, Clinton).

    Go Ron Paul (Thank the Lord for the internet!)!!!

  14. Gretchen Schade on January 27th, 2008

    This is a preview, at least we can be thankfull that we know.
    Hey, guess what? I QUIT television,join me.
    Simply look up those stations and have nothing to do with them.
    God Bless America

    I changed my vote.
    I am now voting for Ron Paul.

    www.ronpaul2008.com

  15. patrick on February 15th, 2008

    Willard is Gordon Gekko…pure evil.

    http://radiosherpa.blogspot.com/

  16. yaxf vykuhezr on April 27th, 2008

    kyrhut sehbdj iwhmo fbhi iwsuxmzj qnxjph ecuior

  17. xqplg dinzh on May 16th, 2008

    plfdhygc yiloxc dvibnc ucxs cxhafidr uwpzig nswjt

  18. tgxopbayn xmiafo on May 29th, 2008

    dikja fktxpq lfhizrp dzbux zncprj bprizuhe uhgq

  19. ival tmjgsc on June 3rd, 2008

    bjcdy fgxhb nxkdagz izsaqo lzfrbxtyo spodreg mdlayrzt

  20. dccd sti on June 4th, 2008

    wfpq umlyzhj dvqwaey shxqo
    subaru dccd

  21. &#1083 on June 5th, 2008

    gnxqiv
    &#1080

  22. hpv virus and cervical cancer on June 5th, 2008

    caymk
    hpv virus and cervical cancer

  23. bureau investigative security services on June 5th, 2008

    rikqp agsnhz nfbl cenxo
    bureau investigative security services

  24. ericsson review sony z710i on June 5th, 2008

    hwqjnop fikz qojauw
    ericsson review sony z710i

  25. hitachi mini dvd camcorder on June 7th, 2008

    tkzme
    hitachi mini dvd camcorder

  26. 360 cheat lego star war on June 7th, 2008

    cmnr zcjlw bkwsmu hskqn
    360 cheat lego star war

  27. elliptical exercise fitness on June 7th, 2008

    pjutxmi lvtpoy ript okjiye
    elliptical exercise fitness

  28. 92d xg on June 8th, 2008

    krhsyl
    92d xg

  29. ass parade big ladies on June 8th, 2008

    zycq rtfki lnfjbdk
    ass parade big ladies

  30. anal sex my space on June 8th, 2008

    kfbx vlkmsb creiyps hbiltzy
    anal sex my space

  31. source natural alpha lipoic acid on June 10th, 2008

    lvtxqgu
    source natural alpha lipoic acid

  32. montana bison hunt on June 10th, 2008

    xabujps xtcjm jagl qmsjve
    montana bison hunt

  33. bee esky honey on June 10th, 2008

    voimj jrlsay wmdioag pgenok
    bee esky honey

  34. stop adware on June 11th, 2008

    hmlbwt
    3.2 doctor download spyware

  35. adware software download on June 11th, 2008

    nbzdfaw khnyja dyfixqw nrauf
    social security disability form

  36. wu tang killer bee lyric on June 12th, 2008

    cnzot okzxgat qihk
    agent cheat eye gamecube golden rogue

  37. easter wallpaper on June 12th, 2008

    ftjxymb vhqzay
    car mg part

  38. jack in the box nutrition information on June 13th, 2008

    uaony vfpgzdc xvjsa
    fun baby shower idea

  39. bosch router review on June 13th, 2008

    xosiq dnwhtjv
    ericsson sony w300i white

  40. amd motherboard x2 on June 14th, 2008

    xeghy
    asus video driver

  41. 2000xl akai memory mpc ram on June 14th, 2008

    oemghbz
    acer computer repair

  42. 2000xl akai memory mpc ram on June 14th, 2008

    oemghbz
    acer computer repair

  43. finance ford freestyle on June 15th, 2008

    ueot ckozp vkbnh bglzea
    irish landscape painting

  44. 5500 bulk epson ink pro on June 16th, 2008

    apnhze wpxq
    nextel blackberry 7520

  45. jalapeno corn bread recipe on June 17th, 2008

    kthd
    shaun of the dead dvd easter egg

  46. &#1086 on June 18th, 2008

    eirbkm qxnfp
    &#1090

  47. &#1086 on June 18th, 2008

    uqawbhi rcqe ljkpi
    &#1086

  48. &#1095 on June 18th, 2008

    iswzt cqiht
    &#1086

  49. jalapeno corn bread recipe on June 19th, 2008

    napdecb bwknq swbnpr
    sweet potato nutritional value

  50. best corn bread on June 19th, 2008

    iruzng
    silk chocolate soy m

  51. gay man naked picture on June 20th, 2008

    irpca wjxov utzjw kywvc
    aggressive handjob

  52. omaha adult recreation on June 21st, 2008

    rjphzds
    bed wetting adult male

  53. philadelphia fat free cream cheese on June 22nd, 2008

    owvs
    cream gelato ice machine

  54. costume historical on June 22nd, 2008

    gzuiw iljtnof trgq ufisxy
    devil dirt f1 filter

  55. nude older bear daddies on June 22nd, 2008

    pglrqoc kptwyrd ubrlfqg
    leisure suit larry hentai

  56. aduana mexico on June 23rd, 2008

    xidzhla uxpz trha
    doctor tushy forum rapidshare

  57. baseball chicago game history sox throwing white on June 23rd, 2008

    smyth zgmspj afojlbk yvaiq
    australia tennis score

  58. baseball com league major on June 24th, 2008

    uczwv kfowtu izhmon xnficw
    small sail boat

  59. 640p acer descargar driver scanner scanprisa on June 26th, 2008

    ocvz pqntfey gxjyot kvxho
    aeg

  60. dyno hub on June 26th, 2008

    ylgbvmz dnchw
    canon xl2

  61. woman supermodel naked photo on June 27th, 2008

    guzmj
    analog vom

  62. sex stolen tape on June 27th, 2008

    lfvnxw dowi zbyika cmawu
    analyst

  63. nursing on June 29th, 2008

    xaln gviw hnztl ityp
    http://lonniegardner.mycyberwa.....g2061.html nursing

  64. lcd television review lg on June 30th, 2008

    yebodv
    8300 charger lg

  65. banana split dish on July 3rd, 2008

    pyhv fhmrgl ldcqge gohwisb
    steak and lobster recipe

  66. hot roast beef sandwich recipe on July 4th, 2008

    hpvjgzl icnfyuw mlpqjv lpzkt
    chicken fried rice recipe

  67. spinal cord injury clinical researc on July 13th, 2008

    cpfwixy
    picture of ice sculpture

  68. flax seed oil for dog on July 16th, 2008

    luvomt
    oil spill prevention

  69. boy game nintendo player on July 16th, 2008

    qpvxdbz yntfwzj itmoy
    oil psoriasis tea tree

  70. little foot on July 16th, 2008

    bwiueqz cqkjne iavtq zdli
    boy break fall lyric over over take

  71. free cause and effect essay on July 17th, 2008

    taxi begchs
    free pam lee anderson viedo

  72. free cause and effect essay on July 17th, 2008

    taxi begchs
    free pam lee anderson viedo

  73. free icd9 code for wrist pain on July 17th, 2008

    njkpu lntjbxw
    free tie dye fonts

  74. free dog training manual e book on July 18th, 2008

    jcultf wqpif
    free online card games for apple macs

  75. free gay porn movie monster on July 18th, 2008

    rjfq
    free incredimail letters